Is a UV sterilizer bad for a reef tank?

[peanut1181]

I have been told that I should not get a UV sterilizer for my reef tank... removes some of the good things in the water that the coral need. Is this accurate?
I have also been told that I should DEFINITELY have one in any saltwater tank because it kills most of the harmful bacteria and parasites and such.
What is the real deal with the UV sterilizer? Will it help or harm? Thanks for your input.
Gray

 

[adrian]

IMO a uv sterilizer is good for nothing more than killing suspended algae, Ive never used one, and dont know of many reefers who do, you definitely dont need one, and they wont kill parasites that are already on your fish. HTH

 

[nm reef]

I have gone to a lot of effort to establish diversity in my system and its my understanding that a UV steralizer can harm some of that diversity.
Besides.......a search of any board will indicate that UV's are not prefered on reef systems...but it is a personal choice. One that I find easy to make....no UV for my system!

 

[derrickt]

Spend that money on a good skimmer. You'll be more happy =]

 

[aileena]

I have a 9watt UV on my 29g tank and I think it is helpful. I have 3 green chromis and 2 little tank raised clowns. My clean up crew consists of 4 blue and 4 red hermits, 3 trochus, 1 emerald, sand sifter star, cleaner shrimp and a peppermint shrimp. I have 30pds of live rock. Tank set up for 4 months.
Before the UV my Chromis had some type of skin parasite that caused them to shake and rub on the LR. After feeding garlic for 2 weeks and setting up the UV the problem seems to have been reduced significantly. I am glad I have mine. However, since I have started to get some corals like mushrooms and polyps I have reduced the amount of time I use the steralizer. I keep it on at night when the lights are off. for about 14 hours.
There are a lot better things to spend your money on. This is an expensive hobby. If you have a fish only tank you dont need a UV because you can use meds, but if you have inverts and LR you cannot use meds and have to resort to other means to cure the occassional fish parasities or ick.

 

[wamp]

I still have seen no usefull purpose in them. I have had disease infested tanks with and without UV on them. I have had algea with and without. Never did I see a diffrence from having one and not having one.
So, IMO, they are a complete waste of money. Maybe on a big tank with a very high wattage UV they make a diffrence, but the small ones that I had, had no affect.

 

[fshhub]

so which one worked, the garlic, the uv or ma nature??
i have none, and wont bc as mentioned above, and without have been ick free for decades, never saw it once, so it would be hard to convince me using them is better(i mena houw much better can you get than never, in this case)
IMO, i would put my money elsewhere and not risk any damage to my little ecosystem i built(it all works together and taking out parts, creates other needs for your system to compinsate)