CO2 issues so I'll try an air hose!

[Ty Hamatake]

Interesting insight. I'd definitely be for anything that actually increases growth. I certainly don't have a tank like Brad's, but this is mine. I think I checked pH a couple times when it was first getting going, but I haven't checked in the last 18 months. This is just a couple side shots I had on my phone. Tank is 180. Sorry for the hazy pics, my camera phone is dang near broken and always creates really weird pics.

That is some serious growth! Do you frequently monitor dKH?

 

[Higher Thinking]

That is some serious growth! Do you frequently monitor dKH?

I check kH once every week or so. It tends to be between 7.5 and 8.

 

[Tim Olson]

Keep in mind the smaller the tank the easier it is to remove c02. Revs tank is pretty big, so he may go through a lot of media. Or in either case one skimmer alone may not pull enough air to make a dent. This adds the discussion if running more then one skimmer might have multiple benefits.

That said, have you ever compared the media to plumed outside air? I contemplated media myself before plumbing outside but I've never used it. It would be an obvious solution to someone that can't reach the outside, but I'm wondering comparing the two methods (media vs outside air) would show the same results, or if the media would be an improvement over the outside air.

I agree on the size of the tank determining amount of media used. My system is about 50 gallons and uses 3 lbs in 44 days, or 2.1 lbs/month, so his 200g tank theoretically would go through 8.4 lbs/month.

I've never compared the scrubber to outside air, since I could never figure out a good way to route an air hose. Another reason is because I've been told the longer the air hose, the harder it is for the skimmer to pull air into the skimmer. Therefore, my guess is a scrubber would result in a higher pH, but no idea on how much.

Hope it helps a little.

 

[Scott.h]

Does @sanjay's reef stay at the level constantly?

I've heard him mention 7.6. I'm thinking he's 7.6 night and 7.80 day, and have heard him make mention of 7.5 also. That said he has other things coming into play where he's getting serious growth from high light and nutrients. Maybe this offsets low ph. Also he's not concerned with growth. Note these are old mature systems which may add another unknown with success. Maybe @Mike Paletta could verify, as I know he knows.

Like I said, personally I feel I need to do everything I can to prevent issues though. I'm sure you do too.

 

[Mal11224]

For you that does limewater how do you do it?

Also my tank is in a tank room but the double doors are always open because I don't have a way to control humidity yet. The doors open up to a large work space room that's 20ft high! I have two air handlers also housed in that work area.

A dehumidifier seems to work for me. My basement gets humid as most do especially in the summer. I run a nice size one to about 60% humidity so that it's not running all day. My PH is fairly steady. At this moment, it is 8.22 on my apex and will like climb to 8.24. And at the very least, the dehumidifier will help with the air quality as well.

 

[dragon99]

I haven't tried it myself, but microbubbling (using outside air) might help with the nighttime lows at least.

 

[justingraham]

I added a scrubber as well with tlf cdx just as an expirment
my ph before the scrubber was consistently at 8.-8.2 using the scrubber bumped up my ph to 8.2-8.4 even a couple times it hit 8.5.
And as ty and brs said my dkh usage went up I was doseing 8ml of triton a day now then I was up to 12ml a day

Now yesterday I noticed when I tested my dkh it was at 8.2 instead of the normal 8 and my cdx was blue and my ph was back down to 8-8.2

so for me my experiment worked out and I don't think I will ever run my tank without a scrubber

 

[Scott.h]

Also my tank is in a tank room but the double doors are always open because I don't have a way to control humidity yet. The doors open up to a large work space room that's 20ft high! I have two air handlers also housed in that work area.

I'm not sure if your tank is rimless or not, (mine are not) but I went to the hardware store and had them cut exact demenions of my lids to both my tank and fuge. 1/8" glass and only leaving enough room for pipes as needed. I did this to save with humidity in the house, but more importantly evaporation, as I pay for water. This helps about 2/3rds reduction on both of those issues. So as it turns out some suggested my ph issue was from closing off my tanks. I removed my glass only to find my ph issue worse. If you think about it, if your house is airtight and the CO2 issue is within my house, opening up the tank to let it absorb more would only make sense that it got worse. Of course my skimmer is plumbed outside. Glass back on, multiple benefits! Just up your lights 20% to compensate.

 

[jsker]

Rev, I do not know if this has been mentioned. Have you thought about installing a small vent fan in the fish room to vent out the stale air? then have a small vent for the fresh air to come into the room?

