You will need a high-purity oxygen feed to properly operate your ozone generator. High purity oxygen keeps your equipment operating properly and ensures no impurities will come into or leave the ozone generator and accessories. In addition to a high purity oxygen source, you will also need a low flow regulator that will give you oxygen flow rates from ½ LPM down to 1/16 LPM, which are the optimal flow rates for ozone therapy.

High purity oxygen comes from either 870 or 540 oxygen tanks In this article, we’ll go over how to source oxygen for both tanks.

870 oxygen

870 tank oxygen requires a prescription or a practitioner’s license to obtain. This oxygen is USP grade (pharmaceutical grade) and is rated at greater than 99% purity, which is considered an excellent source for your ozone generator. You will need a CGA 870 flow regulator (standard quality or professional quality) to properly use it. Due to recent changes in 870 oxygen tanks, we recommend the higher quality regulator, as it will fit old and new tanks.  

870 oxygen tanks come in a variety of sizes. Below is a table that goes over the differences. We recommend sourcing the oxygen tank based on usage. E-size cylinders are the largest and will last the longest. D-size cylinders fit best on the Promolife dental cart. C-size tanks are smaller. Click the picture for a larger version.

Not all 870 gas suppliers will fill a tank you bring in. You will usually need to use one of their tanks. Make sure to check with your local supplier before buying an outside tank.

If you have access to an H-size tank, you may consider transfilling your own oxygen tanks. Knowing how to transfill allows the user to become less reliant on the 870 gas company if they run out of oxygen at an unexpected time. You can find out more about transfilling here.

Industrial oxygen

For those who can’t obtain a prescription, industrial oxygen is the way to go. For industrial tanks, you will need a CGA 540 oxygen tank regulator (standard quality or professional quality) if you live in North America. Regulators are available for international users as well.

In order to find an oxygen tank from a local supplier, you’ll first need to locate the available oxygen suppliers in your area. The easiest way to do that is to search online for one of these phrases: “oxygen supplier near me”, “industrial oxygen supplier near m”’, or “industrial welding oxygen vendor”. Welding shops are usually the easiest to find. We’ll go over that in a moment.

Once you’ve found a local supplier, you’ll want to check with them to see if they will fill outside tanks or if you’ll need to purchase one of theirs. Some companies will allow you to lease a tank. Due to supply shortages, some locations have changed their business model. This is most likely temporary. When your tank is empty, most companies will take your empty tank and give you another filled one. If you want to get your specific tank back, we recommend checking with your local sources to see if one will do that ahead of time.

Most people using their ozone generator at home will choose a 20 or 40 cubic-foot tank. The 20 cubic foot tank can last most people 2-3 months on average (depending on usage), while the 40 cubic foot would last twice as long. Generally, there’s a small difference in price between the two, but it’s cheaper in the long run to get a larger tank.

NOTE: If you compare the size of a 40 cubic foot tank to a typical 80 cubic foot scuba tank, you’ll be able to understand how manageable the size of the 40 cubic foot tank can be. We should mention that gas for scuba diving (recreational ≤ 130 ft) is typically just compressed air, so don’t try to use a scuba tank with your ozone generator.

Here’s a picture that can give you a general idea of the size of the various tanks (click for a larger version):

Obtaining oxygen from a welding shop

If your best option is a welding shop, there are some important things to know before visiting. You don’t want to mention you are getting this for supplemental or breathing oxygen, or for anything related to health. Otherwise, they may not be able or willing to sell to you. If they ask why you need oxygen, they are trying to help you find what you need. No license is needed for industrial oxygen.

You’ll have better luck if you use any of the following for your reason for use: welding, making jewelry, creating metal art sculptures, or for aquariums and water filters that utilize an oxygen-fed ozone generator.

How do I know industrial oxygen is pure?

Welding and 870 oxygen are considered USP (pharmaceutical) grade. Since gas suppliers fill both 540 and 870 tanks it is cheaper for them to use the same quality of oxygen gas. After a welding tank is filled the company will not certify that USP was used, nor do they provide a chain of custody. Basically, welding gas doesn’t come with all the paperwork that 870 gas comes with, but it’s the same oxygen. [Link]

If you are still concerned about using industrial oxygen with your ozone generator, consider using the oxygen or ozone line filter. This will filter out rust, dust, or any other potential contaminants bigger than .2 microns. The diagram below shows just how small this is.

Sourcing oxygen for an ozone generator can be intimidating for many people, but the information we’ve provided should make it much easier. Don’t let sourcing oxygen discourage you from using your ozone generator.