Burning Co2 scrubber media super fast

[Biff0rz]

Do you have a large bio load in your tank ie, large number of tangs, large fish load? If you do then amount of media relative to your dissolved CO2 levels in your reef may be too low, hence the media being used up quicker than expected. Do you have an algae scrubber or refugium with algae on your system? May help to raise your pH without burning through expensive media. Kinda like some reefers who will run calcium reactor output through algae device to reduce CO2 levels and raise pH. Are you storing the media in an airtight container? If not the media will be used up before you put it in the reactor, and it may not change color as expected. Just spitballing now… seems you’ve done everything else. Could get a CO2 meter and find out how high CO2 level is in your basement. If higher than outside air then you have an answer.

bio load-
clown (adult, medium)
copper band butterfly fish (adult, medium)
achilles tang (juv, medium)
purple tange (adult, large)
yellow tang (adult, small)
blonde naso tang (adult, huge fat large)
leopard wrasse (adult, medium)
melanurus wrasse (juv, small)
2x blue stripe cleaner wrasse (1 adult, 1 juv)
dwarf potters angle (fat adult)
starry blenny (fat adult)
cleaner shrimp (adult)
+cleanup crew

Yes, I have an algae scrubber, and it is scrubbing 24x7

I have a CaRx but I have it turned off right now while dosing kalkwasser

Media is stored air tight in the container it came in - its color changing and I do see Ph increase when I change it

I may go get a co2 meter, my guess is it's pretty high. I heard I could go really silly with this and buy whole home air exchanger, idk if I'm there yet..

 

[Biff0rz]

Isn't the CO² absorbing media rechargeable like dessicated is?

yes, if you bake it at 2000*+...I don't have an oven that can do that

 

[Biff0rz]

btw, these are all great things to double check, it's always possible I missed something! Thanks for the suggestions so far everyone.

 

[shutterspeed1000]

I have been fighting PH the last few weeks and my scrubber was eating media. Do you dose carbon? I was using NoPox and discovered it was pulling my PH down. For me, the scrubber was just covering up the issue.

 

[Biff0rz]

I have been fighting PH the last few weeks and my scrubber was eating media. Do you dose carbon? I was using NoPox and discovered it was pulling my PH down. For me, the scrubber was just covering up the issue.

I do dose vodka, about 10ml/d

 

[Solo McReefer]

Isn't the CO² absorbing media rechargeable like dessicated is?

I changed that to 'dessicant' 2 times before posting

 

[shutterspeed1000]

I do dose vodka, about 10ml/d

I dosed for years and had no issues until this year. I'm guessing the bacteria just got out of hand, probably from the warm water (whole other issue). It took about 1.5 weeks to see the difference on my tank.

 

[Solo McReefer]

I dosed for years and had no issues until this year. I'm guessing the bacteria just got out of hand, probably from the warm water (whole other issue). It took about 1.5 weeks to see the difference on my tank.

Alcohol tolerance

Your bacteria are drunks

 

[mcwhng]

bio load-
clown (adult, medium)
copper band butterfly fish (adult, medium)
achilles tang (juv, medium)
purple tange (adult, large)
yellow tang (adult, small)
blonde naso tang (adult, huge fat large)
leopard wrasse (adult, medium)
melanurus wrasse (juv, small)
2x blue stripe cleaner wrasse (1 adult, 1 juv)
dwarf potters angle (fat adult)
starry blenny (fat adult)
cleaner shrimp (adult)
+cleanup crew

Yes, I have an algae scrubber, and it is scrubbing 24x7

I have a CaRx but I have it turned off right now while dosing kalkwasser

Media is stored air tight in the container it came in - its color changing and I do see Ph increase when I change it

I may go get a co2 meter, my guess is it's pretty high. I heard I could go really silly with this and buy whole home air exchanger, idk if I'm there yet..

Yeah seems like you’ve gone through the algorithm of possible solutions… maybe don’t buy the CO2 meter if you’re not going full bore to an air exchanger. Better off not knowing and just be blissfully ignorant like me! Least that’s what the wifey says. Think Alex G actually built one for his previous monster tank. Maybe give him a message to see how he did it and how much did it cost? Down the rabbit hole Alice…