Who uses ozone?

[wld1783]

I just put a Red Sea 200 Mg/Hr on my system last week and have been very happy with the results. I set mine around 15% 24/7 to clear up the water. I the water cleared up in two days so I reduced the lighting by removing the center 400 watt Iwiaski. I now have 2 400 watt radiums and 640 watts of VHO (I might have to redo the lighting because I liked the look of a radium/iwiaski mix).

I'm convinced that if used right ozone will improve water clarity thus lowering the amount of light needed. I also hope it will help with a miner dino problem on the sand (I will posts the results in a week).

Bill

 

[tigerkai]

Hi guys,pls advise!me thinking of buying the red sea aqua zone plus ozonizer for my 100gallons tank.which is enough for me the 50mg/h or the 100mg/h.it is safe to run 24/7?

 

[Tom Berry]

I am running 12.5 mg/hr 24/7 on my 75, without any problems. Maybe 15-18 for a 100. The 50mg unit should be fine.

Tom:fish2:

 

[Tom Berry]

From my experience and that of others on this thread and elsewhere, it seems like .1-.25 mg/hr per gallon of tank volume (ie 10-25 mg/hr for a 100g tank) is a good, safe range for a reef tank. So the 50 mg/hr unit should be sufficient for anything up to a 180 IMO.

Tom:fish2:

 

[victor90]

From your experience would it be safe to not run carbon?
Thanks

 

[Tom Berry]

I'm not running carbon, and I haven't had any problems.

Tom:fish2:

 

[Ocean Image]

I'm not sure if it has been discussed yet in this thread, but is anyone concerned about how O3 can cause acrylic to become brittle over time?

 

[Brad A.]

Creeper,

Someone said they've been using it for x-number of years with no bad effects. I think it would damage animal life before the acrylic.

 

[Brad A.]

Quote from tom,

From my experience and that of others on this thread and elsewhere, it seems like .1-.25 mg/hr per gallon of tank volume (ie 10-25 mg/hr for a 100g tank) is a good, safe range for a reef tank. So the 50 mg/hr unit should be sufficient for anything up to a 180 IMO.

This is based on the idea of using the least amount possible to achive "Clear and clean" tank water. Some auhors say to use more...but why? germical effects...might be a good reason.

 

[MATTT]

Is the ozone the same as the ultraviolet sterilizer ? What would is the difference between the two ?

Thanks,

Mattt.

 

[skeletor]

ok, I got another stupid question:

is there any value in running ozone through your make up water ?

thanks,
-skeletor-

 

[mhurley]

oooook....There's value in cleaning the ORP probe once and a while...Just soaked mine in vinegar for about 15 minutes...brushed off the bulb and voila....My tank used to run at 420 or 430...Now it reads 350.
I guess I do have some room to add some ozone here....

Mike

 

[Aged Salt]

Running O3 thru the skimmer at higher levels[>30%] decreases the efficency of the skimmer & therefore over time would be less effective in removing waste,Bob

 

[ldrhawke]

Running O3 thru the skimmer at higher levels[>30%] decreases the efficency of the skimmer & therefore over time would be less effective in removing waste,Bob

Interesting comment......I have always read it increased the efficiency of a skimmer and produces a drier foam. Why do you feel the opposite?

What I have wondered is if O3 increases nitrates in the water column? Compared to the normal nitrification cycle taking place on the live rock or in the substrate, and O3's ability to oxidzed ammonia and nitrites in the water column.

 

[Brad A.]

Dont run more than 30%...Sounds good to me. I only want the O3 to enhance water clarity. 30% O3 is a lot!

 

[Aged Salt]

IdrHawke, it's all in the skimmer bubble formation. The use of O3 will result in a slight increase in NO3-,Bob

 

[npaden]

Well, after running my poll and getting an overwhelming yes you should buy and ozonizer I think I'm going to buy one. Reading through this thread I had a couple questions.

I've heard both sides to the enhanced skimmer performance too. I guess if you put to much ozone in it knocks the bubbles down but if you just put the right amount in it helps?

I would think it would be more of a X mg/h based on the flow through the skimmer rather than 30%? 30% of a 50mg/h unit on a large beckett skimmer would be alot different than 30% of a 200mg/h unit on a AquaC Urchin.

I am going to be running a 200mg/h unit on a custom Euroreef 12-2.5 skimmer with 2 - Sedra 9000s running it. Any suggestions on the best amount to run to make the skimmer run at maximum efficiency? I also am planning on buying a controller to limit the tank ORP to a level around 350 or so. Would it be better to run a unit 24/7 at a lower output or run it for just a few hours a day full out?

Thanks, Nathan

 

[Brad A.]

npaden,

Try 75 mg/hr at first and adjust up based on your observations and ORP. The real anwser to your question is...you'll have to experiment and figure out what is best for your tank.

Sometimes I run 24/7, sometimes I dont. I have no reason/evidence to suggest one way is better than the other. I just want sparkling, clear water.

Just experiment and see what works best for your tank.

Good luck, I think you'll be pleased with the results.
Brad

 

[ldrhawke]

The amount of ozone you need to feed will vary with a number of factors,i.e; the organic load in the water, the efficiency of the skimmer, the flow rate, etc. All of these thing will determine how much is spent and the amount carried over unused. If one person has a very efficient fine bubble long contact time skimmer, they can feed more ozone safely than a person with an inefficient small skimmer.

For the most part, if you buy an ozonator that has a ORP controller integrated, that problem is addressed. As the ORP reaches a set point the ozone feed is shut off.

Of course if you buy a very large ozonator and if you feed so much ozone that you get a large carry over of unspent ozone, there is some danger of it reaching the coral or the fish and doing damage. I don't believe that danger point can be reached if you base the maximum sizing of the ozonator on 1mg/gallon or less.

I have a 100 mg Red Sea on a 60 g system. I have set it at max for several days and seen no damage. I run it at about 25 mg feed and the ORP controller cycles on/off, until water quality gets very poor. Then it will take longer and longer to cycle on/off. It is my indication I should be making a water change, or in my case were I use CPW, I need to increase the wasting rate.

 

[RedEyeReef]

I'm not sure if it has been discussed yet in this thread, but is anyone concerned about how O3 can cause acrylic to become brittle over time?

When you say the O3 can make acrylic brittle, do you mean the skimmer that the O3 is being used in brittle or your acrylic tank brittle? I would hate for my 360 gal reef to become brittle and crack someday. Can O3 make your acrylic tank brittle? or did I misunderstand something?