UV Sterilizer ... NOT UV Clarifier ... and Ozone

UV sterilizers are not the same as UV clarifiers

Johnnie Schwarz again posed an  interesting question about ozone as a bacteriacide. here's Johhnies' point sent to me on the QuikAwasu QMTP system

view/pondprofessor: Hi Tony, John Schwartz from the hills of West Viginina USA. I liked your audio on UV's. It's nice to hear a voice to an name. Does the Audio work On this QUIKAWASU system? So far I have liked this QUIKAWASU as a replacement of e-mail.

A question on UV's not related to a pond. I understand how they work in a pond and agree on your audio as you described it. My Hot Tub (spa) has a UV system. They say it does kill harmful bacteria. The also say by using the UV in the hot tub I will use less chemicals which is always good. This UV is called an O3 Ozinator. Water does not pass over it. They say it lasts for 5 years not 1 year like a pond UV. They call pond ones throw-aways because they are less expensive. This O3 Ozinator costs $700.00. The other week I told you how I hooked up a pump to a jet with an extra tube and it blow bubbles in to the pond. This is how this system works. They say the O3 Ozinator that does not get passed by water instead sucks the O3 dry air zipped down the tub and blows O3 bubbles in to the pond. Does this sound like a fairy tale to you. Do you understand any of it's logic. It is surly not like a pond UV and with the chemicals and a top cover that is all way put on then not in use I surely do not get algae! Thank You Johnnie

Johnnie, thanks for interest.

I am sure audio would work on my Quikawasu system. I just haven't used it yet ... stay tuned

Your UV question ....

I am not sure how an Ozinator works. However in principal if ozone really is produced by this unit then it will certainly work to kill bacteria. Just sucking air in will not produce ozone and tiny amount that naturally exists in normal air will do no good.

Ozone (formula is O3 and hence name of your unit) is a very special and unstable form of oxygen which lasts only for  a very short time before it reverts to normal oxygen.

Ozone is far more powerful as a bacteriacide than chlorine ... but as I said it does not last long ... and for it to be effective you would need almost contuous generation i pond water.

UV sterilizers are used in pharmaceutical industry, food industy and salt water aquariums extensively. These units have far stricter engineering designs. In practice water flow rate is much lower to enable UV to be exposed to bacteria etc for long time. Also when used as sterilizer reliability MUST be 100% so systems come with sophisticated controls, back up, spare capacity etc

To give you a feel ... an 8 watts clarifier could handle say water flows up to 1000 galls/hr and algae would be killed. An 8 watts sterilizer would probably only be able to handle about 60 galls/hr to be effective in killing bacteria ... these are estimates only but they serve to show dramatic difference in wattage between clarifier and sterilizer to handle same volume of water.

One other difference is that furthest point water is away from UV source in sterilizer is probably no more than 1/3rd inch whereas in clarifier it could be 1 inch or more and still be effective.

All the best, Tony Roocroft

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