Oxygen Tablets...What is your opinion

[clsanchez77]

Randy and others:

I have crossed this product at Marine Depot:

Tom Aquatics Oxygen Stone 5pc. Box

Oxygen Stone generates oxygen by chemical reaction when immersed in water. It keeps producing oxygen for about a month, enabling you to safely keep your fish in a small tank without the use of an air pump.

Oxygen Stone helps clean the water. Oxygen helps bacteria speed the decomposition of fish and plant waste by means of oxidization. It is suitable for both fresh and marine water. You will not see bubbles coming from the Oxyen Stone as it is generation oxygen.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=OE1165

My thoughts was that this product, if there is merit to their claim, could be used for long term power outages.

I am setting up a 90g reef tank and I live just outside of New Orleans in Metairie, my neighborhood gets its power from two substations, one which is curretnly not in operation since the storm. Given the condition of our local grid, I am expeting power outages to occur regularly this summer.

For short term power outages, a day or less, I will have two battery operated air pumps. My concern is for the longer power outages which could last a couple of weeks. BTW, for Katrina, my power was out for 11 weeks. Electricity was my Thanksgiving day present

My question is does this product have any merit and would it be suitable for the situation that I describe. I realize taht for a 90g, I may need qutie a few but even a dozen of these is cheaper than replacing all my livestock.


Thanks for your input.

Chris Sanchez

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BTW, many others on this board have great power backup plans so I wanted to address them before they became suggestions. Generators & marine battery banks are not an option for me. The tank is in the second story of a 3 story condo and I have no garage or unfinished storage space so there is no suitable location for either. I am not convinced that a UPS device will do any better than the battery air pumps.

 

[Boomer]

Does it say on the box what is in the stone. There are a few chemicals that could be used to do this.

 

[clsanchez77]

I dont have a box as I have not purchased it yet. What are examples of chemicals that could be used for this>

 

[Boomer]

The usually are always a form of peroxide, sometimes with other chemicals mixed in. Some can cause problems if you do not know what the composition is, such as raising the CO2. Here is just one example where there has been problems in the bait-minnow industry.

Pemble-Halverson, Inc. makes O-Tabs (oxygen tablets), a chemical composition of strontium peroxide, calcium monophophate, calcium sulfate, and manganese dioxide, no moving parts or noise here and a limited amount of pure oxygen is produced. The O-TAB business has run continually since 1939.

The small dose of oxygen delivered is limited and cannot be adjusted when the livewell biological oxygen demand changes.

These chemicals react with water releasing a limited amount of pure oxygen, 10% carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen Peroxide combined with water produces oxygen concentrations greater than air.

Carbon dioxide dissolves in water producing carbonic acid and the pH falls compromising livewell water quality, acid livewell water. Hydrogen peroxide can burn gills, eyes and skin compromising fish health and increasing mortality

Her is another one, an old post by me

Sodium Percarbonte = 2Na2CO3Ã"šÃ‚·3H2O2

Notice the 3H2O2, that is hydrogen peroxide. The reaction is;


2 Na2CO3 . 3 H2O2 → 2 Na2CO3 + 3 H2O2


then 2 Na2CO3 --- >4 Na+ + 2 CO3--

the H2O2 ---> H20 + O2


The pH of the solution is alkaline, which activates the H2O2 for bleaching. The powder contains about 30% H2O2.

Sodium perborate has also been used in this hobby and sold as Oxygenex.


Another one is Oxyclean, yup, the stuff on tv

Some of these are OK, if you know what you are doing with them.

 

[clsanchez77]

Thanks Boomer, I ordered one package with my last MD order so I will let you know what is in it.

I would I figure out how much I would need for the case of a power outage. What ways can I test the product to see if it actually works so I don't depend on it for a power outage and it not meet its claims.

Oxyclean...
so my livestock, rock and sand would be washer machine safe if I use this and stay away from the detergent and bleach. Would you recommend cold, warm or hot water? Might just be able to save some money on the Tunze streams.

 

[DrBDC]

Even cheaper is a battery powered airpump for about 10 bucks.

 

[clsanchez77]

Even cheaper is a battery powered airpump for about 10 bucks

Not to sound like a jerk but...Please read my original post.

especially

For short term power outages, a day or less, I will have two battery operated air pumps. My concern is for the longer power outages which could last a couple of weeks. BTW, for Katrina, my power was out for 11 weeks. Electricity was my Thanksgiving day present

 

[DrBDC]

duh! I think I'd stick to that and just have a nice supply of Duracells on hand. I have a couple oxygen tanks I keep around since a family member that was on O2 therapy passed on and no one ever called to collect them. Since I haven't had to use them yet I'm not sure how long they'd last but it's a thought for you. On the few times I've lost power for just hours I have a couple power converters I hook to one of the cars in the garage and run my main pump and 2 powerheads from it. It requires an extension cord but I've also seen where people take marine batteries and hook up a similar setup. More money that way though. Each power converter cost me 24.99 and will do only 200 watts but it's enough for the main pump and the 2 seio 1500's. I use the other one to hook up clip on lights with those 14 watt coiled up flor. bulbs that you replace regular bulbs with and some use on sumps. 10 of those and the house is lit up as good as with power!

 

[Boomer]

sanchez

Some do or have used Oxy-Clean for that very reason


http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=208252&highlight=oxyclean

 

[clsanchez77]

I think I'd stick to that and just have a nice supply of Duracells on hand

Just how long will a battery operated air pump run of one set of batteries? I have never used one before but have two on order and should recieve them this week.

My logic for the tablets is that if they are safe and effective, they could poltentially last a month as claimed, I then do not have to full with changing batteries.

Additionally, the tabets release dissolved O2, not just bubbles of air, this makes them more efficent at maintaining hte Oxygen levels...as I belive...I could be wrong in logic though.

 

[clsanchez77]

have a couple oxygen tanks I keep around since a family member that was on O2 therapy passed on and no one ever called to collect them

Very Handy

 

[clsanchez77]

On the few times I've lost power for just hours I have a couple power converters I hook to one of the cars in the garage and run my main pump and 2 powerheads from it. It requires an extension cord but I've also seen where people take marine batteries and hook up a similar setup. More money that way though. Each power converter cost me 24.99 and will do only 200 watts but it's enough for the main pump and the 2 seio 1500's. I use the other one to hook up clip on lights with those 14 watt coiled up flor. bulbs that you replace regular bulbs with and some use on sumps. 10 of those and the house is lit up as good as with power!

It is an excellent idea and again, I have already dismissed it in my original post. I can not safely accomidate this equipment, I am in a condo and have no unfinihsed or exterior space. Where do I store a bank of Marine Batteries? - I dont expect an anwer to that