UV lamps are an excellent way to keep your aquarium clean and healthy, but it's essential to use them correctly. The amount of time you should leave the UV light on depends on the type of aquarium you have. Generally, it's best to keep the UV light on for 10 to 12 hours a day. This helps establish a regular routine for the fish and gives them time to rest. It's important to turn off the UV lamp if someone is in the room, as direct exposure to UV light can be hazardous.
Additionally, UV light kills beneficial bacteria, so it should be switched off when adding bacteria to the water or using medications that require UV rays to be turned off. When handling a UV bulb, it's wise to wear gloves as skin oils can damage the bulb. Most UV bulbs last 12 to 14 months, but if you're only using the lamp seasonally, you can get away with using it for 6 months before replacing it with a spare. Maintaining a UV light is no more difficult or different than maintaining an aquarium's filtration system. It's important to keep the installation away from most surfaces in order to minimize the effect of UV light on beneficial bacteria. Despite rumors and other things you may read on the Internet, as long as UV light is used correctly and cautiously, it is NOT harmful to you, your fish or any invertebrates you have in your aquarium.
Humans shouldn't be looking directly at an UV light, so make sure everything is installed and ready to work before turning it on. Some marine breeders like to operate UV rays intermittently so that phytoplankton and zooplankton have the opportunity to feed and travel through the system without being attacked, but this also allows parasites to do the same, so it doesn't make sense if UV is installed in the system to help protect fish from parasites with free swimming stages. Choosing the best UV light for your aquarium is no easy task, as the market is full of different products. However, if you use your UV light correctly and cautiously, it can be an effective way of keeping your aquarium clean and healthy.
