Protien skimmer&UV sterilizer

[amandanw89]

I am just starting to plan my tank, and I am lost when it comes to equipment. I have done a fair share of reading but with all the different options, it doesnt help much. I am having a 46 gallon tank so i know that i need an 8 watt UV sterilizer. I was wondering if it was better to have a seperate protien skimmer and uv sterilizer, or one piece of equipment that combined the two. Also what brand of sterilizers and protien skimmers, do you use? With all the different brands and types, I would love to hear what people on the boards think is best to use.

 

[84chris]

Alot of people on here will tell you a sterilizer isnt really needed, but i have always used one and always will. I run my skimmer and sterilizer seperate for right now, but i am considering trying to run them together.