Clean those UV sterilizers!

[mojo]

I had to replace one of my UV bulbs the other day, and while I had everything taken apart, I decided to take the quartz sleeves to see how clean they were. I have a unit with the sleeve "wipers" on it to keep them clean, but never knew how dirty they really got or how well the wipers worked.

When I pulled out the sleeves, I found they were so coated with calcium that the UV had been undoubtedly useless over the past couple months. This is a form of abiotic precipitation, presumably caused by the heat from the UV bulbs.

A little vinegar or muratic acid (used carefully!) cleans up the calcium deposits nicely...

Clean those UV sterilizers periodically!
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[jmaneyapanda]

Yup, the intense heat these bulbs causes calcium to precipitate out quickly and steadily.

 

[james s_]

Man now I have another project.... will it ever end

 

[oz]

I'm afraid to open mine. haha

 

[glxtrix]

Oh yeah...time for me to clean mine too.

 

[smoothie]

Me too

 

[mojo]

atreyu917;428012 wrote: I don't have one, but how often are you supposed to clean these things/replace the bulb? I have one on the tank at my work....and I have no idea how to maintain them.

I don't think there's much data to say for sure. The bulb manufacturers will tell you to replace the bulbs every 6 months, but at $50 each, I'll replace them when they burn out or every few years. As for cleaning the sleeves- it'll depend on the amount of calcium in your system, but after seeing this one, I'd say every 6 months...

 

[phoenix20]

Yikes!

 

[james s_]

ares;428026 wrote: yep, mine does the same, and no wiper on mine.

Ive cracked 2 of them though and at 40$ a pop, I tend to procrastinate on opening it up. it is probably over due now that I think about it though.

yup me too... im scared how much it will cost me when I open it up.

 

[glxtrix]

I clean mine between 4-6 mos and replace bulb every year....I may stretch out the bulb a little longer this time.

 

[oil_fan]

I think I'll be cleaning mine out too. I'm around the 5 month mark right now.

 

[kirru]

interesting. I have a UV steralizer but haven't got a bulb or plumbed it in yet. I'll be doing that after christmas and after the ski trip and after i pay this $231 ticket from the accident.

buut mine doesnt have that protective shield. it comes in direct contact with the bulb. is that bad?

 

[acroholic]

Man that thing was coated. I don't use a UV......should I?
Dave

 

[tjherman]

Acroholic;428168 wrote: Man that thing was coated. I don't use a UV......should I?
Dave

Dave, doesn't your tank fall into the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" category?

 

[weaglereefer]

Nah, if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features.



Or so an engineer friend told me...

 

[oil_fan]

au01st;428198 wrote: Nah, if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features.



Or so an engineer friend told me...

:lol2:

 

[rbredding]

Kirru;428147 wrote: interesting. I have a UV steralizer but haven't got a bulb or plumbed it in yet. I'll be doing that after christmas and after the ski trip and after i pay this $231 ticket from the accident.

buut mine doesnt have that protective shield. it comes in direct contact with the bulb. is that bad?

really?


I would think that would just either
*cook the water,
or
*cause the calcium to precipitate onto the bulb..

 

[mcphock]

I recently took mine off my 120 a month ago, and I havent noticed a bit of difference.

Acroholic;428168 wrote: Man that thing was coated. I don't use a UV......should I?
Dave

 

[rbredding]

sorry.. just realized that I dug up an 8 month OLD post.

 

[gnashty]

so....ever get that UV hooked up kirru?