Considering Ozone

[Samper]

Ok here's the thing. My mom has this huge chore she wants done at one of her stores I mean this is a project so..... I told her I'd do it if she would help me purchase something for my aquariums. I'm gonna start looking into ozone for my sps reef. What do I need to consider and what equipment should I look at? I'd like it to function on my nano as well as be able to work on my 75g when it gets set up. Thanks

[Steven Pro]

I am the wrong guy to talk to about ozone as I have never used it. Not that it is bad or anything. I just have not gotten around to getting one for myself yet. Perhaps some others will chime in. If not, I know Anthony Calfo has written about his likes of models and manufacturers on the internet in various places.

[Samper]

The only reading I have done on it is in his book. I've had finals lately and no time to search about. Anyone on this site use ozone?

[golfish]

You'll need some kind of reactor or skimmer. I started using my New Geo skimmer but I didn't like the way the ozone effected the skimmer so I setup an old Berlin skimmer to use as a reactor. You'll also want to run the output of the reactor\skimmer through carbon.

I use a 100 mg\hr Red Sea AquaZone Deluxe. Its a pretty costly unit but it comes with a controller.

This unit looks like a pretty sweet deal

http://www.ozone.enaly.com/OZX-B300T.htm

[Samper]

I have both a reactor and a skimmer. Thanks for the link I'll check into it.

[Poseidon]

I don't think Golfish meant a Ca Reactor Chuck... Gene uses it in his skimmer I am pretty sure. O3 definately has some advantages, I have been considering it too, after the basement sump is done!

[zhenya]

Chuck,

Give this thread a good read over.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=287495

[Papa Doug]

My friend recently started running ozone, {through his beckett skimmer}, on his well stocked 180g soft coral tank. It was always pretty good looking but the difference with ozone was very noticable. Its so clear, he sold his 400w halides and now runs only T-5,s and the corals look even better.

[golfish]

I don't think Golfish meant a Ca Reactor Chuck...

That's right, I meant ozone reactor. Some people have good luck using it through their skimmers. My New Geo ran real dry when the ozone was running, when it shut off it would start to get wet and then overflow. It was better to setup an old venturi skimmer and use it as an ozone reactor.

FWIW, My orp was 185 before I started using the ozone.

[Samper]

Thanks for the link Gene!

[zhenya]

That's right, I meant ozone reactor. Some people have good luck using it through their skimmers. My New Geo ran real dry when the ozone was running, when it shut off it would start to get wet and then overflow. It was better to setup an old venturi skimmer and use it as an ozone reactor.

FWIW, My orp was 185 before I started using the ozone.

Mark,

I've never had this problem running ozone via AquaC skimmer, I set it at the minimal input and just let the controller do its thing. In a couple of days my ORP went stable and O3 generator wouldn't come on, so I byoassed the controller and just kept the ozone at the minimum level( I think I have it set at 12). No problems so far. The only problem I have is that ozone wacks that special connector for the skimmer that you screw in on the air intake valve. They are cheap but it is a hastle to buy it all the time. I might reconsider my set up and go the reactor route.

[golfish]

Mark,

I've never had this problem running ozone via AquaC skimmer, I set it at the minimal input and just let the controller do its thing. In a couple of days my ORP went stable and O3 generator wouldn't come on, so I byoassed the controller and just kept the ozone at the minimum level( I think I have it set at 12). No problems so far. The only problem I have is that ozone wacks that special connector for the skimmer that you screw in on the air intake valve. They are cheap but it is a hastle to buy it all the time. I might reconsider my set up and go the reactor route.

Gene,
I'm running the 100 mg\hr generator at 100% and it rarely shuts off. When I started the ORP was 185..its got to have something to do with the tank being in a small closet even tho I move tons of air through it.

Yeah, George told me the only problem I would have with his skimmer running ozone would be the small nipple used on the venturi intake.

[Samper]

Ok here is what I've gathered so far.

The ozone unit I get doesn't need to have a controller if I set it at a very low level but I would like to have the monitor/controller for comfort.
I still have to research all the costs involved such as calibration fluids for the probe etc.
I feed it into my skimmer air intake...but I'm concerned that I won't get enough air into the skimmer since the amount of ozone I'll be dosing will be very low.
I put carbon over the outlet of the skimmer but I'm not sure how I'll be doing this on top of a riser tube.

That's where I'm at right now. I still have a ton of research to do but I'm considering a unit to run at night only or something like that.

