Orp/uv??

[Nate R]

Has anybody read any info about max ORP reading you might get from UV?

for instance
water volume/ exposure/ unit power graph

Dont know if i am asking this question correctly, i know more people regulate 03 to raise ORP than UV but i know it can work but i m wondering if there is a direct relationship between the the three things above.

 

[apt220]

Nate, There are lots of articles about Ozone and UV. Start with searching on Reefkeeping Magazine. To get you started, UV has nothing to do with ozone or ORP. UV uses ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms in the water column. Ozone, is a little more complicated.

 

[teesquare]

apt - That is not exactly true...If the UV is in fact 254 nanometer...it is capable of producing a small - but useful amount of ozone. That would typically influence ORP numbers, and positively.
Plenty of resources on the 'net, including Wickipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone

And a source for one of the bulbs capable of doing so
http://www.topbulb.com/find/Product_Description.asp?intProductID=44829

T

 

[apt220]

Yes ozone is generated by UV photons in the atmosphere. I have never heard or read (not that I have been searching) that an aquarium UV sterilizer will generate enough ozone to make a difference. Not that we even know exactly how ozone benefits the aquarium besides clearing up water. Also, even if it did, there is likely not enough contact time for the ozone to react with the water to make a difference. But you know prove me wrong. It would be awesome if we could just use a good UV sterilizer and get some useful ozone from it.

 

[Nate R]

using UV does increase ORP for sure.

I am experimenting right now with running my uv for 12 hours per day after my lights go out. I have noticed that my ORP is actully higher now than it was running it 24/7. Fish look good and water looks clear.

I understand the diffence between the two methods. (UV , OZONE)

I m going to hook up the uv to smaller feed pump and see if i can get orp up around 400, right now at peak i am running right around 330.

i ll let you know what i find out.

 

[Nate R]

apt220,

some belive that the correct use of uv is a slower, safer way to get the same results as using ozone if ran correctly. this is what i have learned from a guy who has been in the game for quite some time, he talked me in to going this rout instead of messing with o3 for the saftey issues that go along with o3.

 

[apt220]

Well that sounds good. What was your ORP before you started using UV? Also, are you using it with carbon?

 

[apt220]

Ok --- I did a lot of searching... well not that much.

Randy Holmes-Farley said this, "I doubt a UV has too much impact on ORP" in post #4 of this thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1729029&highlight=uv+sterilizer+ozone

Even if the thread isn't really about what we are talking about here, I recommend reading it. It's pretty entertaining.

Here is another good read:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1661611&highlight=uv+sterilizer+ozone

 

[Nate R]

ORP before the UV install was 170 to 200 in that range. I would get higher reading after a water change and stuff like that.

Right now i am running a 57watt UV with 950gph feed pump 12hrs a day (at night) and getting ORP up to 330 this morning.

Next i m going to try and run it at 500gph same schedual and see what happens. i m building a new sump as we speak so i m putting that on hold for a quick minute till i get this thing done.

when i get a chance i will definatly read that artical. i belive that i have already but, i will check it out for sure. thanks for the reading.

 

[teesquare]

One more i found to add to our "pile"....

http://www.o3ozone.com/q&a_informed/nitrogen_&_ozone_patents.htm

Here is a quote from the page:

The Biggest difference between corona discharge and UV ozone generation methods is that UV ozone generators have stable ozone output levels throughout humidity ranges, while the output of corona discharge ozone generators is significantly reduced by just moderate humidity levels such as 40–70% (ozone output is reduced by approx. 40-70% with 40-70% humidity). In addition, with UV ozone generators, the cleaning requirement is almost eliminated compared to corona discharge ozone generators. Also, the ozone produced from a UV ozone generator is cleaner (no nitric acids) and smells better than ozone produced from corona discharge machines, and is just as powerful and often more powerful as ozone produced by corona discharge ozone generators.

Because it shows it is un-affected by humidity, whereas arc-corona types are, it makes me think that the ozone generated is via the light frequency/radiaton only.
Additionally, I have seen other information that suggests the upper limit of ozone production via UV bulb to be around 2 grams per hour. That is still a considerable amount of ozone, @2000mg!

T