Fixing a UV Sterilizer

So I bought an Aqua brand 25w UV sterilizer in MSM's auction yesterday.  It did not work, but appeared more or less brand new.  I figured it must be a bad ballast.  To get to the ballast I had to cut the end of the ballast housing off.  Here's a picture of the various pieces.

 

I found that the ballast was working, but the starter "glow plug" was burned out.  For $1.50 I bought two new starters.  Here's a picture of the new one taken apart (on left) and the old burned out one (on the right).

 

Replacing the starter was simple soldering.  It just so happens that the UV housing is 2" plastic pipe.  So I replaced the end that I had to cut off with a 2" PVC cap.  I cut a hole in the cap and threaded it for 1/2" pipe for the cord holder.  Here's a final picture (you can see the cap and the lighted bulb!)

 

So... now what am I going to do with a filter component that I don't really think my tank needs?

You are so cool. I want to be just like you when I grow up.

 

Edited by ssilcox

So I'm standing next to Jon at the MSM auction and this new looking UV Sterilizer comes up for bid (the others that had been auctioned looked like crap). Out of the corner of my eye I notice some kind of twitch and sure enough it's Jon bidding on the thing.

Something told me he was going to get it but I wondered what would he do with it? So the bid closes and he turns to me laughing and says, "I don't know if I'll ever use it "

Gotta like that fix-it guy

So the bid closes and he turns to me laughing and says, "I don't know if I'll ever use it "

I'm still not really sure why I bid ... I guess I just got tired of seeing everyone else bidding so I jumped on the bandwagon.  Actually, I've been wanting to try one in conjunction with my skimmer.  I've heard that UV can help improve skimming.  Now I can try one out. 

25 watts... boy that bulb really generates ozone!  I only had it on for about 10 seconds for that photo and I could smell the ozone from 10 ft away .

I've been working on breaking Al-Qaeda secret codes now for the last 6 months... and I've met some new friends