Anyone using Dr. Sochting's Oxydator

[CuzzA]

I haven't read the thread, but did do a search for "dosing pump" and did not get a hit. So I'm curious if anyone has used a dosing pump for the peroxide. It would seem to me you would have more precise control, could just use typical 3% h2o2 and wouldn't have to refill an in tank container so often. The cost is pretty much negligible. Thoughts?

 

[najer]

I haven't read the thread, but did do a search for "dosing pump" and did not get a hit. So I'm curious if anyone has used a dosing pump for the peroxide. It would seem to me you would have more precise control, could just use typical 3% h2o2 and wouldn't have to refill an in tank container so often. The cost is pretty much negligible. Thoughts?

I run an A and D in my big tank and a mini in the little tank all 9% with 2 catalysts, it costs me less than a pound a week to fuel them all, no power and basically nothing really to go wrong.
If you fill them over the sink put the plug in, I forgot and sent the catalysts down the plug hole! ;) Twice! :P

 

[drawman]

I haven't read the thread, but did do a search for "dosing pump" and did not get a hit. So I'm curious if anyone has used a dosing pump for the peroxide. It would seem to me you would have more precise control, could just use typical 3% h2o2 and wouldn't have to refill an in tank container so often. The cost is pretty much negligible. Thoughts?

I've used a dosing pump for a month at a time basically until the bottle ran out. I think only issue (like overdosing anything) is what happens if the doser sticks on. The oxydator should hopefully be a safer alternative but I have yet to buy one.

 

[atoll]

What a great thread to stumble upon! I started dosing H2O2 last week to combat some nuisance algae in my reef, then I found this. After reading the whole thread I'm sold on them. Have already written to theshrimptank to see about ordering a W model. My tank specs are as follows:

300 gallon display (approx. system volume as well with lagoon and sump included). SPS dominant system. Lagoon has additional sps, LPS, and softies, including about 30 bubble tip anenomes. As stated above, having some small-ish issues with nuisance algae and hoping this will help to combat.

4 large tangs
1 lg foxface
1 blueface angel
4 damsels
2 basslets
2 clowns
1 humu trigger
1 lg PJ cardinal
2 hawkfish
1 goby
adding 3 wrasses soon and some more damsels, perhaps a couple more cardinals. :0)

Feeding 1 sheet nori/day, 2 x NLS pellets, frozen nightly (mysis, LRS chunky)

Have large skimmer, GFO, and marine pure blocks. No algae reactor set up currently though I am planning to do that again!

@atoll Thinking that I'll fill the W with 8.75% solution and 2 catalysts... or perhaps it's best to start with 1? Thanks!!!

Providing you don't use ozone then you should be good to go 12% and 2 catalysts.
My good friend has a 300 gallon system and uses 12% and 3 catalysts. He has some big fish like tangs and feeds heavily.
Regarding nuisance algae and Oxydators. I have to admit they are a bit hit and miss and it can depend on what nuisance algae you have. However, if you think of your water as scales and currently you have too much weight on the wrong side meaning the balance is towards the algae. Adding an Oxydator is another weight you are adding to the good side. That may be enough to swing it your way on the other hand it may not be but an Oxydator should help if not eliminate your nuisance algae. Certainly cyno is more often eradicated when using Oxydator's. I guess with regards to GHA it's more a suck it and see scenario.

 

[atoll]

I run an A and D in my big tank and a mini in the little tank all 9% with 2 catalysts, it costs me less than a pound a week to fuel them all, no power and basically nothing really to go wrong.
If you fill them over the sink put the plug in, I forgot and sent the catalysts down the plug hole! ;) Twice! :p

Once is unfortunate twice is just negligent lol

 

[najer]

I've used a dosing pump for a month at a time basically until the bottle ran out. I think only issue (like overdosing anything) is what happens if the doser sticks on. The oxydator should hopefully be a safer alternative but I have yet to buy one.

I have been using them for 8 or 9 years, the mini is my original, I would never run a tank without one now! ;)

 

[CNDReef]

@atoll do you think this would take care of a bacterial bloom in the water column?

 

[atoll]

@atoll do you think this would take care of a bacterial bloom in the water column?

I wish I could say yes but am just not sure. If ozone will then I am reasonably sure it would. Most people using Oxydators report their water is clearer and cleaner looking as mine is. What I can say is that I have never had a bacterial bloom of any kind since using Oxydators, coincidences? Maybe.

