Ozone and acrylic skimmers

[cdalmost]

I found a used ozone generator and ORP controller for cheap, so I'm going to try ozone in my new tank. My question is how to administer the ozone. I will be buying a needle-wheel skimmer (something along the lines of an Octopus Extreme 200), and have heard that injecting the ozone into the skimmer is a good idea. How do I go about doing this? I've noticed that a lot of skimmers' mufflers have two inputs. Can I just hook the ozone output up to one of the muffler's inputs? Is the acrylic and tubing typically used to bring the air from the muffler to the pump usually ozone safe?

Thanks in advance!

 

[hybridazn]

I don't know much about this but i do know not all skimmers are safe with ozone. I believe asm skimmers are ozone safe

 

[ironwill723]

I run ozone on my system and will never run a system again without it. Most better mid level and up skimmers are fine with ozone use. I bought a airline T at the autoparts store and t'd into the skimmer airline. I keep my ORP set at 425 on the ORP controller and run a carbon reactor after the output of my skimmer in my sump. Make sure you have extra carbon for the holes on your skimmer lid as well to avoid ozone escaping through the skimmer lid.

 

[cloakerpoked]

I run ozone on my system and will never run a system again without it. Most better mid level and up skimmers are fine with ozone use. I bought a airline T at the autoparts store and t'd into the skimmer airline. I keep my ORP set at 425 on the ORP controller and run a carbon reactor after the output of my skimmer in my sump. Make sure you have extra carbon for the holes on your skimmer lid as well to avoid ozone escaping through the skimmer lid.

What has been your experience with ozone that makes you so high on it, if you don't mind my asking.

 

[hybridazn]

I've heard a mixed bag of responses on ozone. I'm kind of curious as well

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

the main result you will get is clearer water. I tried it in the past. It definitely works. I ran it through the air intake on my ASM G3 skimmer.

 

[bmiller1234]

I was looking into it a while back for my big tank and from what I remember its not bad for the skimmer or the acrylic it has to do with performance since ozone breaks down organics if you run it into intake of a low end skimmer it will break down organics in body of skimmer and ruin the foam fractitioning of the skimmer resulting in just a lot of bubbles with little or no skimmate. Just the fine neck sludge.

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

I was looking into it a while back for my big tank and from what I remember its not bad for the skimmer or the acrylic it has to do with performance since ozone breaks down organics if you run it into intake of a low end skimmer it will break down organics in body of skimmer and ruin the foam fractitioning of the skimmer resulting in just a lot of bubbles with little or no skimmate. Just the fine neck sludge.

No, it will actually break down some acrylic making it brittle and cause cracking and crazing in the acrylic and the tubing. The main reason it is an issue with ozone is if the equipment is cracked then the ozone will escape into the room which is a no no.

 

[bmiller1234]

Gotta love google. So the problem is cheap acrylic gets attacked by ozone oxidizers and degrades the integrity. Some manufacturers say not to run ozone due to performance but its actually an excuse cause they used cheap stuff.

Ozone escape into the room isn't an issue. Its used constantly in office building and hospitals to kill odor and airborne bacteria. ozone or O3 is safe up to 10ppm. Typically at 1-3 ppm it will hold a sterile odor free enviromemt.

So those who run ozone do you notice a drop in the "tank smell" in room or a less funky skimmer cup aroma we all know so well?

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

I think the decimal needs to be bumped over a couple...

According to this page: http://www.ozoneservices.com/articles/007.htm

0.100 ppm
The maximum allowable ozone concentration in industrial working areas: permissible human exposure - 8 hours per day, 6 days a week.


0.200 ppm
Prolonged exposure of humans under occupational and experimental conditions produced no apparent ill effects. The threshold level at which nasal and throat irritation will result appears to be about 0.300 ppm.

0.500 ppm
The ozone level at which Los Angeles, California, declares its Smog Alert No. 1. Can cause nausea and headaches in some individuals. Extended exposure could cause lung edema (an abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in connective tissue or serous cavity). Enhances the susceptibility to respiratory infections.

5.00 to 25.00 ppm
Experimentation showed that a 3 hour exposure at 12 ppm was lethal for Guinea pigs. Welders who were exposed to 9 ppm concentration plus other air pollutants developed pulmonary edema. Chest X-rays were normal in 2 to 3 weeks, but 9 months later they still complained of fatigue and exertional dyspnea (labored respiration).

 

[bmiller1234]

your completely correct and I apologize for my typos. Typed it like that but touch screen phones love to wreak havoc when your not paying attention...

 

[acer]

Not sure on the PPM - but I have used an "Ozonator" for several reasons = odors (yes cannot smell tanks in either home or office) , also for any body odor in my office, also I do not get sick ( typical cold or flu) which I attribute some to the O3- at least in my office as I think it helps the lingering airborn type viruses. O3 also really helps to cut any paint /tar/etc. smell. Good ozonators have sensors that shut off the O3 production if it gets too high. I have seriously thought about adding ozone to my tanks - just too lazy, busy, costs, etc. so far- but if I get my 180 up- it will be part of the plan.

 

[ironwill723]

Well just my experience with using it... I have found it makes the water super clear removing that yellowish hue you see in aged saltwater which helps with my corals and par readings. The really big thing I like is the sterilization aspect. For me it has been way more efficient than running UV units. As alot of people may know I built my current tank to house an Achilles tang which are super ich prone. If you scan through the Achilles primer on RC you will find that many of the folks that are housing achilles tangs also run ozone. I did a ton of research on RC and the net before I bought a unit. Randy Holmes Farley has written a nice article on it's uses. For the most part, every zoo and aquarium uses some form of ozone and uv. So do all the better wholesalers. So for me, it keeps my water clearer, cleaner, and more sterile. It won't remove nitrate or phosphates but it certainly does help maintain a better environment in the tank, especially if your looking to keep more difficult fish. Is it a magic cure all solution. No. But I do belief it has helped me tremendously with difficult fish.

 

[ironwill723]

"So those who run ozone do you notice a drop in the "tank smell" in room or a less funky skimmer cup aroma we all know so well?



The first two days I ran mine it smelled like a fish market in my sump room. The skimmer went crazy with the darkest nastiest foam it had ever made. After about 3 days the smell was gone and the water got really clear. For me, I feel like ozone is a nice low maintenance addition to a skimmer. Ozone gets a lot of the nasty stuff a skimmer can't skim out. Just make sure you have an ORP controller and you will be fine. I run the Ozotech unit with a Milwaukee orp controller that I got from BRS on a Vertex IN-280 skimmer.

 

[cdalmost]

Thanks for all the info! Besides the clearer water and reduced smell, did your animals react at all (for better or worse) to the introduction of ozone? How often do you have to replace the carbon on the skimmers outlets? (i.e. do you go through a ton of carbon keeping the excess ozone at bay?)

Does anyone know whether the Octopus Extreme line of skimmers are made of ozone safe materials?

 

[cdalmost]

To anyone who is interested, I found out that all Octopus skimmers are compatible with ozone.