Ozone in an acrylic tank

[Struttmaster]

I'm looking to run a Clearwater CD325 Ozone into my NYOS 160 skimmer. I have an APEX with ORP that I am looking to utilise to open a solenoid valve between the ozone generator and skimmer to suck from atmosphere when required, or run on a timer. The CD325 automatically stops ozone generation when there is no air passing through it.
The NYOS is capable being fed a constant 50mg/hr of ozone.
The CD325 produces 6-7 times that amount so I'm planning to run ozone for 5min/hr and test for free oxidants as Jay recommends below and adjust from there.

The trouble with dosing ozone is that there are many variables that control the dose:

Ozone generator output
Humidity of the feed air (too humid and it makes nitric acid)
Contact time
Tank size
Amount of bromine present (can form toxic hypobromous acid)
Amount of organics present (and this changes over time, as ozone reduces this)

What I generally do is run the ozone through a protein skimmer, gradually increasing the dose until I see ozone oxidants in the skimmer effluent (I use a simple DPD chlorine test for that - any pink color and there are free oxidants). Then, I back the ozone off a bit and monitor.

Humidity is not a concern, nor are bromine levels. My tank is 55 Gal.

My concern is the tank is acrylic tank and I have vinyl hoses connecting my UV and chiller. I have heard ozone in my system will discolour my acrylic and make my vinyl hoses brittle. Should I be concerned?

I was planning on keeping a good eye on things but maybe its not worth the risk?

Any advice appreciated, thanks.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I'm looking to run a Clearwater CD325 Ozone into my NYOS 160 skimmer. I have an APEX with ORP that I am looking to utilise to open a solenoid valve between the ozone generator and skimmer to suck from atmosphere when required, or run on a timer. The CD325 automatically stops ozone generation when there is no air passing through it.
The NYOS is capable being fed a constant 50mg/hr of ozone.
The CD325 produces 6-7 times that amount so I'm planning to run ozone for 5min/hr and test for free oxidants as Jay recommends below and adjust from there.

Humidity is not a concern, nor are bromine levels. My tank is 55 Gal.

My concern is the tank is acrylic tank and I have vinyl hoses connecting my UV and chiller. I have heard ozone in my system will discolour my acrylic and make my vinyl hoses brittle. Should I be concerned?

I was planning on keeping a good eye on things but maybe its not worth the risk?

Any advice appreciated, thanks.

Vinyl tubing that carries ozone can be damaged, especially if nitric acid is being formed due to high humidity.
Acrylic tanks are not harmed by ozone at normally dosed levels - most public aquariums have acrylic windows and use ozone. Ozone at levels that will damage acrylic would kill the fish.
Jay

 

[Struttmaster]

Good to know, I'll have dedicated suitable hose between the skimmer and generator. Thanks Jay.

 

[Struttmaster]

Hi Jay, Thanks again for this information. Please can you elaborate, in layman's terms, how the production of ozone produces chlorine?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi Jay, Thanks again for this information. Please can you elaborate, in layman's terms, how the production of ozone produces chlorine?

Chlorine? It produces ozone oxidants that behave like chlorine, but it doesn’t produce chlorine itself.
Jay

 

[Struttmaster]

Chlorine? It produces ozone oxidants that behave like chlorine, but it doesn’t produce chlorine itself.

Thanks Jay, thought it may have had something to do with breaking down salt molecules. All good. When I start to see the skimmer effluent starting to turn the DPD test pink I'll know to back off.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Jay, thought it may have had something to do with breaking down salt molecules. All good. When I start to see the skimmer effluent starting to turn the DPD test pink I'll know to back off.

Ozone does react with bromine to form hypobromous acid (an ozone oxidant) but although chlorine is another halogen, I've never heard of it reacting that way with ozone - maybe at really high doses?

Jay