For this reason, the application of ozone to these systems has become a hot topic. This article will present an overview of the application, benefits and possible side effects. The use of ozone is a controversial topic within the aquarium hobby, especially in older books. Ozone is an unstable molecule made up of three oxygen atoms. Electrical discharge is more effective at producing the higher levels required.
Most ozone generators use a corona spark method to produce the ozone.
This type system will run cooler and be more energy efficient. If water is present, some of the available oxygen atoms will combine to produce nitric and nitrous acid instead of ozone. Since ozone is an unstable molecule, it rapidly gives up its third oxygen atom which will act as an oxidizer of inorganic and organic molecules. This can help to clarify the water, and also make some molecules more hydrophobic, increasing the efficiency of a skimmer. But this also means that we must apply ozone in a dose strong enough to eliminate bacteria and parasites, without being too strong to disturb the gill membranes of the fish or sensitive tissues of the invertebrates.