 

[najer]

I wish I could say yes but am just not sure. If ozone will then I am reasonably sure it would. Most people using Oxydators report their water is clearer and cleaner looking as mine is. What I can say is that I have never had a bacterial bloom of any kind since using Oxydators, coincidences? Maybe.

I also have never had an algae bloom.

 

[CNDReef]

I wish I could say yes but am just not sure. If ozone will then I am reasonably sure it would. Most people using Oxydators report their water is clearer and cleaner looking as mine is. What I can say is that I have never had a bacterial bloom of any kind since using Oxydators, coincidences? Maybe.

Mine will be here next month on the 5th and I’ll have a answer to this lol

 

[atoll]

Mine will be here next month on the 5th and I’ll have a answer to this lol

You currently have a bacterial bloom in your tank?

 

[SDK]

I haven't read the thread, but did do a search for "dosing pump" and did not get a hit. So I'm curious if anyone has used a dosing pump for the peroxide. It would seem to me you would have more precise control, could just use typical 3% h2o2 and wouldn't have to refill an in tank container so often. The cost is pretty much negligible. Thoughts?

I would also go with an Oxydator over a dosing pump. Besides the other reasons mentioned, the way it actually works is different. You have to me more careful with direct dosing because the peroxide is an oxidizing agent. When this happens in the water column it can have unintended negative effects if the dose is too high.

With an Oxydator, you are getting the release of pure O2, but most of the reaction is happening inside the Oxydator, not the water column. This allows a safety margin, and the dose is a perfect constant trickle which is the most stable way to introduce it.

 

[McPuff]

Providing you don't use ozone then you should be good to go 12% and 2 catalysts.
My good friend has a 300 gallon system and uses 12% and 3 catalysts. He has some big fish like tangs and feeds heavily.
Regarding nuisance algae and Oxydators. I have to admit they are a bit hit and miss and it can depend on what nuisance algae you have. However, if you think of your water as scales and currently you have too much weight on the wrong side meaning the balance is towards the algae. Adding an Oxydator is another weight you are adding to the good side. That may be enough to swing it your way on the other hand it may not be but an Oxydator should help if not eliminate your nuisance algae. Certainly cyno is more often eradicated when using Oxydator's. I guess with regards to GHA it's more a suck it and see scenario.

Excellent, and thank you! I may have made the algae problem sound worse than it is. There are patches of green slime(y) algae in places. Also a bit of cyano in the sand, but it's the fibrous kind, not the slime. The tank is actually quite clean otherwise but I think that since I haven't been running a refugium/algae reactor in some time, I'm a bit on the wrong side of the scale. I've just ordered the W version from theshrimptank.com which was terrific to find! Not many options for those here in the US. Amazon only have the small ones.

12% and 2 catalysts... that scares me a bit. :0) But I do trust your judgement so I'll give it a go once the Oxydator arrives. At least the 35% H2O2 will be easy to find and obtain. I'm guessing the anemones will serve as canaries to let me know if the rate of reaction is too high and I can dial it back. And I do plan to start up an algae reactor after getting the oxydator online.

 

[najer]

I have experienced this, watch your nems, start lower and build up would be my advice.

 

[McPuff]

I have experienced this, watch your nems, start lower and build up would be my advice.

My thoughts as well. I'll start with 9% and 2 catalysts and go from there. Bump to 12% after the first batch runs through. Thanks.

 

[atoll]

My thoughts as well. I'll start with 9% and 2 catalysts and go from there. Bump to 12% after the first batch runs through. Thanks.

I have 500ltr tank and have a oxydator A running 12% with 2 catalysts. If you prefer to run less % or catalysts fine. As I always say watch your corals and esp news for the first half hour or so. However, all should be well.

 

[McPuff]

I have 500ltr tank and have a oxydator A running 12% with 2 catalysts. If you prefer to run less % or catalysts fine. As I always say watch your corals and esp news for the first half hour or so. However, all should be well.

Much appreciated! Please share a pic of your tank!

 

[atoll]

Much appreciated! Please share a pic of your tank!

My tank is still.quite new and only half stocked mainly with just frags. Happy to post pics of it however, my previous tank I had for a few years before moving house and selling everything was better stocked. I will post a pic of my new and previous tank.

 

[McPuff]

My tank is still.quite new and only half stocked mainly with just frags. Happy to post pics of it however, my previous tank I had for a few years before moving house and selling everything was better stocked. I will post a pic of my new and previous tank.

Looks terrific!! Thanks for sharing!

 

[najer]

I love this and so like to see tank pics in normal lighting! :)