UV Sterilizer or not?

[Hawaiigold]

What's the general opinion on an uv sterilizer?
Necessary or waste of money?
What are the recommendations for a 180 gal reef tank.

Thanks

[AZDesertRat]

Waste of money for a reef. I did use one on my heavily stocked fish only system though and swear by them for that application. I am convinced it helped my fish live to over 13 years old.
In a reef I believe they inactivate or kill a necessary part of the food chain. Thats why the use them in waste water treatment plants and they work so well.

[bertoni]

Some people report clearer water with one in use. That said, I don't have any plans to buy a UV unit.

[rjrobert]

I have a UV system that is attached to my quarantine tank. With the flip of a few plumbing pieces it can run through the display tank if I get ich or something. Not something I think is needed in a beginner setup.

[tmz]

Not necessary but a usefull tool . I use them on my reef system and like the results. They don't wipe out pod populations or phytoplankton. They do kill what goes through them including green water and some pathenogens and really help keep the glass clean.

[drillsar]

Waste a money in my opinion

[deansreef]

kills the bad bacteria along with the good bacteria