A few questions about using ozone

[brianhellno]

I just read a little about using ozone in the home aquarium and was wondering how many others here have tried it? I'm referring more to freshwater applications and I was wondering what the results were.

A few of the question I had were:

I've read it can break apart ammonia and nitrite, I was wondering if this was true and if it can replace nitrifying bacteria?

Also I was wondering if it has as many benefits as it claims if used properly.

 

[brianhellno]

hmmm I'm guessing not a lot of people have experience with it? I'm mainly interested in articles claiming it can break apart ammonia and nitrites into nitrate and its possible uses in freshwater aquariums. Here's some links to maybe get the ball rolling:

This one is about its history and its uses:

http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatfishblog/2008/07/31/using-ozone-in-the-home-aquarium/

This one is a wikipedia article that I'll quote a piece from:

"Ozone is also widely used in treatment of water in aquariums and fish ponds. Its use can minimize bacterial growth, control parasites, eliminate transmission of some diseases, and reduce or eliminate "yellowing" of the water. Ozone must not come in contact with fish's gill structures. Natural salt water (with life forms) provides enough "instantaneous demand" that controlled amounts of ozone activate bromide ion to hypobromous acidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypobromous_acid, and the ozone entirely decays in a few seconds to minutes. If oxygen fed ozone is used, the water will be higher in dissolved oxygen, fish's gill structures will atrophy and they will become dependent on higher dissolved oxygen levels."

And link to article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone#Consumers

I guess my question is can anybody maybe share some of their experiences with me and hopefully let me know if its something I should pursue or should I start experimenting and see what happens?

 

[bbboys]

ive never tried it lookes intresting

 

[12 Volt Man]

interesting.

in water treatment, ozonation is used as a method of disinfection and to eliminate compounds that cause taste and odor problems. so for an aquarium application, it can be used for parasite control, and potentially be used to perform a similar function to carbon - only it breaks down compounds rather than adsorbs them..

one drawback at least in large scale applications (like at a water treatment plant) is that it is expensive.

not sure how expensive the home aquarium units would be to purchase and run...

 

[Austin]

it's very expensive and touchy i believe. has to be just right. i believe an aquarium recently lost some stock because of an ozone issue.

 

[brianhellno]

it's very expensive and touchy i believe. has to be just right. i believe an aquarium recently lost some stock because of an ozone issue.

I've read about this too. From my understanding Ozone basically causes everything to oxidize and if it reaches to high of an oxidation point it can be bad for the fish. I'll have to look into it more but I know your only supposed to use so much Ozone per hour.