Even more subtle than a swimming pool, an aquarium is an environment that always maintains a delicate balance. Many factors decide the maintenance of a healthy living environment for marine life and aquatic plants. However, there is no dispute about the important role water quality plays. And maintaining a healthy aquarium water environment can benefit greatly from the use of ozone.
The Role Ozone can Play
To understand the role ozone can play in aquarium disinfection, you first need to understand the chemical structure of ozone. We’re very familiar with oxygen, which is made up of two oxygen molecules. But little is known about ozone, which is made up of three molecules. One of the three molecules has been trying to break away from it. This is why ozone is described as highly reactive.
A number of goals can be achieved by using ozone for aquarium disinfection, including improving water quality and the health of the fish. Only an ozone generator will be required to provide a continuous supply of ozone to the tank. And that will be an ozonation generator. It will provide a completely natural and safe ozone sterilization for the maintenance and improvement of water quality.
Benefits of Using Ozone
Ozone’s advantage for aquarium disinfection will vary depending on a number of variables. These variables include the size of the tank, the setting of the environment, the number and variety of fish, lighting conditions and the type of aquatic plants, etc. Ozone disinfection used in freshwater-, marine-, and reef aquariums is for the following purposes:
1. Removes Toxins
Fish in an aquarium will release toxins into the water and eventually make the tank a toxic environment. These toxins don’t matter in a marine environment since they will be dissolved quickly. However, in a closed and confined water tank environment, the rapid accumulation of toxins can lead to the destruction of the much smaller ecosystem. By introducing ozone into the water, various organic toxins can be broken down into harmless compounds. For example, ozone can break down botulinum toxin in fresh water and achieve an excellent detoxification in less than a minute.
2. Eliminates Odors
Odors does not exist just in the air. They’re present in the water too. Although the types of fish in each tank may differ, the odors produced by fish, fabrics and other organisms are quite similar. They tend to be similar to the smell produced when seafood or substances decompose, which will significantly affect the overall enjoyment of the aquarium.
Some aquarium enthusiasts choose activated carbon to remove odor for an aquarium disinfection, but a better solution is ozone. Ozone can completely remove the bacteria, spores and other harmful microorganisms that cause odor, thereby fundamentally eliminating the odor. It reacts with odor molecules and changes their chemical structure, making them no longer odor. Using ozone is also a more manageable method. It avoids the hassle of frequently changing activated carbon and thus makes it more convenient to keep the aquarium in tip-top condition.
3. Improves Water Purity
Many aquatic enthusiasts are willing to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for aquarium disinfection in order to get eye-catching hues. One of their biggest complaints was that their aquariums will quickly be cloudy or discolored. The most common situation that happens is that aquarium water turns yellow very quickly. It is caused by waste, algae, and fish food residues in the water. Enclosed aquariums do not have the self-cleaning mechanisms common to natural water bodies. Some help from outside will be required by these water environments to keep the water clean.
Introducing ozone into aquariums can effectively improve the water that is cloudy or discolored due to the existence of organic material. The yellow pigments commonly found in reef aquariums are responsible for making them dirty and less transparent. Ozone can effectively solve this problem through its oxidizing property. When used correctly, ozone can quickly turn the yellowed water back to the same clarity as fresh salty water. This will significantly improve the appearance of the aquarium and avoid frequent water changes.
4. Optimizes Lighting Condition
A good lighting condition will contribute a lot to the growth of the living creatures in an aquarium and enhance its overall ornamental value. Properly lighting up an aquarium provides the essential resources for the living organisms in the tank and allows onlookers to enjoy the presentation of the brightest colors. Ozone breaks down the compounds that cause the yellow tinge in the tank and improves the water clarity. Ozone can help the water tank to take on different shades and color intensity.
Improper light conditions are often thought to be a major reason for the death of corals. When used properly, ozone helps maintain a light intensity which is appropriate for corals and other marine lives. Ozone used in aquarium disinfection helps maintain and enhance the health of corals who depend on light for their survival by maintaining it at an optimal level.
5. Creates a Better Aquatic Environment
The purpose of an aquarium is to create a balanced environment similar to nature for fish and other aquatic life. But a fact is that the number of aquatic plants and animals can easily exceed the level a tank can tolerate. The natural marine environment has a much lower density of living organisms than the confined environment in an aquarium. It does not have to face the environmental problems that exist in the confined space in an aquarium.
As an effective disinfectant, ozone works by virtue of its highly reactive chemical structure. And the use of ozone in aquarium disinfection can help us to achieve two main goals.
Increase Oxygen Content
Unlike land animals that breathe air in the form of gas, plants and animals in water need dissolved oxygen to survive. This is how they breathe underwater. For example, bottom feeders and crabs require very little oxygen content (1-10 mg/L) to survive while shallow water fish require a higher oxygen content (5-20 mg/L). But as the total number of the living creatures in the tank increases, the oxygen content in the water can be rapidly reduced.
If a large number of algae and microorganisms are present in the aquarium, the oxygen level in the water will quickly decrease. The tank will become cloudy due to the proliferation of pathogens and bacteria. When ozone is introduced into the water tank, the level of bacteria will soon be reduced by the bactericidal function provided by ozone. As a result, there will be no need for additional disinfectant such as chlorine. This leads to the savings in both time and money.
Prevents and Treats Fish Diseases
Fish in the wild live in almost sterile water bodies. But in aquariums with the potential existence of harmful microbes, fish will be at a higher risk of disease. Not only for fish, bacteria and viruses in the tank can affect the health of all the plants and animals living in it. The natural purification properties of ozone due to its strong oxidation make it the best choice for aquarium disinfection. The use of a moderately higher ozone concentrations of ozone can cure a variety of fish diseases. Ozone and its oxidation products will have a direct effect on the gills, epidermis and other parts of the fish and stop associated infections.
The use of ozone in aquariums have multiple benefits. It will enhance the ornamental value of the aquarium, maintain and improve its color effect and create a healthier environment for all aquatic living in it.
Leave a Comment