Is a uv steralizer really needed in a saltwater aquarium?

Question

I am starting a 100gallon saltwater aquarium and was wandering if i should have a uv steralizer. In the pet store they only have a filter not even a protean skimmer.

Answer 1

No, these aren't required. They're helpful for certain uses, but I believe their effectiveness is far overrated by people who don't understand how they work.

What they are good for is to rid a tank or pond of any free-floating organisms that are only one (or a few) cells in size. They do this by pumping the tank/pond water out of the tank/pond and through an enclosed unti that emits UV radiation. This has to be enclosed, because the UV is specific to wavelengths that cause cellular damage by mutating the organism's DNA. If the organism only has one or a few cells, damage to any one cell (in such a way that the organisms can no longer reproduce, or make an enzyme or protein needed for its survival) may affect that organism enough to kill it.

The above presupposes that the organisms to be killed are 1) small enough to be affected, 2) evenly distributed throughout the water, and 3) incapable of avoiding the pump or gravity feed to the UV unit. So UV works great for things like free-floating algae, bacteria, and fungal cells. The down side is that if what you're trying to kill is larger than a few cells (like most parasites), is attached to a surface (hair algae), only inhabits certain areas of the tank (substrate), or is capable of controlled movement to avoid the pump/overflow the UV isn't doing much for you, other than perhaps killing spores of algae to prevent reproduction. Anyone proclaiming UV as a "cure all" for disease and algae doesn't understand this.

IMO, you'd be better off to buy equipment for a quarantine/hospital tank and use that for all new organisms for a period of a month than to use a UV.

I'll post a few links below about using UV in aquaria, so you gcan get an idea of the pros and cons of it's use.

Answer 2

Because of the size of your aquarium, i would suggest getting one. But you dont need to get one right away, because algae and water-born diseases dont develope until your tank has been established for a month or two.

Good luck!

Answer 3

it could be helpful, but i agree, its an extra. and find a better store or shop onlinem if they cannot order for you.