Reptile & Amphibian Forums

can people please give me advice on uv sterilizers. Do they kill germs and bacteria along with algae or are they just for algae. Also wondering what one is the best for an indoor pond about 250 gallons. Was planning on hooking one up to output of my magnum 350 cannister filter. Any opinions would help.

Tim

UV sterilizers are great for aquariums because they do in fact kill most everything, but they are complete overkill for a turtle. Besides they are very expensive to operate and would require a dedicated pump to push water through it. Instead, spend your money on MUCH better filtration (I highly recommend the Ocean Clear brand of filters) and some externally ballasted mercury vapor bulbs for UVB (http://www.reptileuv.com).
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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

What model ocean filter do you recomend. my set up is an 8 foot long galvanized horse trough about six inches deep. It houses nine spotted turtle seven of them full grown. Also im not sure what you mean about the uvb vapor lamp. Are you talkining about the actual lighting i use to for lighting and basking purposes. PLease give me an example or name brand. Thank you very much for help. Ive been breeding spotteds for over ten years but I am always learning more about the husbandry

I am glad to hear that your open-minded enough to know that you can still learn a lot even after ten years!

I do not know the exact model name or number, but I have used the ocean clear filter with a pleated mechanical cartridge quite successfully for turtles. Iwaki is a good brand of pump. Between these two parts you are looking at $300, but they are far superior to a canister filter, and will last a lot longer.

I included the web site below for ultraviolet light. Mercury vapor bulbs are capable of providing the heat and UVB necessary. I personally have products from this small company that is dedicated to providing quality lamps to reptile owners, and not to their profit margins. Externally ballasted Mercury vapor bulbs are better than the internally ballasted bulbs currently being sold and pet stores because they last a lot longer.
click here for the link

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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)