Quote:
Originally posted by reiple
Has anybody heard of the BIO-MATE product from Japan?
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Nope, but I think it is prolly the use of an
Ozone generator, which is nothing new, as it has been used with skimming in the past to increase redox potential in systems by removing organics from the water column.
Quote:
more by reiple...
Oxygen was split into two (O2 to two atoms of O) by this device and used to aerate the tank. In fact on display at that documentary was a 12" goldfish with several goldfishes swimming comfortably in a 30 gallon tank.
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Assuming that this is an ozone generator with some type of activated carbon filter for the ozone (or as in a skimmer, where it bubbles off and must pass through a layer of carbon before it escapes to the room), it would work as the above example describes.
In the upper atmosphere, Ozone is formed as the result of the interaction between photons of ultraviolet light and diatomic oxygen molecules to form 2 free oxygen atomic radicals. Due to the relatively low concentration of ANY gasses at this level, many of these highly reactive radicals combine with other diatomic molecules of oxygen to form the triatomic
Ozone molecule. This molecule is also highly reactive, due to the inherent instability of the molecule. This Ozone molecule is an excellent absorber of ultraviolet radiation, and together with O2 molecules, they make the atmosphere relatively opaque to ultraviolet light. This occurs at its greatest extent at an altitude of 25 to 27 Km (about 15 to 16 miles up). At lower levels, water vapor and carbon dioxide take out much of the lower spectrum radiation (infrared), so that most of the radiation that would otherwise be detrimental to biological membranes/life is filtered out by either Oxygen or Oxygen-containing molecules found in the atmosphere. (not to change the subject, but most of the free O2 in the atmosphere exists due to prehistoric Cyanobacterial blooms...
, NOT TERRESTRIAL PLANTS.)
Ozone is held together by fairly unstable bonds. It exists as a bluish gas (not the total answer, but think, "Mom, why is the sky blue???") and is detectable by it's scent (reminds me of electric trains) at concentrations of as low as 0.02ppm! Its mechanism of action in aquaria is the result of the decomposition of the triatomic form to diatomic O2 and the free radical. This free radical has about 200% of the oxidative potential that free chlorine has, and will quickly react with organic compounds to "burn" them to their oxidated state. This will break down most of these compounds to simple molecules that are easily utilized by microorganisms or further broken down into CO2 and water (this is the same reason that ozone improves foam fractionation efficiency). This free radical is capable of killing both viruses and bacteria, and is capable of stripping cilia off both unicellular microorganisms and multicellular protozoa. If it is taken into these organisms, it can kill through its oxidation of nucleic acids and disruption of the ribosomal protein synthesis mechanisms.
So what does this mean to us for our aquaria? For those that use it, it will clarify the water by reducing levels of dissolved organics, particulates, and bacteria/algae in the water column. It improves healing of open wounds on fishes and related higher organisms by reducing or eliminating the levels of bacteria and viruses. It will increase the redox potential, which is
generally associated with improved water column parameters, although it will not appreciably increase O2 saturation. HOWEVER...
If there is bromine or Chlorine present in the water column, they will be oxidized to the hypochlorite and hypobromite salts, which have a prolonged oxidative effect and will burn biological membranes (like eyes, skin, gills, etc.) of higher organisms and our benthos creatures as well. If you can smell it in the room of an aquarium equiped with ozone, then it is too much ozone, and will lead to nausea, eye irritation, and respiratory tract distress (remember, it is destructive to many biological membranes). Anything made of rubber will have a drastically reduced lifespan (especially in systems with rubber gaskets), as well as plastics exposed to ozone.
O3 generators for home aquarium systems make Ozone either through the use of UV at 100 to 200 nm (less efficient) or through electric spark generation. The most effective means of introducing the gas to non-skimmed applications is through the use of gas reaction chambers, where there is a large pressurized chamber of gas at about 2 to 3 psi above a pool of water. This water is sprayed into the ozone-rich gas (like a fountain) where it then picks up a high percentage of the ozone present in the gas. I personally have not seen any of these types of reactors in about 15 or so years, but they were HOT in the late 70's and early 80's. There are many means of injecting ozone into the water column, but the use of Ozone has pretty much fallen by the wayside for reef aquaria, as many of the substances removed by ozone treatments are actually beneficial to reef organisms, and the presence of these substances can be one of the keys that make reef systems thrive. In addition to that, many aquarists observed that ammonia spikes would occasionally occur, thought to be an effect of residual amounts of O3 in marine systems killing off
nitrifying bacteria in wet/dry trickle flitters (also the rage at that time...
)
Sorry for the long post, but this should give a brief understanding of what occurs with "ionized" oxygen.
HTH
.....would there be any effect?
