An Open Letter to the Ultraviolet Industry and Consumers

It probably comes as no surprise that with the growth in the fishpond industry there have been many new players enter the field. For the most part these new suppliers are ethical, competitive and well schooled on their products. Their claims are defensible and usually based on firm facts. This is as it should be in a free and open marketplace.

However, when a company enters the marketplace and dispenses misleading, false or outdated information, it reflects badly on the rest of us and it must be addressed.

Specifically, the fishpond industry is being told that a particular brand of stainless steel housed UV sterilizer will give a 30% reflection of the UV light. They cite a 20-year-old brochure that was based upon UV passing through air, not water. Since water absorbs UV and the transmission rate is extremely variable with temperature, this is a very capricious statement. Also, since the stainless steel container that they use is only polished on one side (the outside) there is very little chance for reflectivity.

Second, not all stainless steel is created equal. Those making the 30% reflection claim use what is referred to as “304” stainless, a relatively inexpensive variety. This brand corrodes when left in contact with water, thus limiting it’s reflective properties. A higher grade stainless, on the other hand will last for many years under most circumstances.

The company disseminating this information cites “Westinghouse/GTE Sylvania” as their source for this information. According to Jonathon Stringer, Legal Council for Osram Sylvania, “This is an unauthorized source reference to Westinghouse /Sylvania. There is no such company. I have no idea who they are or what they could be attributing to Sylvania.”

The noted scientist, H. Clyde Foust, in reviewing the data cited, had this to say about the 30% reflection claim, “In pond type water the light returning to the source at 100% reflectance and 100% sphericity (impossible in the real world) would be less than 1%. At 30% reflectance (an EXTREMELY optimistic number) and 100% sphericity (impossible in the real world) the return would be below detection levels.”

A third erroneous claim is that this supplier’s product will somehow keep the sleeve in which the lamp is en- closed free from the scum that collects on the sleeve. This is impossible from the lamp alone. The buildup on the sleeve is from mineral and chemical deposits in the water which are basically unaffected by UV. These sleeves should be made of the highest quality quartz and should be cleaned on a regular basis.

At this point it may be a fair question to ask, “Why is Aqua Ultraviolet telling me all of this?” The answer may not be as obvious as you think. Do we fear competition? Absolutely not. We make the finest products on the market and welcome comparisons. An informed consumer is our best customer. The truth is, Aqua Ultraviolet has been a leader in this industry for over 25 years and is proud of our record and the record of most of our competitors. When misinformation is stated as fact; when a seemingly deliberate attempt is made to confuse and mislead the public; and when inferior products begin to appear at dealerships, it affects the entire industry.

At Aqua Ultraviolet, Inc. only the highest standards are maintained. The products are assembled on premises under strict quality control; and the latest technology and research are used to refine and upgrade products.

You have an investment in your Koi pond and specimen fish. UV sterilization, in conjunction with your normal filtration, can give you the best water possible and can help control algae buildup and the spread of disease. We will be talking about these benefits in future letters. In the meantime for more information contact the Aqua Ultraviolet dealer nearest you.