Hydrogen peroxide use to increase oxygen

H3D said:
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/hydper.shtml
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Thanks for making my point. I'm not sure what you are up to, but also this article makes it clear that it oxidizes dissolved organics and kills parasites. I'm not sure how you imagine this would happen if it would just fall immediately apart into into oxygen and water. H2O2 is destructive. The fish can obviously stand a somewhat higher concentration as some parasites; they survive, if you use it cautiously.
 
Ulan said:
It's not wrong. But I suppose your differences lie in the point that you disregard the time scale. For the initial minutes (depending on the concentration), hydrogen peroxide will perform it's highly destructive oxidizing power. That's why I mentioned that I use it - in very dilute form - for cleaning a water-filled reactor. It will oxidize all organic particles it comes in contact with.
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Do you even know what oxidation means? In this instance it means that the H202 loses an O and becomes H20. Which is what I said.
 
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H3D said:
Do you even know what oxidization means? In this instance it means that the H202 loses an O and becomes H20. Which is what I said.
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Yes, I know what oxidation means. I'm a biochemist. I was teaching redox chemistry. "Oxidation is the loss of an electron by a molecule, atom or ion." The reaction that you describe is redox-neutral, as it is between two H2O2 molecules. It's only one of the reactions that happens if you pour H2O2 into your aquarium, and it's normally not the one why you use H2O2. You can produce air bubbles by other means.

H2O2 will oxidize organic compounds (and perhaps reduce metals, but that's irrelevant in this context). It's a stronger oxidizer than chlorine. It will oxidize organic compounds in the water, on your aquarium glass, in the gravel, in the micro fauna, in your plants and in your fish. The latter point is the one that should bring you to use caution.
 
This is all quite interesting. If we can keep things informative and not argumentative this will be a good resource for people to use to answer future questions regarding H2O2. I would like ot point out, that this compound will rapidly convert to H2O and O. But I dont think we are all on the same page here. Homer is talking about a 3% solution in small, controlled doses. Ulan has available to him ten times strength H2O2 (30%). As I understand it, anything other than H2O that we add to our tanks in any large doses will kill our fish. This includes milk, salt, amonia, calcium, nitrates, corn, phosphates, just about any water soluable compounds. I am sure that the chemichal reaction that happens with H2O2 can be harmful, but hopefully someone can chime in as to what levels. To paraphrase, a capful of 3% in a 50 gallon tank vs. a cup of 30% in a 10 gallon?

I am also eager to hear RCs reply here, since she recently used it for a BBA issue with no fish loss and lots of algae killed( as was the intended purpose)
 
One point of note. Oxidation of H2O2 is exorthermal ... depending on how much you add and concentration, the thermal heat given off could cause an sudden increase in temperature.

Rohn
 
H3D said:
Sorry Ulan...I accidently posted that and could not edit it. I was trying to point out that any oxidization reactions can be minimized if done carefully.
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No need to fight about it ;). In principle, our positions are not that far apart. I can imagine that H2O2 has its uses, and beblondie already gave recipes. Applied topically, it could kill unwanted organisms, maybe algae. It's obviously useful against some kinds of parasites. In principle, beblondie already brought it to the point in her post: Use it, if you don't have any other means. Be aware that you will damage your fish when you use it. As so often, it's a matter of weighing the benefits against the damages.
 
thanks everybody :) was curious since we had a 3 day brownout due to a typhoon , and it was really hard to buy big batteries. so just wanted to get more info in case of emergency .
 
saw it used at LFS

During a particularly bad, multiple-day long power outage, the pet store I worked at added hydrogen peroxide to the tanks every half an hour and stirred it, and instructed all the people who came in hoping for battery powered filters/aeration to do the same. I unfortunately don't know how much they were using, but I know they did use it and did recommend it until they were able to take their fish to another store.
 
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