Ocean Free Hydra Product Test

[4D3]

Well can't hurt to buy one and try i guess. It's kinda expensive though. Even though the manufacturers claim that you don't need any other filtration, i plan to run this as an addon to my external filters.

I'm starting to believe that other filters will stop this working.

The reason there are no nitrates is because of the single conversion from NH3 or NH4 to H2O +N2 is the reason there are no nitrates.

I can't find a chemical reaction that uses hydroxil + nitrate or nitrite.

I believe that if you put this in at your only biological filter, and use everything else as mechanical, that's how you get this working.

I don't believe that this does anything to nitrates or nitrite, I think that it neutralizes ammonia in a single step rather than ammonia->nitrite->nitrate...

But rather NH3 or NH4 -> H2O + N2

 

[demonknight]

in that case, i'll wait for detailed reviews. don't want to change completely from established filtration methods to something new.

too much at risk.

edit: this is from their FAQ

With Hydro-Pure Technology, does it mean that it is not necessary to use bio media to cultivate beneficial bacteria?

• In any aquarium setup, the more filtration media we have, the better it is. It all depends on the aquarium setup and bio load. Depending on the extent of Hydro-Pure Technology usage, a reduced amount of Bio media is adequate for the tank system. The non-toxic Ammonium created by Hydro-Pure Technology can also be more easily converted by beneficial bacteria.

 

[4D3]

in that case, i'll wait for detailed reviews. don't want to change completely from established filtration methods to something new.

too much at risk.

In running an Eheim 2262 in the system that's 6 months seeded.

This Hydra claims to reduce nitrates so that's what I tried to test.

As I said earlier, I believe that in a tank with no bacteria to convert ammonia to nitrite, then bacteria for nitrite to nitrate then it will be smashing because I can verify and balance the equation:

NH3 or NH4+. + OH- = N2 + H2O

Other than that, I don't believe that it does anything to nitrate or nitrite specifically.... Chemically no reaction can occur between them.

To future this test, in going to offline my eheim 2262, and run my tank with the Hydra 40, and an Otto mechanical filter.

 

[4D3]

in that case, i'll wait for detailed reviews. don't want to change completely from established filtration methods to something new.

too much at risk.

edit: this is from their FAQ

With Hydro-Pure Technology, does it mean that it is not necessary to use bio media to cultivate beneficial bacteria?

• In any aquarium setup, the more filtration media we have, the better it is. It all depends on the aquarium setup and bio load. Depending on the extent of Hydro-Pure Technology usage, a reduced amount of Bio media is adequate for the tank system. The non-toxic Ammonium created by Hydro-Pure Technology can also be more easily converted by beneficial bacteria.

Essentially they are negating their own claims... The box says that this can reduce nitrate and nitrite... I'm starting to doubt the claims for that, however I do believe it is doing something right as I have never had water so clear!

So I can say that the claim that the hydroxyl ions are definitely being created and they are reacting with the dissolve organic compounds

 

[demonknight]

Heh heh ok.

Well it's been around in the market for a long time i guess in those areas but not yet popular over at the west?

What harm could it do if coupled with two established canister filters in a 90G tank?

 

[4D3]

Heh heh ok.

Well it's been around in the market for a long time i guess in those areas but not yet popular over at the west?

What harm could it do if coupled with two established canister filters in a 90G tank?

Well mine is in an established 90g tank with a2262, 40w uv and 1l purigen, and honestly I can say my water is so freaking clear after adding the Hydra, regardless of what it does for my nitrates I'm keeping it because of the clarity!!!

It seems to attack any dissolved organic compounds!

I still can't work out the reaction equation for nitrates or nitrite...

 

[demonknight]

From a youtuber:

Published on May 10, 2015
Over the last few weeks an algae bloom occurred in my aquarium which affected my hard corals. I should have read the instructions for the Hydra stream more carefully.
There are a few things to take note of:
• There is a glaring omission from the instructions and that is which way the water should flow through the unit. From trial and error the output appears to be from the removable end of the unit.
• The unit works better if used in the in the vertical plane. If placed in the horizontal plane you get air and gases collecting at the top of the unit which results in a loss of usable surface area. This in turn then drastically reduces the affectivity of the unit.
• The unit does not reduce Nitrates if anything it increases the presence of Nitrates . What the unit does do is convert Nitrites to nitrates.

The unit seems to hydrolyze water into hydroxyl ions(OH-) and Hydrogen ions (H+) The Hydrogen are attracted to the cathode part of the plate as this will be negatively charged and the Hydroxyl ions are attracted to the anode plate as this plate is positively charged.

Because of the low charge used in this process other types of electrolysis such as the separation of NaCL do not take place at a rate that would have any effect on the aquarium water.

It looks like this is where the carbon comes into play, I think it acts as a reservoir holding onto the Hydrogen and hydroxyl ions as they pass to their respective plates.

The active carbon would have a high affinity for the (H+) and hold on to it but some of the (OH-) would be more likely to make out of the unit and this would make the aquarium water more alkaline. Hard corals and soft coral would like this environment and that’s why I think my hard coral are doing a lot better since I fitted this unit .

Some Oxygen (O- ) would be produced by the electrical current being passed through the water. Within the carbon media Nitrite is catalyzed to Nitrate. This is why the Nitrate levels in my Aquarium went up to Plus 40ppm.

• The Bio pearls I have running in my 522 Eden canister filter seems to helping control the nitrate levels .
• The instructions say the unit will convert dissolved phosphate’s to a solid form that cannot be taken up by algae. What it does not tell you is that these can have a detrimental effect on your corals . I did not find this worked and in fact I found my phosphate levels elevated. I am sure this is what contributed to my algae bloom . To control this I used GFO and Phos Zorb inside my Fluval canister filter.
• But the unit does seem to do is bypass the Nitrogen cycle and convert Ammonia to Ammonium +nitrogen
I think it does this by adding (H+) to Ammonia NH3 forming Ammonium NH4 , being a slightly bigger molecule my skimmer seems to be able to then remove this from the water.
Where does it get the Hydrogen from , well remember earlier I mentioned the Hydrogen ions in the carbon reservoir well there are an abundance of ions to be found in this area.

Reflections
Unit will oxidise sulphates but not remove them.
Unit will convert Ammonia to Ammonium but will not remove it.
Unit will convert Nitrites to Nitrates.
Unit will not remove Nitrates and will in fact increase nitrate levels.
Unit will help to maintain the alkalinity of salt aquarium water.

------------------

How does this apply to freshwater?

 

[4D3]

Test completed, filter returned, didn't work as advertised.

Does not remove nitrite or nitrates.

This creates a bypass reaction with ammonia so it does not actually create nitrate or nitrite:

NH3 + 2OH- = H2O + N2

There is only 1 situation this filter will work and that is the following:

1: New tank filled with tap water then prime
2: No substrate
3: The filter had to be the ONLY filter in the tank.
4: There cannot be any traditional bacteria in the tank

Note: if you use this on a tank with an existing filter it essentially does nothing because the existing filter will continue to crest the nitrite and nitrate because of the beneficial bacteria.

 

[Matthew English]

Which sides the inlet and outlet, the side with the plug as outlet ?