 

[sromero287]

Hello Rev and fellow reefers, I was running on the same issue about low pH was at 7.8 during the day and was dropping to 7.5 or 7.6 at night time, initially run CO2 scrubber from BRS and the increase was to 8.0 during the day, at night 7.8, trying to increase my pH I run a line to the exterior Not that long, was like 6 feet then at the end of the line in the exterior I attached a midsize Gatorade bottle with holes in the bottom then on top some filter floss and filled the remaining Space with the CO2 scrubber media, Opened a hole in the cap and placed a plastic hose barb and attached the line, 24 hours later and for the remaining four months my pH is consistently at 8.4, 8.5 then at night it drops to 8.2. My Alk increase the consumption from 22 ML daily to 26ml and my calcium from 25 ML to 28ml quite honest I see way better polyp extension in all my corals, same at growth. Simple and easy solution and the good thing is the CO2 media won't turn to blue as fast as before when I was running just the CO2 scrubber without the exterior line. That's my 0.02, good luck everybody and happy good pH reefing!!!! [emoji225][emoji886][emoji108]

 

[Pola0502ds]

I can't remember what its called but i know there is an attachment that can be installed on your home furance/ac that brings in fresh air from the outside and exchanges it with the poluted interior air. I thought about doing this a few years ago but at the time it was a little too expensive for me. Instead i ran a line outside. I used 1/2" PVC and then reduced it down to a 3/8 and only noticed a slight improvement. The run is only a few feet long. I just think these homes nowadays are built so tight that a outside air line wont do much because co2 is constantly going back into th tank. Now if i open windows on a nice day, my PH skyrockets to 8.3-8.4. I love this time of year so i can always have windows open. I come home for lunch just so i can open a few windows to get a cross breeze. The things we do for our tanks!

 

[A4goulet]

Has anyone tried growing some plants in there fish room to help remove C02 and improve air quality? @revhtree I think you said you purchased a C02 meter, could be a good experiment! Would need to purchase some grow lights obviously if no windows for natural light. Just a thought, trying to think outside the box

http://lifehacker.com/this-graphic-shows-the-best-air-cleaning-plants-accord-1705307836

EDIT:
"But field trials have shown that between three and six medium-sized plants in a non-air conditioned building can reduce CO2 concentrations by a quarter"

https://phys.org/news/2013-07-air-hidden-indoor.html

 

[Callok]

If you've seen any of my past thread about my ALK and CAL issues you know I have been struggling with maintaining them, etc. I also have an issue where there is a lot of C02 being pulled back into my tank due to the system being kept in a very tight basement area of the home. My PH never goes above 7.8 and is always around 7.6.

So instead of adding a CO2 scrubber I am going to run an air intake line to the skimmer. Being that my skimmer is on an outside wall in the basement and I can easily attach an outside line I think it's best to try for option one.

I am running a Regal 300INT which is a massive skimmer and pulls quite a bit of air. Here is the line size.

I'll keep you updated and if you have a line running to your skimmer for outside air let me hear your thoughts. Or anyone really.

I had similar issues with my PH hovering around 7.7. A couple of suggestions:

1) Double check your pH with another source, either a separate meter, or even API test kit. You may need to re-calibrate your pH probe.
2) Are you running Kalk? Ever since I started it, my pH is now around 8.1. My corals, esp those that calcify skeletons have taken off.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Got a co2 monitor in and it says the tank room is around 9ooppm.

 

[justingraham]

Got a co2 monitor in and it says the tank room is around 9ooppm.

Is that alot

 

[Brew12]

Is that alot

400ppm would be considered normal.

 

[dragon99]

My house was over 900ppm when I tested and my pH has never dropped below 7.8

It really sounds like something else is off. Your pH shouldn't be that low based on just CO2.

 

[chefjpaul]

Quit sleeping the the fish room David, go out and get some air, your smothering the PH.
.....although I'd never leave & my wife probably would because of.

 

[Brew12]

My house was over 900ppm when I tested and my pH has never dropped below 7.8

It really sounds like something else is off. Your pH shouldn't be that low based on just CO2.

He may run a lower alkalinity than you do.

 

[dragon99]

He may run a lower alkalinity than you do.

Good point that would account for probably .1ish difference in our pH unless he's running a really low Alk. Mine is usually around 9dKH.