CO2 Concentration in house closed vs. open

[adhd_nerd]

I've been having low pH values in one my tank. I ran CO2 scrubber for a bit, but was burning through media. So I decided to measure the CO2 concentration in the house. My thought was to improve indoor air quality for my benefit with the hopes that it would help the reef tank also.

Below is a graph over a couple of days in the basement and on the 1st floor.

on 8/8 windows are open
late on 8/8 windows closed and AC on.

My house was actually running in the 1200s when the windows were closed for extended periods. I told my wife to buy a bunch of different house plants and that helped a bit, but nothing like opening the windows once in a while. So instead of buying CO2 media, I am buying house plants

For reference, outside should be between 400 and 500. I noticed that CO2 concentration rise right around sunset to about 500 outdoors.

I also figure out that running biopellet suppresses pH. I had to remove my biopellet reactor for repairs and immediately after I saw my pH rise.

 

[jsker]

I've been having low pH values in one my tank. I ran CO2 scrubber for a bit, but was burning through media. So I decided to measure the CO2 concentration in the house. My thought was to improve indoor air quality for my benefit with the hopes that it would help the reef tank also.

Below is a graph over a couple of days in the basement and on the 1st floor.

on 8/8 windows are open
late on 8/8 windows closed and AC on.

My house was actually running in the 1200s when the windows were closed for extended periods. I told my wife to buy a bunch of different house plants and that helped a bit, but nothing like opening the windows once in a while. So instead of buying CO2 media, I am buying house plants

For reference, outside should be between 400 and 500. I noticed that CO2 concentration rise right around sunset to about 500 outdoors.

I also figure out that running biopellet suppresses pH. I had to remove my biopellet reactor for repairs and immediately after I saw my pH rise.

I am now dealing with a low Co2 issues after installing a new A/C system and I am think of adding a fresh air vent to bring in fresh air to balance the system. I do have my skimmer vented to the outside air and just started running a scrubber. I have had small improvement but not were the system needs to be.

 

[rock_lobster]

I'd like to see your before and after with house plants. House plants remove very little CO2 compared to the amount that is expired by 1 human. I cant remember but I did calculate it at some point and to remove all of the CO2 produced by a human per day would take several large trees. It really is a dilhemma in hot and cold places. I hate opening the windows here where it is 100 degrees out lol.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

I also figure out that running biopellet suppresses pH. I had to remove my biopellet reactor for repairs and immediately after I saw my pH rise.

This is likely the case with all organic carbon sources. I am not sure if we know exactly why this happens, but something about growing a bacterial biomass in our tanks lowers pH.

With regards to CO2 concentrations, I was able to raise my pH by running an outside airline to my skimmer AND also using an air pump to bring in outside air. Running the skimmer airline outdoors elevated the pH, but not significantly. I still had trouble breaking 8.1. With the added air pump, my pH stays much higher. The graph below shows my pH for the last week or two. It fluctuates a bit because of having friends over (producing more CO2) and having the windows open (driving down indoor CO2), but in general, the pH is much higher.

 

[adhd_nerd]

I'd like to see your before and after with house plants. House plants remove very little CO2 compared to the amount that is expired by 1 human. I cant remember but I did calculate it at some point and to remove all of the CO2 produced by a human per day would take several large trees. It really is a dilhemma in hot and cold places. I hate opening the windows here where it is 100 degrees out lol.

According to NASA it takes 17.5 trees per person to produce enough oxygen but 20 trees per person to consume their CO2.

 

[rock_lobster]

According to NASA it takes 17.5 trees per person to produce enough oxygen but 20 trees per person to consume their CO2.

ya so house plants would have very little effect unless you were running a full on indoor greenhouse lol. Maybe not a bad idea.

 

[BlueCursor]

I have a heat and air exchange unit and my CO2 still gets up to 700 ppm sometimes. I've never shut off the unit to see how high my CO2 will climb, but with 4 people living in this new, tight house I bet 1000 is easily attainable. Just working in my utility room for 30 minutes raises CO2 there by about 75 ppm.