UV Sterilizers

Does anyone run UV Sterilizers? If so how effective is it in a saltwater tank? Can you use tap water instead of RO? And what is the best one you've ever tried?

I have UV's on both my 75g reef and my 29g biocube. The cube is running the oceanic biocube UV that plumbs right into the return pump, i have had alot of issues with it as the bulbs arent replacable and you have to buy the whole new unit. My reef tank however i have a Coralife Turbo Twist and i love it! It was very easy to install (it does require another pump, i use a maxijet 900) and includes a few different size adapters to accommodate your plumbing.

That said, many people will debate on the use of UV. UV sterilizers work by emitting ultra violet radiation, this will destroy algae (reducing green water) and the radiation will destroy the reproductive system of most bacteria and parasites (although it cant distinguish good and bad organisms). Only the amount of water passing thru the UV is affected (it wont kill everything). They work on both freshwater and marine.

Most people will recommend that you use RO water is the aquarium hobby BUT depending on where you live your tapwater may be useable. First i would find out if your city adds floride or chlorine to the water. Second take a sample of your water to the LFS and have them test it, most will have a TDS meter (total dissolved solids) and will determine if your tap is good enough for the aquarium!

I've been trying to educate myself about UV Sterilizers, and so far, given the fact that I plan to quarantine everything before it enters my tank, I don't see that the positive outweighs the negative.  They will kill any microorganisms that pass them them, including the ones that feed corals.  Just from what I'm reading, it seems they would be beneficial in a fish only tank, but I don't think I'm going to get one for my new reef tank.  At least not until I do some more research and feel like the benefits will outweigh the fact that it will kill every living microorganism in my water!

if your going to run tap water, then you should at least run a uv to prevent algae

I think with uv the good out ways the bad by far. Are they a necessity def not but have alot of positive aspects like algae control and killing paracites. I personally dont buy into the debate about coral suffering from them. Coral will eat the micro foods whether alive or dead. Why do you think people dose with coral frenzy , reef chili etc I can assure you that stuff is dead.

I'm not using a uv right now but after reading this article I think I will look at getting so does it matter what size you put on a tank?

Imo Ozone works a lot better as it is a oxidizer, Draw backs are you have to have a way of controlling the ORP either a ozone unit with built in controller or Neptune/other controller. Don't assume you can just use a ozone unit with out one as some will say to me that is just foolish...