UV or ozone?

zeroinverse

zeroinverse

New member
Just sort of curious who knows what are the main benefits to using ozone and/or UV?

I have heard people using ozone as a great way to help break down organics better to help skimmer work better.

Then UV I hear helps irradiate parasites and bacteria and such...

So what are the pros and cons?

Will it kill/inhibit my benificial microfauna growth? Will it require me to add back amino acids (heard this about ozone)? Will it reduce algae growth (what types)?

Overall, would you use these for probation tanks? Or display tanks? Or neither?
 
Don't know nuthing about O3 except it's a powerful oxidant and is deadly to us. There are lots of ozone sensors in the back end of the Steinhart.

One of the big issues with UV is using a powerful enough unit. To kill really bad nasties you need a $$ unit. It doesn't effect biological filter because most of the BF is on surfaces, not in the water column. Helps if you have green water. Does nothing for attached algae. :(
 
woodnaquanut said:
Don't know nuthing about O3 except it's a powerful oxidant and is deadly to us. There are lots of ozone sensors in the back end of the Steinhart.
Click to expand...

I missed the Steinhart tour. How come they have so many ozone sensors?
Are they running ozone to "purifying" their tanks?
 
I used ozone but I only have it turned on at night in the garage. The water definitely is better and looks much clearer. I also use UV but only when I add new fish or if their is an ick outbreak.
 
Ozone is used to make the water clear. It doesn't take much. There are 3 types of ozone detection--sensors that measure it directly in the air in the room where it is applied, ORP meters in the water that measure it indirectly, and TRO tests that are done weekly in a lab. All 3 are necessary for safe (for humans and animals) ozone usage.
 
While I have a 25w UV sterilizer, I don't run it all the time. I use it to treat / guard against free swimming parasites, such as when acquiring new fish (potential for incoming parasites) or redoing tank (stress facilitating an ich outbreak).
 
Good thread I'd like to hear people's take on both.. I've been contemplating adding one of them to my build.. I've heard some positive reviews on ozone but don't know if I want to risk running it.. And as for UV it's either people say it's crappy and a waste of money or they swear by it..

I've been leaning towards the ozone due to having the orp probe and ability to control it through my reef angel but maybe just running it on the lower levels.. Also having either a proper reactor for the ozone or a very efficient ozone safe skimmer is a must from what I've read. I think if I venture into ozone I will fork out the money for the reactor from avast as it has the post reactor carbon placement as most experts recommend to make sure all ozone is run through it..

I think that's down the line for me but I do have a line on a red sea ozone generator a friend who splurged on a large reef tank purchase who bought a bunch of stuff he didn't..
 
@daniel what is an ozone safe skimmer mean? Plastic degrades in "regular" skimmers? Or do you mean something else?
 
zeroinverse said:
@daniel what is an ozone safe skimmer mean? Plastic degrades in "regular" skimmers? Or do you mean something else?
Click to expand...

Ozone will deteriorate any plastic parts or regular plastic hose line in the skimmer, acrylic seems to be fine but any plastic will harden and break after a while.
 
Yeah what Tom said :) .. Kynar I think is what's used instead of normal plastic air fittings and lines.. As you probably know all acrylic is not equal it's best to use only cell cast acrylic vs regular extruded with ozone as it will hold up longer. Some skimmers are not cell cast and will become really brittle I've read some will even haze up.. There is a nice article on it I'll link later when I get home that has a lot of good info
 
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zeroinverse said:
I missed the Steinhart tour. How come they have so many ozone sensors?
Are they running ozone to "purifying" their tanks?
Click to expand...

The room with REALLY BIG skimmers also, IIRC, has O3 injection. I would imagine the amount of O3 needed for a 200K+ 'tank' would pose a health hazard to humans in the room. Thus the need for a sensor.
 
I ran my ozone into my skimmer (I think Tom did the same thing) which was for 12 hours a day. That was until Jake hit the unit off the shelf and into the sump LOL. It must take many years for it to have an affect as far as deteriorating plastic.
 
Some plastic doesn't take long to harden up and crack. Using it in the skimmer works but not as efficient as running it through a reactor. I was in the process of making one but didn't finish it yet. Some day :D
 
I studied UV use for bottling lines. An easy formula is 2 watts at 2 inches away for 2 seconds will kill bacteria, sterilize. I know we're talking about our tanks but what can be learned from this is that it's the contact time that is important. If your return pump is going through the UV unit, high flow, it's really not doing anything. A separate pump, low flow will be most effective. Also, the glass on the UV unit needs to be kept clean.
 
People who don't like uv usually get a unit that's undersized though manufacture will say otherwise. I have an emperor aquatic for my 150 and an aqua for my nano. Not trying to kill ich. Only want clear water. I have crystal clear water.
 
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