7 TOP Aquarium UV Sterilizer Reviews: Kill Bacteria And Toxins In Fish Tank

What is the best Aquarium UV Sterilizer?

A UV Sterilizer can help you to keep on top of fish tank maintenance and helps protect the health and wellbeing of your fish.

In this article, you’ll learn more about these accessories and we’ll share some of the best units you can buy.

Best Aquarium UV Sterilizers

A UV fish tank filter is a device that you can install into your aquarium to eliminate the growth of harmful microorganisms.

Wondering how it works?

To put it simply, this unit releases UV rays from a light bulb, which filters the water that passes through it.

This way, it gets rid of a lot of unwanted microscopic organisms such as:

• Bacteria
• Parasites
• Algae
• Viruses

This useful device can be utilized in many scenarios.

You can use it in your at-home fish tank, in large aquariums, and in swimming pools.

It also does a pretty good job of controlling the formation of green algae in ponds.

Algae can be quite annoying when it gets out of hand, which you’d know if you’re an aquarist.

Choosing the right ultraviolet aquarium filter for your fish tank can be quite challenging, especially for beginners.

Therefore, we’ve decided to include the following list to help you figure this out.

1. Aqua UV Fish Tank Sterilizer

This UV sterilizer by Aqua UV has all the features you’re looking for – it’s pretty pricey, and not for a novice, but it can be worth the cost.

For starters, it can sterilize up to 1,200 gallons of fresh water and about 150 gallons of saltwater. Therefore it’s great for larger fish tank setups, rather than small ones.

Not to mention that it comes with a few characteristics any aquarist would appreciate. For instance, the unit weighs about 5 lbs, making installation and maintenance a piece of cake.

In fact, all the parts that make up this device can be easily twisted apart for quick maintenance.

Also, the whole device is designed to withstand maximum flow rates, which further enhances its performance.

Pros:

• Quick to install
• Easy maintenance
• High-quality structure
• Lightweight
• Sterilizes 1,200 gallons of freshwater and 150 gallons of saltwater
• Long lamp life
• Great for large tanks

Cons:

• You might have to wait for a week to notice results
• A bit pricey

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2. AQUA Shield UV Sterilizers For aquarium

If you want a budget-friendly option for your small or medium-sized fish tank, we highly recommend this UV sterilizer.

Unlike the previous device on our list, this unit is vertical using the drop-in installation style.

It also doesn’t depend on any pumps to do its work, being gravity-fed and all. This might explain its relatively low wattage, which is 11 watts.

Its UV cartridge, which includes the light bulb and the quartz sleeve, is disposable. Therefore, you can easily remove it to replace any of these components or for maintenance purposes.

All in all, this simple UV sterilizer can be one of the best units to install on the back of your little aquarium.

Pros:

• Easy to install and maintain
• Gravity-fed
• Perfect for small fish tanks
• Removable UV cartridge
• The results begin to show after only 24 hours
• Affordable price

Cons:

• Not a good option for large tanks

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3. Coralife Turbo Twist UV Sterilizer

Now, here’s something that might grasp your attention if you’d rather stick to the mid-tier price range.

Coralife Turbo Twist UV filter for fish tank can be a great addition to your big aquarium.

What makes it so unique is that you can use it with both freshwater and saltwater.

Not to mention that it can clear up to 500 gallons of water, based on which model you pick.

Also, many users commented on its durable body and long-lasting bulb, which is available in different wattages as well.

One of the best things about this unit is that you can mount it on the aquarium in two ways. Equipped with mounting brackets, you can either hang it on the back or in in-line applications.

However, it doesn’t include a dosing pump, which you’ll have to buy separately.

Pros:

• Easy installation
• Clears up to 500 gallons of water
• A great addition to huge tanks
• Long bulb lifetime
• Sturdy build
• Comes with mounting brackets
• Works with freshwater and saltwater
• Mid-range price

Cons:

• No water pump included

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4. Aqua UV Advantage UV Aquarium Light

This is another excellent option if you’re interested in the mid-range price tag.

This UV filter by Aqua UV can do wonders for small fish tanks that contain freshwater or saltwater.

In the case of fresh water, it can sterilize up to 200 gallons. However, if you’re about to use it on saltwater, you can expect it to work its charm on up to 70 gallons.

Also, it’s quite easy to install since it’s mounted vertically using brackets. Not to mention that it’s lightweight, weighing only about 4 lbs.

Pros:

• Easy to mount
• Lightweight
• Sterilizes up to 200 gallons of fresh water and 70 gallons of saltwater
• Great for small tanks
• Midrange price

Cons:

• It might take you from 3-5 days to see any change in the water

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5. JBJ NanoZapp UV Tank Sterilizer

Finally, we’d like you to have a closer look at this UV sterilizer.

We think it can work perfectly in smaller fish tanks, especially those with a maximum capacity of 30 gallons.

There are other reasons to like this device. For example, its UV lamp can last for approximately 5000 hours.

Also, its distinctively compact size makes it submersible. Therefore, you can connect it to your existing water pump and hide it out of sight.

The last thing we like about it is that it can be used with both fresh and saltwater.

Pros:

• Easy to install and maintain
• Miniature design
• In-line installment
• 30-gallon capacity
• Works with both fresh and saltwater
• Affordable

Cons:

• You can’t mount it externally without risking leaks

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When To Start Using A UV Filter

There isn’t a specific time that you need to begin using a UV sterilizer. Yet, there are a few points you need to keep in mind before turning it on.

For instance, you should install it as a final piece of your filtration system. It shouldn’t be considered a replacement for a filter or for regular water changes.

Plus, you shouldn’t use it when you first cycle the aquarium. This is because it’ll kill the beneficial bacteria, which you’ll mostly want to keep for the well-being of your marine life.

Also, you should turn it off when you drop medications into the water. That’s because the UV light can break the bonds in those treatments, which defies the whole point.

In addition, the UV light might change the nature of these medications, which can be harmful to the inhibitors of the tank.

Aquarium Size and Water Flow

The sterilizer model must match the dimensions of your aquarium.

To do that, you’ll only need to check the manufacturer’s size requirements.

Still, despite how large your tank is, the water flow is another factor you should consider. See, your aquarium might not be the biggest out there, but the water speed can be fast, which will change the scales.

Therefore, before making up your mind about a unit, make sure that it has both points fulfilled.

Bulb Wattage

The power of the UV bulb that you can find inside an aquarium sterilizer is determined by wattage.

Thus, the higher the number is, the more efficient the unit should be.

We’d also like to point out that a higher wattage means that the bulb’s ability to produce UV light might dim with time.

For this reason, you can expect to replace this bulb every six months or so.

Style

There are plenty of aquarium UV sterilizer styles out there.

Some come to be installed horizontally, while others are vertical.

There are also types that you can hang on the back of the tank; others can allow you to submerge them in the water.

The options are endless, to be frank. Therefore, you should make your decision based on the type of aquarium that you have.

UV Sterilizer Aquarium

To preserve the health and well-being of the plants or animals in your aquarium, you should provide them with the ideal ecosystem.

One of the most important devices, alongside accessories like a protein skimmer (for reef tanks) or an osmolator, is a quality UV sterilizer.

Our top pick is definitely the Coralife Turbo Twist UV Sterilizer.

We love it for its reasonable price, easy installation, and long bulb lifespan. Not to mention that it can be used for both fresh and saltwater.

If you’re not on a tight budget, the Aqua UV 25 Watt UV Sterilizer is also an excellent choice.