Common Aquarium Microorganism UV Dosages
Target Microorganism
The size, biological make up and life cycle of a microorganism all play a critical part in successful germicidal
disinfection. By way of comparison, there are approximately 65,000 known protozoa and only 45,000 bacteria of which all require their own specific
UV-C dose. A microorganism's size plays a significant roll in the UV dose required to irradiate it. Protozoa are often many times larger than bacteria
and therefore, require a much higher UV dose. The speed (flow rate) at which the waterborne microorganism travels through the UV housing
(across the UV lamp field) establishes the UV dose (µWs/cm²) received (see chart below).
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Type |
Name |
UV Dose |
Info Source |
| |
Algae |
Chlorella Vulgaris |
22,000 |
- |
| |
Bacteria |
Aeromonas Salmonicida |
3,620 |
Normandeau (log-3) |
| |
Bacteria |
Pseudomonas Fluorescens (fin rot) |
11,000 |
(log-3) |
| |
Bacteria |
Bacilus Subtilus (spores) |
22,000 |
Nagy (log-3) |
| |
Fungi |
Saprolengnia (Zoo spores) |
39,600 |
Normandeau (log-3) |
| |
Protozoa |
Sarcina Lutea |
26,400 |
Nagy (log-3) |
| |
Protozoa |
Ceratomyxa Shasta |
30,000 |
Bedell (log-3) |
| |
Protozoa |
Trichodina Sp. |
35,000 |
Hoffman (log-3) |
| |
Protozoa |
Myxobolus Cerebralis (TAMs, Whirling Disease) |
40,000 |
School of Veternary Medicine, U. of CA |
| |
Protozoa |
Ichthyophthirius Tomites (freshwater white spot) |
100,000 |
Hoffman |
| |
Protozoa |
Amyloodinium Ocellateum (marine velvet) |
105,000 |
- |
| |
Protozoa |
Trichodina Nigra |
159,000 |
Vlasenko |
| |
Protozoa |
Cryptocaryon Irritans (marine white spot) |
280,000 |
- |
| |
Protozoa |
Costia Necatrix |
318,000 |
Vlasenko (log-3) |
| |
Virus |
KHV (koi herpes virus) |
4,000 |
Kasai Hisae |
| |
Virus |
CCV (channel catfish virus) |
20,000 |
Yoshimizu, Takizawa, Kimura |
| |
Virus |
IHNV (infectious hematopoietic necrosis/CHAB) |
20,000 |
Yoshimizu, Takizawa, Kimura (log-3) |
| |
Virus |
OMV (oncorhynchus masou virus) |
20,000 |
Yoshimizu, Takizawa, Kimura |
| |
Virus |
IHNV (infectious hematopoietic necrosis/RTTO) |
30,000 |
Yoshimizu, Takizawa, Kimura |
| |
Virus |
VHS (viral haemorrhagic septicaemia) |
32,000 |
Ioannis Thasitis |
| |
Virus |
CSV (chum salmon virus) |
100,000 |
Yoshimizu |
| |
Virus |
IPNV (infectious pancreatic necrosis virus) |
336,700 |
Norwegian School of Veternary Science (log-3) |
|
Microorganism Life Cycle
Life cycle is another critical factor that requires consideration when applying UV sterilization. For example, the marine parasite Cryptocaryon
(saltwater whitespot) is an excellent representation of how complex a microorganism's life cycle can be. Cryptocaryon has a four part life cycle. A
warm water parasite, cryptocaryon can be lethal to many species of marine fish. Diagram A is very descriptive, showing the many characteristics of this
microorganism. The aquaculture community has waged battles against cryptocaryon and have lost, specifically at the encysted (Tomont) stage, simply due
to it's evasiveness by attaching itself to its substrate. Disease outbreaks still occur even with filtering the water column using extremely fast flow rates.
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Prerequisites of achieving successful UV disinfection
- Identify the "Target Microorganism", consider its physical and life cycle characteristics
- Determine its "Required" UV Dose
- Determine the condition of the water to be treated (water temperature & UV transmissibility)
- Contact your UV manufacturer, ask questions regarding their UV equipment's capacity compared
to your specific needs
- Select the UV Sterilizer model that best suits your application requirements
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