UV Sterilizers

[Steve]

I've never done the saltwater reef thing and I know UV Sterilizers are mostly a reef type thing, but would a UV Sterilizer add any benefit health wise to a freshwater tank?

[Malawifish]

I had one on my 180 never had any issues with any of the fish as far as parasites or sicknes. I usually throw a couple of pennies in my sump tank just to add some copper into the tank to help with keeping unwanted parasites and bacterial at bay. I don't know if it actually works but when I worked at a lfs we had tanks we ran copper in to keep fish healthy, the liquid based copper.

[kodyboy]

They work if you have a big enough sterilizer and it has enough time (water in the uv light) to irradiate the parasites long enough to kill them. Aqua UV makes good sterilizers.
 

[Steve]

kodyboy what's your thoughts on this particular model from that company you mentioned. It'd be on a 265g freshwater tank (more like 220g when the rocks, wood, 3d background etc are factored in) http://www.amazon.com/AquaUltraviolet-Advantage-2000-Inline-Barb/dp/B000NP6W1S