ORP and Ozone

[vanreefer]

For all thosse who are running O3 on their tanks what ORP value do you shoot for?
I have read that natural sea water has an ORP value of 350-450... I have not started running O3 into my tank yet as I just DIY'd an O3 reactor my ORP swings from 350-75 in the day time to 320-30 before the lights come on, I was just wondering where people shoot for as an optimum ORP?

Some interesting reading on the electrochemistry behind ORP

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-12/rhf/feature/index.php

[Chin_Lee]

dano i put mine at 400. my system did the same thing with the fluctuations but after awhile i find that the swing in orp levels is minimal.

[Chin_Lee]

oh yeah don't forget to clean the probe every week or two. just use a toothbrush and give it a quick gentle scrub.

[Pescador]

My ORP stays at about 325-350 with 200mg running flat out with a 500mg air dryer and an ALS reactor. My controller is set at 350 with a 20-30 drift so it won't go above 375.
But my tank started out at a lower level than yours 200-225. Some tanks can have a higher ORP level without ozone so you will have to keep a closer eye on your controller not to raise it too much.
I would set it 25 above your baseline without ozone but not above 450 and monitor your water clarity from there.

[kwirky]

what are the benefits of maintaining OPR with an ozone reactor?

[Pescador]

The benefits of using a reactor rather than a skimmer for ozone injection from R.H.Farleys Ozone articles (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/rhf/index.php#21).

1. Their water and air flow rates, and even their engineering design itself, are optimized for skimming, not for ozone injection and reaction. The longer the ozonated water has to react, the more oxidation of organic molecules can take place. This is not a design criterion with skimmers, where the air/water contact time is maximized, but the water alone is not held for any purpose. If the water's flow rate is too high, and hence its turnover rate too high, the concentration of ozone in the water, and the contact time for it to react with organic materials, may be less than optimal.2. Both the air and water exiting the skimmer should optimally be passed over activated carbon to reduce the highly oxidizing and toxic species being sent into the aquarium and into the aquarists' home air. Many skimmers are not set up to efficiently pass the air over carbon, and high water flow rates can make it difficult to achieve adequate contact with activated carbon. 3. Many skimmers are not designed using materials suitable for prolonged ozone exposure.

[Samw]

What are some of the more popular ozone reactors? I've only heard of DIY ones and Coralife ones which were considered poor.

[Pescador]

The only other ones I know of are the MTC (http://www.marinetechnical.com/page6.html) and ALS (http://www.aqualifesupport.com/getDetail.php?ID=359152).
I think there was an Ultralife reactor but I can't find any hits for it.

Here's a link to Dave C's thread with pics of the MTC setup.
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=27736&page=2&highlight=MTC+ozone

Here's some better pics of the ALS.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/Pescador58/Reef%20Tank/IMG_2101.jpg

Included plumbing parts
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/Pescador58/Reef%20Tank/IMG_2104_1.jpg

Hooked up to an MTC carbon reactor. The air tap and filter I added myself but I'm not using it anymore.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/Pescador58/Reef%20Tank/ozonesetup.jpg

[kwirky]

i was wondering more the intial reason for maintaining ORP levels by injecting/reacting ozone in the water? What are the benefits of the higher ORP level?

[christyf5]

I run my ORP at about 400. The water is so much clearer than before and the corals are coloring up nicely :biggrin:

[Pescador]

You should check out this series of articles by R.H.Farley on the claims and real benefits of ozone.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/rhf/index.php#21

Mostly I think it is the amazing difference in water clarity where the water seems to disappear.
Also possible reductions in problem algae and cyno, organic toxins, and pathogens.

[andresont]

My ORP stays at about 325-350 with 200mg running flat out with a 500mg air dryer and an ALS reactor. My controller is set at 350 with a 20-30 drift so it won't go above 375.
But my tank started out at a lower level than yours 200-225. Some tanks can have a higher ORP level without ozone so you will have to keep a closer eye on your controller not to raise it too much.
I would set it 25 above your baseline without ozone but not above 450 and monitor your water clarity from there.

My Orp is 165:( !
but tank is on it's 3rd week of sycling.
Damn mantis ( i know now he is there) ate a single mushroom... poor bugger is so hungry ! If i could only catch the guy, small tank is waiting for him in the storage.

[vanreefer]

read the article in the first post.

i was wondering more the intial reason for maintaining ORP levels by injecting/reacting ozone in the water? What are the benefits of the higher ORP level?