Hydrogen peroxide dosing vs Ozone...compare and contrast

[Brian916]

And this SDS looks like it is 3-6% peroxide. I wonder if you have somehow stumbled on an old SDS or for a lower grade peroxide?

Could be? I clicked the SDS link on that product page. I wonder if it is a regional thing?

Let us know what you find with the pH? Thanks!!!

 

[Pistondog]

Yes. The water clarity change is very similar and possibly more effective with hydrogen peroxide for a given dose of oxidant.

"One of the most efficient chemical systems that is known to bleach melanin pigments consists of an alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide"

https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(19)38362-0/pdf#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20efficient,accelerated%20by%20light%20(17)

Is melanin a cause of yellowing in our tanks?

 

[Brian916]

Is melanin a cause of yellowing in our tanks?

I have never seen a comprehensive list if the waste products that cause yellowing in water, but melanin and related pigments (carotinoids) are an essential ingredient in all of the foods we feed. Most fish can't sythesize the amino acids needed to produce elements of their coloration. I have to imagine melanin (and related compounds) are part of the problem.

Both ozone and peroxide are effective for the reduction of carotinoids and many other organic chemicals that might also be contributors to yellowing of aquarium water.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are many compounds that cause yellowing in aquaria by absorbing blue light, and most of those have carbon-carbon double bonds that are readily oxidized by ozone and other oxidizers.

I discuss both the types of compounds involved and the reactions here:

https://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/rhf/index.php#10

 

[Brian916]

Could be? I clicked the SDS link on that product page. I wonder if it is a regional thing?

Let us know what you find with the pH? Thanks!!!

@Gomi's Reef
Did you get a chance to verify the pH of your H2O2?

 

[Seancj]

Both ozone and peroxide are effective for the reduction of carotinoids and many other organic chemicals that might also be contributors to yellowing of aquarium water.

Is there any concern of bleaching corals or anemones with the use of hydrogen peroxide at appropriate dosage?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I understand the desire for increased water clarity, but you shouldn't need to reduce infectious bacteria...theyre naturally present and if your corals are healthy their immune system will take care of it...

 

[Seancj]

I'm interested in the bacteria control aspect as well. My reef is designed, and therefore heavily dominant, with Magnifica anemones with hopes of successfully keeping gigantea as well. Bacterial infections are the bane of their existence. Even though I quarantine and treat new specimens before adding to the display, it would be nice to know that there is something permanent in the display water that could help eliminate, or at least significantly reduce, the chance of cross contamination, should I not quite get it all during quarantine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm interested in the bacteria control aspect as well. My reef is designed, and therefore heavily dominant, with Magnifica anemones with hopes of successfully keeping gigantea as well. Bacterial infections are the bane of their existence. Even though I quarantine and treat new specimens before adding to the display, it would be nice to know that there is something permanent in the display water that could help eliminate, or at least significantly reduce, the chance of cross contamination, should I not quite get it all during quarantine.

If that’s the goal, I think you’d need a uv sterilizer. I do not think it would be healthy for the bulk water in a reef tank to be bactericidal.

 

[Brian916]

Is there any concern of bleaching corals or anemones with the use of hydrogen peroxide at appropriate dosage?

Similar to ozone, you should not have issues with corals/nems so long as your ORP stays within a safe range and you take care not to shock your system with too large a change. Like everything in reef keeping, it is always best to start with a low dose and build up as needed.

 

[Gomi's Reef]

@Gomi's Reef
Did you get a chance to verify the pH of your H2O2?

I didn't, sorry work was crazy this week. I have a quieter day today. I'll grab the test strips today and test tonight. Sorry for the delay

 

[Brian916]

I'm interested in the bacteria control aspect as well. My reef is designed, and therefore heavily dominant, with Magnifica anemones with hopes of successfully keeping gigantea as well. Bacterial infections are the bane of their existence. Even though I quarantine and treat new specimens before adding to the display, it would be nice to know that there is something permanent in the display water that could help eliminate, or at least significantly reduce, the chance of cross contamination, should I not quite get it all during quarantine.

I agree with Randy. If the goal is to maintain "sterilized" water, a UV sterilizer is the way to go. Trying to use enough oxidant for this purpose in the long term will impact the good bacteria along with the bad and might not be great for your nems or other inhabitants.

That said, 1000's of reefers have run ozone for for decades and many of then have measurable ORP increases in their tank when the ozone is on meaning that they are not quenching the oxidant but letting it run loose throughout the tank. I have yet to see any substantial reports that safely run ozone harms the tank inhabitants. It just really isn't clear what good the ozone (or any other oxidizer) is doing other than making the water look nice.

In the case of an infection I could easily see the case for running a higher oxidant dose in the short term to slow bacterial growth in the tank. It's your adventure, but I would spend my money on UV and maybe plan on trying an oxidizer as a backup if you have a plague that is trying to crash your tank.

 

[Seancj]

I agree with Randy. If the goal is to maintain "sterilized" water, a UV sterilizer is the way to go. Trying to use enough oxidant for this purpose in the long term will impact the good bacteria along with the bad and might not be great for your nems or other inhabitants.

That said, 1000's of reefers have run ozone for for decades and many of then have measurable ORP increases in their tank when the ozone is on meaning that they are not quenching the oxidant but letting it run loose throughout the tank. I have yet to see any substantial reports that safely run ozone harms the tank inhabitants. It just really isn't clear what good the ozone (or any other oxidizer) is doing other than making the water look nice.

In the case of an infection I could easily see the case for running a higher oxidant dose in the short term to slow bacterial growth in the tank. It's your adventure, but I would spend my money on UV and maybe plan on trying an oxidizer as a backup if you have a plague that is trying to crash your tank.

Thanks for the reply and great info! I am already running a UV.