Ozonizer or UV. What would you choose.

[FMarini]

Hi:
So as mentioned I have a OZotech O3 unit and i use a 1 ft of ozone safe tubing and connect it directly to the air inlet of my becketthead.
You don't need an additional air pump using this method. One thing you will notice thou is a reduction of the amount of air getting into your becketthead so you'll have to open the air valve more.
John@-I would just connect the ozotech unit to your bullet skimmer, no other things are required. I went w/ a larger ozotech unit(yes they are pricey) due to this air drying issue. I also use a monitor to control the ozone production, and also have a bag of carbon on the outflow (in my sump) and I had mike (@precisionmarine)make me a carbon holding receptacle which sits on my waste collector.
Cruiser-fantastic info-thanks
For my fish only tank I like the use of ozone,to me it has helped. Your milage may vary
frank

 

[John@Carline]

Cruiser: K thanx for the awesome info!So I will probably be getting the ozotech 250 unit then, and I see that marinetechnicalconcepts also makes an "air drier" too, so I may also pick that up, but well see.

The carbon issue, I also have an auto waste collector, but will need to have another top made for it I guess.

The carbon on the outflow of the skimmer though, is this necessary?24/7?? I thought carbon removes trace elements and other possible things and can be bad ofr long term use, i run carbon once or twice a month right now, but whats the deal with it when using an ozone generator?? The idea behind getting an ozone generator is to "compliment" my existing setup, but not add possible problems, whats the scoop?? Also from Dr. Ron Shimek, he himself doesnt recommend ozone generators and I guess there is a "DNA damaging" effect that can happen to all life in a tank with the generator?? Any ideas?? I'll try and put up the link to an article I have read.

 

[idua]

John@: I looked at the Ozotech unit on the site you posted above and like you I want to benefit from this purchase not add more headaches so I am still debating the purchase. If you decide to go with the Ozotech please don’t forget us and post your review and let us know how it works out.

 

[Cruiser]

John

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

The carbon issue, I also have an auto waste collector, but will need to have another top made for it I guess.

You lost me there

. I meant to put a valve in the top section that houses the beckett injector. There should already be an air inlet in this section. Just add another inlet. No need to run the skimmer waste through carbon.

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The carbon on the outflow of the skimmer though, is this necessary? 24/7??

Yes it is Mandatory

. I'm sure you are side-streaming your protein skimmer, using sump water - so the discharge is with in close proximity of the return pump. So again,
Yes is maniditory!. Since 03 is not that soluble in water, you need the Carbon to remove the excess ozone.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

The idea behind getting an ozone generator is to "compliment" my existing setup, but not add possible problems, whats the scoop??

Ozone will "compliment" your system by increasing skimmer function and your water parameters.

Why do you put carbon in your sump twice a month? Possibly to help remove built-up chemicals, remove that yellowing tinge over time, or for the fun of using your wife's stockings

.

Anyway the ozone will remove a majoirty of the chemicals that the activated carbon would, which will reduce the need for your twice/month carbon use. The Carbon being used for the skimmer effluent is mainly removing 03, pulling out specific chemicals that its good at, but its main function is removal of excess ozone in this application.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

Also from Dr. Ron Shimek, he himself doesnt recommend ozone generators and I guess there is a "DNA damaging" effect that can happen to all life in a tank with the generator?? Any ideas?? I'll try and put up the link to an article I have read.

I was unaware of any damaging effects of ozone, but you learn something new every day

. Always thought "DNA damaging" was related to ultraviolet sterilizers. I would love to read the article. I understand (my perception) why Dr. Ron wouldn't use ozone.

 

[John@Carline]

Cruiser: Here is the link to that article concerning the possible "damage" an ozone generator can cause.
http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1997/oct/bio/default.asp

 

[Cruiser]

Thanks for the link, great article on halogens in seawater.

I was aware of the "hypobromite" issues, just didn't realize it affected cellular DNA, thought it affected a different molecular pathway.

Usually hear of ozone / halogen oxidation in large commercial aquaculture systems. These are mainly in tropical locations - Thailand, Sri Lanka, etc., since they are using NSW with a fairly high bromide concentration.
It is also noted occasionally in large public aquariums.

To remove the bromide exposure, aquaculture companies run the ozonated water through carbon, and then run the water through the filter system again before it reaches the main system.

The hypobromite formation can be an issue in reef aquariums when the ozone is used incorrectly, generally from overdosing the ozone. In this case, the rapid input of large 03 concentration cleaned the skimate quickly and the excess needs something to react with!

Ozone can be used very effectively providing excellent benefits with minimal risks. Obviousily it will kill all "Good & Bad" free floating bacteria, protozoans, virus, fungii & most spores, organics, etc.

 

[John@Carline]

Cruiser: Coll, I understand about it killing both the good&bad organisms that pass through it, but still should have no effect for the main tank anyway?? Do you suppose, as most life is on the rocks and substrate,this I would imagine to be where the valuable stuff is, if ozone is used carefully and properly would there be any good logical reason to not use it??

 

[Cruiser]

John@:

Coll, I understand about it killing both the good&bad organisms that pass through it, but still should have no effect for the main tank anyway??[\QUOTE].

Yes for the most part.
The microcellular life is constantly propagating, replenishing the water column population which passes across the sessile tank occupants, and the protien skimmers set-up as side-streaming using sump water, will maintain an adequate flora / fauna in the tank.

Do you suppose, as most life is on the rocks and substrate,this I would imagine to be where the valuable stuff is, if ozone is used carefully and properly would there be any good logical reason to not use it??[\QUOTE]

No not really, except maybe for species specific tanks, breeding & grow out tanks among others, that really don't want to reduce their overall micro organisms.

 

[SPC]

Cruiser, dont we need to try and keep as much plankton etc... for our average reef tanks, am I missing something here?
Steve

 

[coastal]

I dont know why everyone thinks a skimmer is the best induction for ozone. I guess the method I am using is known only to me and very effective

 

[liquid]

And that would be..... ???



Shane

 

[coastal]

venturi induction to ozone reactor to carbon chamber to secondary carbon chamber to crystal clear water

 

[Anonymous]

I put out a fire caused by an ozone explosion once in a lab I worked in. Even if it does not explode, it can cause very serious lung damage, and damage other sensitive exposed tissue like the eyes if it manages to escape. It also smells terrible (which is a good thing). I know other people use this, but there is no possible way I would bring ozone into my house.

Ozone in water becomes hydrogen peroxide which then kills whatever it comes in contact with.

UV light works two ways. One is it kills by damaging the DNA of whatever organism is exposed to it. The other is it generates small amounts of hydrogen peroxide. It is certainly the safer of the two options and won't harm anything that isn't directly exposed to the light (but might cause harm indirectly by killing beneficial bacteria, but that might not be a major concern as its efficacy is marginal). It will probably just waste electricity.

I have a UV I bought several years ago sitting in my garage.

You shouldn't need either of these.