| This article is based on a study about the Redox | | | | range of mentioned components of ecologically clean |
| Potential as it corresponds to humans and all fish and | | | | water is the integral result of oxidation and reduction |
| animals. I have found from practical experience and | | | | self-purification of water.At the initial stages of this |
| research, that a lot more can be learned from | | | | cycle toxic hydrophobic organic compounds |
| medical studies than from the anecdotal writing of | | | | (molecules that are repelled from a mass of water) |
| many aquarists, who are suddenly experts after | | | | are oxidized to the hydrophilic forms (a molecule or |
| leaving their jobs and keeping an aquarium for a few | | | | portion of a molecule is one that is typically |
| years. I have found this with medication | | | | charge-polarized and capable of hydrogen bonding, |
| recommendations too, as many times gram positive | | | | enabling it to dissolve more readily in water than in oil |
| medications such as penicillin are | | | | or other hydrophobic solvents), which are |
| recommended with no chance of curing their sick | | | | characterized by the better biological compatibility. |
| fish. Back to UV Sterilization; UV Sterilization is often | | | | Energy of oxidation of degrading organic compounds |
| trashed by un-informed aquarists who do not really | | | | is absorbed during reduction chemical transformations. |
| know what UVs can and cannot do, and also the | | | | Excess of ions of the heavy elements transforms |
| quality and proper installation of the unit also plays a | | | | into insoluble, inert, nontoxic forms. Concentration of |
| roll in the UV Sterilizers effectiveness.This pertains to | | | | ions of light elements is stabilized. Just in such water |
| the Redox potential of 300-350 mV that I have | | | | live the water organisms, and land animals drink such |
| found a properly installed and constructed UV. A | | | | water.Spring waters, which are considered to be the |
| proper Redox Potential improves the health of | | | | most clean according to the ecological criteria, are |
| humans AND fish. A Redox Potential in the 200-400 | | | | filtered through the rocks and subjected to the |
| mV range in human studies has been shown to have | | | | oxidation and reduction, sorption and catalytic |
| the same affect as anti-oxidant preparations such | | | | influence. As rule, they are mineralized and include |
| Vitamin C (and many others). This shows that the | | | | non-volatile organic substances, which are |
| health of aquarium fish can be maintained by a UV | | | | detected by the permanganate oxidability |
| Sterilizer not just by the killing of potential disease | | | | (expressed by oxidability by potassium permanganate |
| pathogens, but by the maintenance of a proper | | | | and potassium dichromate).After electrochemical |
| Redox Potential. I have been observing many | | | | purification water keeps its initial neutral values of pH, |
| aquariums of such "ordinary" fish as goldfish, both | | | | but ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) of water |
| with and without UV Sterilizers (keep in mind that | | | | shifts toward the negative (electrode or reduction) |
| some UVs are useless by design and installation), and | | | | values. The resulting purified water obtains the |
| the goldfish with every other factor | | | | antioxidant properties with characteristics of |
| equal that had a UV Sterilizer installed, were | | | | pharmacological activity close to the properties of |
| generally much healthier.Over geologic time abiogenic | | | | the antioxidant preparations (a -tocopherol, b |
| (not biological in origin), biogenic (produced by living | | | | -carotene, vitamin C etc.). In case of dilution of |
| organisms) and anthropogenic (processes are those | | | | polyvitamin preparations in electrochemically purified |
| that are derived from human activities, as opposed | | | | water ORP of mixtures is decreased approximately |
| to effects or processes that occur in the natural | | | | by 200 - 400 mV in relation to the control solutions |
| environment without human influences) deposits | | | | with non-treated drinking water. |
| were accumulated in rivers, lakes and seas. | | | | This partially explains how a proper Redox Potential |
| Simultaneously there proceeded the self-purification | | | | improves the health of the fish or other aquatic |
| of natural water on the basis of the chemical | | | | organisms as I have observed. Bringing this back to |
| reactions of oxidation and reduction. Living organisms | | | | my observations of goldfish aquariums; All aquariums |
| such as fish are adapted not to "perfectly clean | | | | with the same filtration (canister filter with sponge |
| water", such as distillated water, but to ecologically | | | | filter), the same feeding schedule and food, even the |
| clean water with definite content of organic and | | | | same basic goldfish (a mix of ryukins and orandas); |
| inorganic compounds, micro-admixtures, ions and | | | | The aquariums with the quality, properly installed UV |
| even bacteria or saprophyte (any plant that depends | | | | Sterilizers not only had less incidence of disease, but |
| on dead plant or animal tissue for a source of | | | | general health, appetite, vigor, growth, and water |
| nutrition and metabolic energy, e.g., most fungi). The | | | | clarity were all improved. |