Ozone Ozone

VetReefer · Mar 16, 2021

I've been really thinking about adding a Ozone to my tank and have it run through the Nyos Skimmer. I wanted to know what everyone thought about it? How safe can you make it and how easy it is to run? I run a 80 Watt already and just wanted to try.

Thanks in advance

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 16, 2021

Some people have complex setups for ozone, and some just dribble a little into a skimmer, as you suggest.

it certainly makes the water much less yellow, but it is not without possible safety drawbacks, both for you and the tank.

I had a complex DIY setup that worked well, but I eventually took it down.

These have more:

Ozone and the Reef Aquarium, Part 1: Chemistry and Biochemistry by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Ozone and the Reef Aquarium, Part 2: Equipment and Safety by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Ozone and the Reef Aquarium, Part 3: Changes in a Reef Aquarium upon Initiating Ozone by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Pistondog · Mar 16, 2021

It doesn't take much to clean the water. An hour a day thru the skimmer and gac reactor does the job for me. I use a uv light type ozone generator, otherwise you might need to dry the air feed.
I run when no one is around and ventilate the room after.
Make sure your skimmer is built to run ozone.

KenO · Mar 18, 2021

I found someone on this forum awhile back selling a brand new Avast. I got a great deal on it. I have my GHL controller managing it by watching the ORP level. I also have the water air outlet from it feeding into the water/air intake of my skimmer. Yes my skimmer is ozone safe. Works great for keeping my water clear. I have 600 gallons water has never been so clear. I change the carbon monthly and I keep a spare check valve on hand. Avast recommends changing the check valve every 6 months. I also have my air pump above the ozone generator which is above the water level of the tank.

VetReefer · Mar 21, 2021

Pistondog said:
It doesn't take much to clean the water. An hour a day thru the skimmer and gac reactor does the job for me. I use a uv light type ozone generator, otherwise you might need to dry the air feed.
I run when no one is around and ventilate the room after.
Make sure your skimmer is built to run ozone.

What is the actual health concerns? That's what I'm trying to figure out. It will be in my basement with not too much ventilation even though there is a vent over the tank

VetReefer · Mar 21, 2021

Pistondog said:
It doesn't take much to clean the water. An hour a day thru the skimmer and gac reactor does the job for me. I use a uv light type ozone generator, otherwise you might need to dry the air feed.
I run when no one is around and ventilate the room after.
Make sure your skimmer is built to run ozone.

Do you have it timed through the Apex

Pistondog · Mar 21, 2021

WayneBz said:
Do you have it timed through the Apex

Sort of.
I start it manually, but apex shuts it off after 60 minutes.
Apex statements:
"Fallback off"
"Set on"
"When ON > 060:00 then off"
So when I switch to auto, it turns on, then off after 60 minutes.
Also make sure the skimmer is running
"If Output Skimmer_2_5 watts < 5 then off"
And ORP check
"If ORP > 400 then off"

Pistondog · Mar 21, 2021

WayneBz said:
What is the actual health concerns? That's what I'm trying to figure out. It will be in my basement with not too much ventilation even though there is a vent over the tank

Ground-level Ozone Basics | US EPA

Learn the difference between good (stratospheric) and bad (tropospheric) ozone, how bad ozone affects our air quality, health, and environment, and what EPA is doing about it through regulations and standards.

www.epa.gov

VetReefer · Mar 21, 2021

Pistondog said:
Sort of.
I start it manually, but apex shuts it off after 60 minutes.
Apex statements:
"Fallback off"
"Set on"
"When ON > 060:00 then off"
So when I switch to auto, it turns on, then off after 60 minutes.
Also make sure the skimmer is running
"If Output Skimmer_2_5 watts < 5 then off"
And ORP check
"If ORP > 400 then off"

Oh okay, so where should the ORP then? My tank is in the basement so that's why I'm little nervous and asking so many questions

Pistondog · Mar 21, 2021

In my use scenario, I vent the room after using ozone.
If you can't do that you need to filter it out.

