Ozone and Redox Fluctuation

d2mini

d2mini

Premium Member
My orp readings were hanging out around 300 so i added ozone, controlled/monitored via my Profilux. The ozone is running through my LifeReef skimmer.
I set the Poseidon 200 generator to come on if the orp dipped below 370 with a hysteresis of 10. But I have been getting reading as high as 425!
Is this ok? Is there anything I should/can do about it?

I've read Randy's articles, I know what it's doing, why I installed it, etc. I just didn't expect large fluctuations beyond what I have it set at. And we all know how important stability is with other elements in our tanks. So this one has me a bit worried.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
 
At this point I would not worry. If the generator is running at full power try setting to about 50%, you may be having a residual climb of ORP, especially since it is in the garage which is a good distance from the display.
 
So i don't even have my ozone generator power cord plugged in anymore and my ozone is still climbing... up to 450 now! What the heck, man? :confused:

I'll re-calibrate the orp probe but that won't change the fact that it keeps climbing.

I don't get it.
 
It may take a few weeks for the ORP probe to settle in. It is typical for it to start low and climb for a week or more. It can do this every time it is cleaned or calibrated.
 
Yeah, that's why i got the probe early, like a month ago. I wanted it to settle in before i got the ozone going.
It started off below 200 and then climbed to the low 300's where it settled for a couple weeks. So then I started the ozone.

What i can't seem to find is how high is too high. Any idea, Jack?
I'm going to recalibrate tonite. The calibration solution is already floating in my sump.

Thanks!
 
I would also not discount probe/controller inaccuracy as well as electrical interference. I keep my probe and cord as isolated from any electrical source as possible. A water change always drops ORP for me and most people, so perhaps run some of your W/C mix into a cup and check the ORP there. I don't think there are any issues with actual ORP until you get over 600, IIRC, but I have never managed to get mine that high so I cannot say for certain, but electrical interference can be an issue.
 
When I started my DT (one year ago today !!!) I used Ozone to get ORP up to 350 quickly.

Over the last year I have been slowly reducing Ozone and also keeping over 350 ORP with good husbandry and with natural stability as the system matures.

At this time I can maintain 425 peak without Ozone. I notice it drops to 370 ish after feeding and after Water changes, but things get back to 400+ quickly. I am stisfied with 400 ish as my base line, so I wont go back to Ozone unless something bad happens.

I think the general consensus is that ORP in itself is not a critical indicator of much...just a signal of a trend. So continually chasing an ORP result does not sem to have a lot of value.
 
d2mini said:
So i don't even have my ozone generator power cord plugged in anymore and my ozone is still climbing... up to 450 now! What the heck, man? :confused:

I'll re-calibrate the orp probe but that won't change the fact that it keeps climbing.

I don't get it.
Click to expand...

Climbing ORP does not mean ozone is increasing...especially when the ozone generator is unplugged ;) While ozone influences ORP, ORP is not a measure of ozone.
 
billsreef said:
Climbing ORP does not mean ozone is increasing...especially when the ozone generator is unplugged ;) While ozone influences ORP, ORP is not a measure of ozone.
Click to expand...

True... true... i meant to say ORP, not ozone. Thanks for the catch. But one still needs to worry about ORP levels, no?
What is the "safe zone" for ORP?

And if ORP is not a measure of ozone when using an ozone generator, how does one know if too much ozone is being used?

Just in case, i did re-calibrate my probe yesterday. It's still down around 318 mV last i checked but slowly climbing.

Thanks!
 
200-5mV is the average range for tanks that aren't dying.

Keeping it stable is a little more important than the actual number though.
 
Yeah that's a good range to keep. Can be even more stable with proper control settings and various equipment. Ozone, skimmers, anything that can create or reduce o2 will effect ORP
 
What I have noticed with time the probe always reads higher in time dont know if it needs cleaning or this is the actual reading . With out cleaning andcalibrating monthly.
 
That is basically your water getting dirtier it sounds like.
ORP is a great monitor for water quality. When it rises its time for a change.
 
Greg 45 said:
What I have noticed with time the probe always reads higher in time dont know if it needs cleaning or this is the actual reading . With out cleaning andcalibrating monthly.
Click to expand...

Probe needs cleaning. Algae and bacteria start growing on the probe and effecting reading. Not unusual to need to clean the probe every week or two.
 
I hit mine with a toothbrush when the readings get out of whack, I don't even take it out of the water, just a quick clean.
 
Colgate or crest? Forgot which one is dentist recommended. :) I will try that on my pH probe. I haven't ordered an ORP probe yet for my RKE. I keep adding more and more pc4s lol. I am planning on connecting every environment around all my aquariums eventually. I've gotten pretty good at making extended lengths of BUS cables that are compatible with Digital Aquatics' oddball wiring scheme.
 
We don't toss old toothbrushes here, they get cleaned well and go into a drawer for general cleaning. I keep several just for the aquarium. :D
 
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