Jaebo uv sterilizer.. and black stuff ??

[Sailfinguy21]

I habe one of those Jaebo UV sterilizerz... they used a cheap black looking plastic... its one of those 36w models.. its actuslly been very reliable and works great and ive always replaced the bulbs every 6 months.

But i noticed today when cleaning it by filling it with hottt water and shaking it to get the crap out. That the water was blackish.

Nit heavy black but looked like what activated carbon looks like when you rinse it.

However when the thing is running normally i can fill jars and stuff and its clear.. Of course that doesnt mean nothing is in the water.

Im starting to think the uv light is breaking down the plastic.

Would this have any effect on my corals or fish ? I havent noticed anything really but im just curious

 

[clhardy5]

I habe one of those Jaebo UV sterilizerz... they used a cheap black looking plastic... its one of those 36w models.. its actuslly been very reliable and works great and ive always replaced the bulbs every 6 months.

But i noticed today when cleaning it by filling it with hottt water and shaking it to get the crap out. That the water was blackish.

Nit heavy black but looked like what activated carbon looks like when you rinse it.

However when the thing is running normally i can fill jars and stuff and its clear.. Of course that doesnt mean nothing is in the water.

Im starting to think the uv light is breaking down the plastic.

Would this have any effect on my corals or fish ? I havent noticed anything really but im just curious

I know this is an old post....but the same thing happened to me this morning. Did you keep using the UV? Any ill effects from the black stuff? I'm wondering if I should put it back in.....or run without a uv for awhile.

 

[asome_one]

+1 to the above, just noticed this in mine during routine cleaning.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

This is common with Jaebo UV lights. From little to big, the UV degrades the plastic and it "melts" so to speak. I have quite a few of these and it is typically 2-3 years before the start to leak due to this. The plastic just ends up getting too thin and there is a leak.

I will say, I have had no issue with the gunk in any tanks. This includes SPS, mixed and multi-speices nem tanks.

I have since changed over to Lifeguard aquatics UVs and after a year, no residue or black gunk in it. So it does go to show the difference in quality for price. At least for some things lol.

 

[asome_one]

This is common with Jaebo UV lights. From little to big, the UV degrades the plastic and it "melts" so to speak. I have quite a few of these and it is typically 2-3 years before the start to leak due to this. The plastic just ends up getting too thin and there is a leak.

I will say, I have had no issue with the gunk in any tanks. This includes SPS, mixed and multi-speices nem tanks.

I have since changed over to Lifeguard aquatics UVs and after a year, no residue or black gunk in it. So it does go to show the difference in quality for price. At least for some things lol.

Thank you! I just cleaned mine up and put it back in service. Glad to know it hasn't affected your more sensitive corals.