[zhenya]

Ok here is what I've gathered so far.

The ozone unit I get doesn't need to have a controller if I set it at a very low level but I would like to have the monitor/controller for comfort.
I still have to research all the costs involved such as calibration fluids for the probe etc.
I feed it into my skimmer air intake...but I'm concerned that I won't get enough air into the skimmer since the amount of ozone I'll be dosing will be very low.
I put carbon over the outlet of the skimmer but I'm not sure how I'll be doing this on top of a riser tube.

That's where I'm at right now. I still have a ton of research to do but I'm considering a unit to run at night only or something like that.

Chuck,

I think for the extra few bux you should definately get the unit with the build-in controller. I don't think you'll have a problem getting enough air into the skimmer, I know I didn't. Get a good a air pump to push as much air as you need as well.

[golfish]

Ok here is what I've gathered so far.

The ozone unit I get doesn't need to have a controller if I set it at a very low level

You'll still need some way to test your Redox\ORP...even at low levels you could over do it.

I feed it into my skimmer air intake...but I'm concerned that I won't get enough air into the skimmer since the amount of ozone I'll be dosing will be very low.

Just run a tee so the skimmer venturi can draw air from the generator and other source.

Ok here is what I've gathered so far.

I put carbon over the outlet of the skimmer but I'm not sure how I'll be doing this on top of a riser tube.

I take it an ER type skimmer? If you use a mod like pictured below you could run the output into a small acylic box or other that has carbon in it. I use my old Zeo reactor to hold carbon.

[Samper]

It is a Euro Reef 8-2 and I really like the looks of that mod. I worry because ozone can make acrylic brittle and wear out rubber gaskets and wiring stuff. Do any of you have any problems with your equipment because of it? Also what is your dose and size system it's on?

[BubbaWPB]

Ok, this thread has got me going... I went to the LFS and they had a Red Sea delux (with ORP probe) 50mg. I opened it up, looked at the directions, and now I have more questions. What the heck is an "air dryer (recommended)"? The stylized diagram has the water going through a protein skimmer AND a "aeration chamber". The owner of the LFS has never set one up on a system and couldn't answer my questions.

Also, if I got a UV sterilizer on my system, is ozone overkill?

[golfish]

It is a Euro Reef 8-2 and I really like the looks of that mod. I worry because ozone can make acrylic brittle and wear out rubber gaskets and wiring stuff. Do any of you have any problems with your equipment because of it? Also what is your dose and size system it's on?

ER say's not to run ozone through their skimmers...most people who do it don't have a problem but you never know what will happen in 2-5 years of running ozone. Its up to you....I found a buddy who had an old berlin skimmer in his garage so I got it for nothing, any venturi skimmer should work.


I run my Red Sea AquaZone Deluxe 100mg\hr at 100% on my 120 gal tank\40 gal sump\30 gal remote sand bed.

[Steven Pro]

An air dryer is just a tube with these little beads in them. The beads remove moisture/humidity from the air. Some ozone generators use a technology that can be damaged by moisture.

Ozone compliments UV in a lot of ways. For UV to be effective, the water must be very clear so the UV light can penetrate well. Ozone is a great water clarifier.

The two stage protein skimmer with ozone injection followed by a reaction chamber is probably just to make sure to utilize all the ozone so that residue ozone does not make it into the display, much like how a two stage calcium reactor is more effecient at using all the CO2 you pump into it.

Using a cheap, sacrificial protein skimmer sounds like an excellent idea to me. The acrylic and PVC of the skimmer body should be able to handle the ozone, but no telling how the needle wheel will hold up.

[BubbaWPB]

An air dryer is just a tube with these little beads in them. The beads remove moisture/humidity from the air. Some ozone generators use a technology that can be damaged by moisture.

The two stage protein skimmer with ozone injection followed by a reaction chamber is probably just to make sure to utilize all the ozone so that residue ozone does not make it into the display, much like how a two stage calcium reactor is more effecient at using all the CO2 you pump into it.

Thanks for the info, Steven!

Now, since none of the LFSs have "air dryers", where might someone find one? I'm assuming the Red Sea ozone generator contains the technology that can be damaged by moisture, since they recommend the air dryer.

So I understand a two-stage calcium reactor, but I'm not sure what a two-stage protien skimmer would look like... would it be a second skimmer mechanism where the output from the first skimmer would enter with or without additional air?