VetReefer · Mar 22, 2021

Pistondog said:
In my use scenario, I vent the room after using ozone.
If you can't do that you need to filter it out.

with Carbon correct? I feel like a reactor might be the best way to get if so. since it runs through carbon at the end of the cycle with one of the reactors I've seen

KenO · Mar 22, 2021

WayneBz said:
with Carbon correct? I feel like a reactor might be the best way to get if so. since it runs through carbon at the end of the cycle with one of the reactors I've seen

The Avast system I use has the carbon media reactor at the end of the cycle. No O3 smell.

VetReefer · Mar 22, 2021

KenO said:
The Avast system I use has the carbon media reactor at the end of the cycle. No O3 smell.

That is the one I'm going to get and try. I've been talking with them on Facebook

KenO · Mar 22, 2021

WayneBz said:
That is the one I'm going to get and try. I've been talking with them on Facebook

This is my first ozone system, so I'm not sure how others work. I'm really happy with mine. Plus when I sent Avast an email on the weekend when I was first installing mine. They responded within 15 min. I have a total of 600 gallons of water. I use the ORP on my ghl system to turn it off and on. I set my ORP level to 400. Above 400 it turns off.

VetReefer · Mar 22, 2021

KenO said:
This is my first ozone system, so I'm not sure how others work. I'm really happy with mine. Plus when I sent Avast an email on the weekend when I was first installing mine. They responded within 15 min. I have a total of 600 gallons of water. I use the ORP on my ghl system to turn it off and on. I set my ORP level to 400. Above 400 it turns off.

are you using the Apex or something else? and how does your water look?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 22, 2021

WayneBz said:
What is the actual health concerns? That's what I'm trying to figure out. It will be in my basement with not too much ventilation even though there is a vent over the tank

I detail the safety concerns to humans in the second article I linked above:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/rhf/index.php#14

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 22, 2021

WayneBz said:
Oh okay, so where should the ORP then? My tank is in the basement so that's why I'm little nervous and asking so many questions

I'd suggest reading the detailed articles I posted.

IMO, ORP is not a goal. It is to keep from overdosing.

Here's a summary from one of the articles:

So with all that background discussion behind us, here are my recommendations for ORP monitoring and ozone control in reef aquaria using a properly sized ozone generator that appears to be working, and a properly calibrated ORP meter:

1. If the ORP never seems to rise above 375 mV after initiating ozone, do not worry about controlling the ozone or the ORP. Just let it run full out. Also, do not worry about needing a larger generator, assuming it has driven up the ORP by at least 25 mV above where it was before adding ozone. It is likely accomplishing the necessary tasks (such as making the water clearer). Only if some other aspect of ozone use is unsatisfying (e.g., lack of water clarity) would I look for other options such as a larger ozone generator or a better contact chamber.

2. If the ORP starts above 375 mV, or rises there during ozone use, using an ORP controller would be valuable to prevent the ORP from rising too high. Use the controller to shut off the ozone when the ORP rises too high. Another option would be to shut off the air flow to save the dryer's media, but be sure that water cannot flow back into the ozone generator if the air stops. I would set the ORP target somewhat above the baseline ORP in the absence of ozone - at least 350 mV, maybe 400 mV, but never above 450 mV.

KenO · Mar 22, 2021

WayneBz said:
are you using the Apex or something else? and how does your water look?

I use GHL controller. You can control an outlet on an Apex to do the same thing. If you don't have an aquarium controller, you can purchase an ORP controller. I think Milwaukee sells one.

My water is crystal clear now. Previously it had a distinct yellow hue to it. I have a mixed reef tank and a softie dominate tank both tied together. From what I read the toxins from the softies could interfere with SPS corals. So that was another reason I went with the ozone. I also feed the output of the ozone system right in front of the intake of my skimmer. My skimmate production went way up. Previously I was cleaning the skimmer 2x/week. When I started the ozone, I had to clean it daily. It looked like espresso, very dark. It's still dark in color, but now I clean it every other day.

I took some before and after photos. I will have to find them. Here is a partial shot of my softie tank. The tank length is 60". The toadstool takes up at least a 3rd of the tank.