Ozonizer

[cubuffs]

Hi,
I was wanting to purchase one of these for my 180 FOWLR tank. I was curious to know if I need to set an ozonizer up first before I establish the tank, or if it is a "plug and go" type of scenario.
I like the benefits of this device, but would like to know more about them.
Thanks again in advance.

 

[tony detroit]

Ozone will do roughly all the same as a UV sterilizer for less, plus it bonds with organics, kind of like the way activated carbon works.
One year of a UV, you have to buy $40 bulbs.
One year of ozonizer you buy nothing.
They use less electricity You don't pump water through them. You don't have to worry about a leak. You have almost near no maintenance unless you run an air dryer. You will have clearer water in less than 24hrs of putting it on the tank. Your skimmate will look like butter.

 

[liontamer]

Whoa, watit a sec. Just HOW do these work again? Cuz ive had a uv for about a year now and i havent had any bulb changes, but this thing sounds sweet. How much and where from?

 

[tony detroit]

cubuffs, I forgot, I would wait around 3 months as to not disrupt any cycling process before adding one to a new tank
liontamer, there are several aquarium manufactures, Sanders, Red Sea, and Ultralife. Most hobbyists use the Red Sea.
You can get entry level units for 150 and up. You can ---- hot-tub units for even less if you find the right deal.
They work by passing a electrical current through a tube to which airflow is circulated, thus splitting the air molecules. In humid environments it is recommended you use an air dryer for greater efficiency, but I found on mine it was quite bothersome to continually recharge it bi-weekly, so I run without it.
This tube is generally hooked to the air inlet to your skimmer, or sometimes powered by an airstone to a seperate reaction chamber.
I also forgot earlier that an added benefit is they kill parasites like a UV will, and also bond with ammonia forming it to nitrite and they bond nitrite and form it to nitrate, so your chance of a spike is lessened with an ozonizer as well.
If you are strictly looking for disease prevention I think UV may still be better. However when you add up all the positives I think the ozone is better. I have no papers to document these results, only personal experience.
tony

 

[cubuffs]

Thanks Tony for the advice. I appreciate the help and I am sure that everyone else who has read this thread has gained some knowledge as well.