UV sterilizer guestion/concern

[90gallon4me]

I just bought a jbj submariner 13watt uv sterilizer. After I bought it I saw a mad review on youtube on one like it but an older model. In the review video he was showing how the plastic housing sleve was breaking down due to the uv bulb and polluted his tank. Are they all like this over time or is it just the plastic jbj uses? Im using to try to help with a brown alage problem I have. I went from a 90 to a 110 and used new sand and my old rock. Now my sand and most of the rock is covered. I do weekly water changes. Everyone says it will fade away but after everying I do to the tank it comes back the next day. Can anyone give me some advise on what to do. Ive been doing this for 8 years and never seen brown alage this bad. Please help!
Thanks,
Kevin

 

[joseayes]

Hi, I have no experience with that specific model but I only have been running Laguna brand 40 watts and coralife brand 9 watt, both of this use glass sleeve, I have overhauled the Laguna one once, they have the same spiral design for the water to swirl inside of the housing, what I noticed is that this internal spiral housing has degradation from the uv exposing, but the company sell replacements to have them changed, I'm not in favor of this brands AMD I'm just mentioned because they work for me and they both are reliable compared with the use of another brand were the replacements for uv lights or any other parts are quite expensive.

I will say get away from a sleeve that is make of plastic, it will or possible burn causing more damage than service.

 

[90gallon4me]

The bulb is incased in a glass sleeve and then its surrounded by the plastic outer housing. This model has a pump that pulls water between the glass and plastic..in the review video the guy put his finger on the plastic and the guys finger was black. I just wonder how long it will take that bulb to affect the plastic.