UV Light Reflector.

[KLM]

I'd like to make an inline anti-bacterial UV light filter for an
aquarium by housing it inside a plastic pipe. The lamp element shines
UV light into a glass tube with the water flow. To get the most of
the UV light I'd like to line the inside of the pipe with UV
reflector material. Aluminum foil come to mind. Is there a correct
material or a better material for the reflector?

And while I am on this subject I intend to use paper coffee filters
to trap the particulate waste. A bank of them should be able to
handle the flow volume. When any filter is clogged I'll just toss it
away and put in another one. The commercial filters using fiberglass
wool, etc. clog up too quickly and are expensive to replace often.
Any anticipated problems with this coffee filter approach?

When doing research on the subject I learned that areating the water
with airstones dissolves too much oxygen and drives out the CO2. The
lack of dissolved CO2 prevents the aquatic plants from thriving. That
explains why I had so many problems with aquatic plants dying on me.

There is also a need to have a filter stage where ammonia can be
removed by ammonia eating bacteria. Where is the best place to put
this stage?

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

On Tue, 18 May 2004 22:39:47 GMT, the renowned KLM <klmok88@yahoo.com>
wrote:

I'd like to make an inline anti-bacterial UV light filter for an
aquarium by housing it inside a plastic pipe. The lamp element shines
UV light into a glass tube with the water flow.

Glass absorbs short-wave (germicidal) UV light. Quartz is better.

To get the most of
the UV light I'd like to line the inside of the pipe with UV
reflector material. Aluminum foil come to mind. Is there a correct
material or a better material for the reflector?

Aluminum foil should work. It will also slow the deterioration (and
eventual failure) of the plastic pipe from UV exposure.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com

 

[N. Thornton]

KLM <klmok88@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<1s2la0p72j67vkqimn08k0pbmv8rs8oiue@4ax.com>...

I'd like to make an inline anti-bacterial UV light filter for an
aquarium by housing it inside a plastic pipe. The lamp element shines
UV light into a glass tube with the water flow. To get the most of
the UV light I'd like to line the inside of the pipe with UV
reflector material. Aluminum foil come to mind. Is there a correct
material or a better material for the reflector?

aluminium is it

And while I am on this subject I intend to use paper coffee filters
to trap the particulate waste. A bank of them should be able to
handle the flow volume. When any filter is clogged I'll just toss it
away and put in another one. The commercial filters using fiberglass
wool, etc. clog up too quickly and are expensive to replace often.
Any anticipated problems with this coffee filter approach?

just flow rate and quick rotting. Sand is another option.

When doing research on the subject I learned that areating the water
with airstones dissolves too much oxygen and drives out the CO2. The
lack of dissolved CO2 prevents the aquatic plants from thriving. That
explains why I had so many problems with aquatic plants dying on me.

There is also a need to have a filter stage where ammonia can be
removed by ammonia eating bacteria. Where is the best place to put
this stage?

Doesnt the grit on the tank floor usually do that? I'm not cetrain but
I thought it did.


Regards, NT

 

[Mark Fergerson]

KLM wrote:

I'd like to make an inline anti-bacterial UV light filter for an
aquarium by housing it inside a plastic pipe. The lamp element shines
UV light into a glass tube with the water flow. To get the most of
the UV light I'd like to line the inside of the pipe with UV
reflector material. Aluminum foil come to mind. Is there a correct
material or a better material for the reflector?

Look at how Nature does it; put your lamp above the
water, and a submerged reflector just close enough to the
surface to keep the fishies out of the direct rays. Shield
appropriately to keep it out of your eyes too.

And while I am on this subject I intend to use paper coffee filters
to trap the particulate waste. A bank of them should be able to
handle the flow volume. When any filter is clogged I'll just toss it
away and put in another one. The commercial filters using fiberglass
wool, etc. clog up too quickly and are expensive to replace often.
Any anticipated problems with this coffee filter approach?

Throughput. Lots of filters, replace often. As somebody
else said, sand might be better. Again, look at how Nature
does it.

When doing research on the subject I learned that areating the water
with airstones dissolves too much oxygen and drives out the CO2. The
lack of dissolved CO2 prevents the aquatic plants from thriving. That
explains why I had so many problems with aquatic plants dying on me.

Decrease the airflow rate?

There is also a need to have a filter stage where ammonia can be
removed by ammonia eating bacteria. Where is the best place to put
this stage?

Where does Nature put the bacteria? Do you have a final
filter stage under the gravel/whatever on the bottom?

Mark L. Fergerson

 

[Jim Thompson]

On Fri, 21 May 2004 10:07:02 -0700, Mark Fergerson <nunya@biz.ness>
wrote:

KLM wrote:

I'd like to make an inline anti-bacterial UV light filter for an
aquarium by housing it inside a plastic pipe. The lamp element shines
UV light into a glass tube with the water flow. To get the most of
the UV light I'd like to line the inside of the pipe with UV
reflector material. Aluminum foil come to mind. Is there a correct
material or a better material for the reflector?

[snip]

Just buy one. By the time you get the UV light/fixture that's most of
the cost. Mine is in an ABS pipe with hose connections and a
screw-off cap to change the bulb.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

 

[Palinurus]

Mark Fergerson wrote:

KLM wrote:

I'd like to make an inline anti-bacterial UV light filter for an
aquarium by housing it inside a plastic pipe. The lamp element shines
UV light into a glass tube with the water flow.
-

Note that ordinary glass will absorb most of the UV. Your tube needs to
be made of the same sort of stuff as the shortwave UV tube itself, fused
silica or Vycor. Surely you must have wondered at those linear
striations on the UV tube.