Any ozone users?

[jasonrstewart79]

Hey all in the process of setting up my 110 mixed reef I'm dusting off one of my old Red Sea 200mg/hr ozonators and wondering if there's anyone here who currently uses ozone to optimize their skimmer performance. I love the stuff but haven't used it since my last reef tank years ago--been out of the hobby till just recently. Anyone use a comparable unit and if so, what ORP and mg/hr are you using with what tank size/setup?

 

[hilde123]

Do you have the deluxe version that monitors ORP level? If not do you have a controller that you can control ORP. I would not does ozone unless I had a means of monitoring ORP, the risk of overdose is very high. That being said I have been dosing ozone for several years (on a controller) and initially dosed the ozone into the intake of my skimmer. I found it reduced skimmate which I understand is the result of the ozone breaking down the foam. I ended up using a ozone reactor (which is a on old red sea skimmer) and it has worked great over the last 2 years. As far as doasge, it really depends on your setup, bioload, etc. For your reference I dose 60mg/hr on my 180 which is avergly stocked.

 

[jasonrstewart79]

Do you have the deluxe version that monitors ORP level? If not do you have a controller that you can control ORP. I would not does ozone unless I had a means of monitoring ORP, the risk of overdose is very high. That being said I have been dosing ozone for several years (on a controller) and initially dosed the ozone into the intake of my skimmer. I found it reduced skimmate which I understand is the result of the ozone breaking down the foam. I ended up using a ozone reactor (which is a on old red sea skimmer) and it has worked great over the last 2 years. As far as doasge, it really depends on your setup, bioload, etc. For your reference I dose 60mg/hr on my 180 which is avergly stocked.

yeah i've got the orp probe hanging in the opposite end of the sump, running 40mg/hr right now. thanks for the input

 

[bertoni]

These three article cover ozone in detail:

Ozone and the Reef Aquarium, Part 1: Chemistry and Biochemistry
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/rhf/index.php

Ozone and the Reef Aquarium, Part 2: Equipment and Safety
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/rhf/index.php

Ozone and the Reef Aquarium, Part 3: Changes in a Reef Aquarium upon Initiating Ozone
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-05/rhf/index.php

Part 2 might be particularly useful.

 

[Swim]

I'm running 100mg unit through my skimmer on a 220 total gallon setup. The controller is set at 250 right now though because I'm in week two of the NPXBioplastics break in and they don't want the ozone running while your trying to grow the bacteria. Usually, the controller is set at 320 but the tank mostly runs between 390 - 410 so the ozone rarely runs unless I do a water change or something else that drops the redox low enough. been running ozone for a couple of decades I guess. Used a reactor for a while but I like the venturi skimmer pulling the air through a floss and GAC filter then an air dryer then the ozinizer and into the skimmer.

 

[jasonrstewart79]

Im running the incoming air through a silica bead air dryer to improve efficiency. So far water clarity has improved immensely and I have noticed a reduction in skimmate but I know that's to be expected. Fish and inverts thriving, no signs of burning. Seems to be a good move to improve overally filtration performance.

 

[t4zalews]

I'm thinking about setting up an ozone unit. Do you all put carbon over your collection cup holes to capture excess o3? I was thinking about just getting carbon pads and cut to fit...will this work? Also..do you all place carbon after the outlet of the skimmer? I was thinking about just throwing some carbon into a mesh bag and placing it under the skimmer outlet.

 

[CUNAReefer]

I like ozone. 1mg for every 3-5 gallons of water. I also dose a carbon source for bacteria growth. I never seen a decrease in foam, but I do see the nog lighten dramatically... but every tank is different. My thought is that the ozone kills the bacteria in the skimmer which has assimilated the phosphates and nitrates. Of course, I dose my vodka throughout the day so there is sufficient food source for the bacteria.

Warmest Regards,
James

 

[SDguy]

I've run ozone for a few years now. I do use carbon on the waste collector vent of my skimmer, and carbon in the sump, but I am guilty of not running my skimmer output directly through carbon.

I also stopped using my ORP controller to turn the unit on/off. IME food and other things can affect ORP, causing too much ozone to be shot into the sustem at once. I prefer to simply have the unit turn on/off on internals every few minutes, and use the ORP controller as just a monitor.

 

[CUNAReefer]

Hey SDguy,

How do you use carbon on the vent of your skimmer? I just caught a wiff of ozone when I checked on my skimmer head and boy do I need to avoid that smell. Do you use a carbon pad or actual GAC in a bag?

Warmest Regards,
James

I've run ozone for a few years now. I do use carbon on the waste collector vent of my skimmer, and carbon in the sump, but I am guilty of not running my skimmer output directly through carbon.

I also stopped using my ORP controller to turn the unit on/off. IME food and other things can affect ORP, causing too much ozone to be shot into the sustem at once. I prefer to simply have the unit turn on/off on internals every few minutes, and use the ORP controller as just a monitor.

 

[t4zalews]

SDguy, do u use activated carbon or just a carbon pad? Also..is a dryer necessary to suck out the moisture from the intake? I'm probably going to order the ozontech 200mg because you can control the amount it produces, even though I'll probably only run it at 15-20mg/hr. Are there any other units that are adjustable? Im using my APEX to control on/off functions.

 

[SDguy]

I have a waste collector on my skimmer, which has a vent on the top, so it's really easy to just lay a bag of carbon over it. Two reasons - the ozone and the stench from vodka dosing! Running the skimmer output over carbon is impossible in my setup, since the skimmer is level with the sump, so I can't "pour" the outlet water over carbon, and any restriction on the output would overflow the skimmer.

I used to run a dryer, but the beads needed recharging every 4-7 days. It was ridiculous. So instead, I just bought a 300 mg/hr unit. I currently run it 5 min on, 5 min off. I figure I get half the amount of ozone out of it with no dryer, which comes to about 75mg/hr in my overstocked 150g. MY ORD runs anywhere from 380 to 420. I am very happy with this current setup.

 

[t4zalews]

how often do you go through carbon on top of the waste collector? Does it last a long time? or do you have to change it every month

 

[SDguy]

Once every few months at best.

 

[jasonrstewart79]

I notice a huge overall improvement in water clarity... much better than results I've had with uv. New to vodka dosing though... can someone clarify that process?

 

[t4zalews]

I just purchased an ozontech posedien cuz it was adjustable. No air dryer to begin with because i only need about 15-20mg/hr and it can put out 200mg/hr.

Will a carbon pad work to break up the ozone coming from the collection cup of my skimmer, or shoudl I use some activated carbon in a mesh bag?

Hopefully I will win the battle against these dreaded dino's

 

[bertoni]

Vodka dosing is done to remove phosphorus and fixed nitrogen from the water column by feeding bacteria and skimming their output from the system.

I don't know much about carbon pads, but activated carbon should help some.

 

[t4zalews]

a carbon pad..these are round and would fit the shape of my collection cup top.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewi...mpaign=mdcsegooglebase2&utm_content=EH2628170

there are other versions of this as well, but the general idea of a carbon filter pad that has carbon in it.

Would these be good enough to breakapart the o3 leaving the collection cup or would you have to use some activated carbon in a mesh bag?

 

[bertoni]

I'm not completely sure, but they might be fine. I suspect they'll be okay as long as they hold together. The mesh or container might degrade with ozone.

 

[t4zalews]

maybe I could even get a sheet of the carbon pad and cut it up and just stick it in the holes of the collection cup.