CO2 scrubber install and dosing adjustments

[Michael Packard]

3 days ago I installed a CO2 scrubber. I installed it according to BRS and am recycling the air taking it from the cap of my skimmer. Before the install, my PH range was 7.7 to 7.9-8.0. After the install I’m running 8.0 m- 8.25. I was dosing 15ml per day of ESV. 2 part. My DKH was consistent at 8.6 for about a month. Since the scrubber, theaters been a decrease down to 7.7-7.8 DKH. I’ve been slowly adding to the dose and am now at 40ml/ day as of this morning. Is the consumption of Calcium and Alkalinity this much greater since the PH has increased? I test twice a day to make sure the drops aren’t too drastic.

 

[HotRocks]

3 days ago I installed a CO2 scrubber. I installed it according to BRS and am recycling the air taking it from the cap of my skimmer. Before the install, my PH range was 7.7 to 7.9-8.0. After the install I’m running 8.0 m- 8.25. I was dosing 15ml per day of ESV. 2 part. My DKH was consistent at 8.6 for about a month. Since the scrubber, theaters been a decrease down to 7.7-7.8 DKH. I’ve been slowly adding to the dose and am now at 40ml/ day as of this morning. Is the consumption of Calcium and Alkalinity this much greater since the PH has increased? I test twice a day to make sure the drops aren’t too drastic.

Yes the higher pH will allow the corals to grow more hence requiring additional supplement.

 

[Michael Packard]

 

[MentalNote]

Nice tank! I’m surprised your increase was so dramatic - sounds like a good thing.

 

[Michael Packard]

Nice tank! I’m surprised your increase was so dramatic - sounds like a good thing.

Thanks. I’m keeping a close eye on it

 

[Bryknicks]

How’s everything going? I’ve been deciding on a CO2 scrubber because I can’t get pH above 7.9 even with open windows. Is it worth installing one?

 

[Michael Packard]

Hey how are you? In all honesty, I am amazed at the turnaround and consistency of this scrubber. So my levels previous were 7.7-7.9 swing. Since the scrubber I’ve been a consistent 8.0-8.26+. I have doubled my dosing because of it. The growth on my SPS is 100% noticeable. I would recommend this to anyone with a PH issue. I think the whole setup was $50-$60 from BRS, small fittings/valves and media were purchased on top of the kit as well.

 

[Bryknicks]

Awesome man, thanks for the quick response. I was going to pull the trigger anyway but wanted some further reassurance. Glad to hear it helped out on your reef!

 

[Michael Packard]

Awesome man, thanks for the quick response. I was going to pull the trigger anyway but wanted some further reassurance. Glad to hear it helped out on your reef!

No problem man, when it comes time for install, there are a few Youtube videos you can refer too. Hopefully my picture is of some assistance. If you notice there’s a valve on the Venturi line, that’s only because I didn’t have a coupling lol. Hope it works out well for you

 

[Bryknicks]

Haha that’s great! I have the curve 5 which looks smaller so I’m going to go with the brs universal air filter, which can also be used for CO2 scrubbing. It uses a smaller Venturi line than it looks like you have. I’ll update when I get mine going. Looking forward to the results

 

[bar|none]

Nice! Contemplating the same now that winter is upon our area and doors and windows shut.

 

[gunit]

Hey how are you? In all honesty, I am amazed at the turnaround and consistency of this scrubber. So my levels previous were 7.7-7.9 swing. Since the scrubber I’ve been a consistent 8.0-8.26+. I have doubled my dosing because of it. The growth on my SPS is 100% noticeable. I would recommend this to anyone with a PH issue. I think the whole setup was $50-$60 from BRS, small fittings/valves and media were purchased on top of the kit as well.

Found this thread as I've been investigating adding a scrubber to my tank, but noticed that it looks like your T and ball valve (for pulling in fresh i.e. non-recirculated air) is in-between the skimmer cup and scrubber. You'll want to move that to be between your scrubber in skimmer pump. As-is, you're just asking your scrubber to do more work (thus exhausting the media faster) and not really giving yourself the adjustability that T is intended to give you.

for more context.

 

[Sdot]

I added a CO2 scrubber to my system and its great... it doesn't recirculate unfortunately (didnt want to modify my nyos skimmer lid) but my PH and dosing has increased because of it. Before my PH would range from 7.8 - 8.1(morning and evening. Now im getting a low of 8.17 -8.25 and a high of 8.35- 8.4 on a routine basis

CO2 Line from the skimmer to a BRS dual media reactor.

 

[Larry L]

If you don't already have one, you will probably want to install a moisture trap between the skimmer and the reactor, otherwise you'll get condensation inside the reactor and the media will get soggy.

E.g. see: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/co2-scrubber.651200/post-6539590