smell ozone

[davidwillis]

I have an ozone reactor (Mutiny ozone reactor v2). It is in a closet about 35 feet from my tank. I am using a Poseidon 200 Ozone Generator, and am pumping the air through a dryer using the air pump that came with the reactor. I also have a check valve between the reactor and generator.

The strange thing is that I think I can smell ozone in the closet with the reactor and ozone generator, but not in my sump. This would mean the carbon is removing the ozone like it should. But I can't figure out how I could be smelling ozone in the closet, since everything is sealed, and if there was a leak in the reactor, I would also see some water. The only thing I can think of is if the ozone generator is leaking...? Or the tubing between the ozone reactor and the ozone generator (I don't see how).

 

[blaxsun]

Ozone is a pretty distinctive smell, so...

 

[WVNed]

Remove the top of the Poseidon and look inside. There are short tubes between the fittings on the case and the cell that makes the ozone. Ozone also makes plastics brittle and they crack and you get a tiny leak that is hard to find.
Perhaps a test with soap bubbles.

 

[Sshannon]

You can make or buy ozone test strips to find the leak. https://sciencing.com/make-ozone-test-strips-6945375.html

 

[davidwillis]

Thanks everyone... I have not had a chance to check anything today. The smell is very weak, and maybe it isn't even Ozone. I am not sure what ozone smells like. I think the test strips are a great Idea!

 

[davidwillis]

Remove the top of the Poseidon and look inside. There are short tubes between the fittings on the case and the cell that makes the ozone. Ozone also makes plastics brittle and they crack and you get a tiny leak that is hard to find.
Perhaps a test with soap bubbles.

I took it apart, and tested with soap.... I couldn't find a leak. I have ordered a ozone tester. So then I will know if it is really ozone, or just me.

Thanks!

 

[davidwillis]

Here is something interesting I have noticed... I have it connected as the instructions with a check valve (I assume ozone resistant, since it came with the unit) after the ozone generator, and before the reactor. But there are times I have noticed water will back flow into this tube, and go up to the top of the reactor. The check valve is about 6 inches above that, and the ozone generator about 12 inches above that. But you would think with the pressure from the pump, and the check valve, no water would back flow.... After a few seconds it will go back down, and I again hear the pump sucking air (the ozone line goes just before the circulation pump on the reactor).

Also I noticed when I first started the generator, my orp went up quickly from 290 to 350 (turned up to 2). I shut it off after that, because I thought I smelled ozone (orp went down). I turned it back on again a day later and orp stayed level, until I turned it up to 4, then it went up to 340 where I turned it off again. But when I turned it on, it has now stayed at 320 for a day, and I have turned it up to 9..... So I am not sure if it is working correctly or not.

 

[davidwillis]

I contacted avast, and they said all of this is normal (I didn't talk about the smell, because I don't smell it anymore). They didn't know why the orp was not going up, but said not to worry about it because the orp can fluctuate, and not be effected by ozone for unknown reasons. So I will just continue using it...


By the way, how would you know if your ozone generator is not working. I know they say you can easily replace the CD, but how would you know you need to?

 

[WVNed]

I used the highly scientific method of sniffing the tube coming out of the generator.
I only got about 6 months service out of my Poseidon with 2 cells. Then I got tired of fooling with it and wondering if it was working. Like you, when I started the Poseidon it would knock you down if there was a leak. Then it just seemed to make less and less. I replaced the cell and repeated the process. Then I moved on. I tried one of the UV generators with the long bulb in a tube. I could never detect it was doing anything. Then I got one of the small box units made by the same company that makes the one I have now. The internal air pump failed in it after 9 months. It still works. I rerouted the air lines inside to do away with the pump.

I really wanted ozone to work so after 3 ozone generators for home/aquarium use I got one for light industrial and educational use. It is 10 times bigger and has run 10x longer than the others. I modified and air pump to drive it.
These are all Chinese made units and are nonrepairable unfortunately.
https://www.oxidationtech.com/Downloads/ozone-generator/Brochure-Enaly-Series.pdf
My ORP rises and falls exactly within the limits set in the Milwaukee controller every time day in and day out.
I am now using the Enaly 1KNT in that brochure. I have a 400 gallon system. It might be serious overkill for you.

 

[davidwillis]

I used the highly scientific method of sniffing the tube coming out of the generator.
I only got about 6 months service out of my Poseidon with 2 cells. Then I got tired of fooling with it and wondering if it was working. Like you, when I started the Poseidon it would knock you down if there was a leak. Then it just seemed to make less and less. I replaced the cell and repeated the process. Then I moved on. I tried one of the UV generators with the long bulb in a tube. I could never detect it was doing anything. Then I got one of the small box units made by the same company that makes the one I have now. The internal air pump failed in it after 9 months. It still works. I rerouted the air lines inside to do away with the pump.

I really wanted ozone to work so after 3 ozone generators for home/aquarium use I got one for light industrial and educational use. It is 10 times bigger and has run 10x longer than the others. I modified and air pump to drive it.
These are all Chinese made units and are nonrepairable unfortunately.
https://www.oxidationtech.com/Downloads/ozone-generator/Brochure-Enaly-Series.pdf
My ORP rises and falls exactly within the limits set in the Milwaukee controller every time day in and day out.
I am now using the Enaly 1KNT in that brochure. I have a 400 gallon system. It might be serious overkill for you.

Thanks for that information. I had no idea those ozone generators would fail so quickly. That is very depressing considering the price.

Is your Enaly 1KNT loud with the fan? I have a 300 gallon, so it would probably work if I turned it down a little. I might get one when my Poseidon fails. I did pull off the tube coming out of the generator and could smell ozone, so I think it is still working (it should since it has only been used for less than a week).

 

[WVNed]

Thanks for that information. I had no idea those ozone generators would fail so quickly. That is very depressing considering the price.

Is your Enaly 1KNT loud with the fan? I have a 300 gallon, so it would probably work if I turned it down a little. I might get one when my Poseidon fails. I did pull off the tube coming out of the generator and could smell ozone, so I think it is still working (it should since it has only been used for less than a week).

I don't know. It is in the fish room with lots of loud stuff. You notice the fan come on but then it's just background noise in there.