shipmate17

Hi,
My Daughter has a Freshwater Tropical tank set up, she has a UV Steraliser,and says it keeps the water sparkling clear and gets rid of some nasties,I ask at my local shop( a big concern) and was told they do not stock them and dont recommend them.
look forward to views from forum members on this subject.
cheers.

bmxer193

ok, that make no sence... But if you ask me I wouldnt get a UV steraliser because 1) they are NOT cheap at all and 2) because they kill ALL bacteria good and bad. If you have a well mantained freshwater tank theres no need for one

pistorta

Sterilizers are expensive because of the materials needed in their production. Glass has to be replaced with a material (Quartz, I think) to allow the UV rays to reach and sterilize the water that passes by. It is not a necessity by any means, not even with saltwater, which, IMO, is what it was designed for. It will not polish the water like a 5 micron diatom filter will, and chances are, on an established freshwater aquarium, is doing nothing at all. If anything, use it on a QT.

susitna-flower

Once again this is what is fun about this hobby, there are so many points of view.

UV sterilization and ozone both are like top of the line care for the tank. Both are designed to kill mainly parasites, but will kill bacteria in the water also. This does NOT cause problems with your biological filtration, because it only affects the water passing by the light (UV), most bacteria needed for your nitrogen cycle are ON decorations, glass, gravel and filter media. That is why this works for tanks, it is not the same as adding a chemical that kills every bacteria.

Some stages of parasites however are floating in the water, and will be killed by this sterilization process.

As to benefits vs. cost, I would say it depends on the level you enjoy with your fish. Most people who just have tanks in their homes don't bother with these things. IF however you strive to breed fish, and have multiple tanks running on one filtration system, you would want one of these methods to keep from spreading disease between tanks.

However if you have $$$ to spare, and want the best tank, go for it. UV can be purchased through most online outlets like,
www.southbroadwaytropicals.com , www.marineandreef.com , www.aquaticeco.com I think even www.drsfostersmith.com probably has some, maybe not the most expensive. In each case to find what you want type in the search box, UV sterilization, or ozone, and it will direct you to the products they carry.

Have fun, see you around the forum.