CO2 Scrubber question

[Jay Z]

On a side note, I understand plumbing into the skimmer cup to keep moist air from drying out the media and making it last longer.

If part of the skimmers job is to add fresh air for air exchange, plumbing in the cup just took that away. Your recycling waste gases back into the skimmer now. Plus filtering the co2 that comes out of the skimmer instead of using fresh air. In my head this is what is happening. I can see ph stabilizing like this because the co2 level becomes constant, but did you cripple the overall tank health to get a constant ph?

Could someone please explain on how this setup works? Am I missing something?

My setup is fresh air into the venturi, exhaust air vented out of skimmer to outside of house.

 

[homer1475]

On a side note, I understand plumbing into the skimmer cup to keep moist air from drying out the media and making it last longer.

If part of the skimmers job is to add fresh air for air exchange, plumbing in the cup just took that away. Your recycling waste gases back into the skimmer now. Plus filtering the co2 that comes out of the skimmer instead of using fresh air. In my head this is what is happening. I can see ph stabilizing like this because the co2 level becomes constant, but did you cripple the overall tank health to get a constant ph?

Could someone please explain on how this setup works? Am I missing something?

My setup is fresh air into the venturi, exhaust air vented out of skimmer to outside of house.

I've been wondering the same thing every time I read one of these threads.

 

[Clownfishy]

I've been wondering the same thing every time I read one of these threads.

Me too. I can see the benefit on pH but I am concerned by recycling this air is somehow having negative effects.

 

[ds38]

Wow, I am glad I helped someone on here as this forum has certainly helped me out. I probably need to go back and update that post as a few things have changed. I have kept using two C02 scrubbers and am very pleased with the results. I am still burning through the media every 2 weeks but I have found a place to purchase the media much cheaper so I am not worried. I am sure some of you already know about this but divers use this media for their re breathers and they sell the media at a much lower price than I can purchase from most other places here in the UK so I order if from them.
Its interesting you say the pH goes up when you are on holiday, I guess your aquarium appreciates you not being around breathing out C02!!!!!! Be interested to see how you progress with a C02 scrubber.

@Jaysushi
@Clownfishy
@Joshua Mummery
@miniChou

Hey everyone.

I installed the Jumbo CO2 scrubber yesterday. Connected to bottom of skimmer intake. Removed the skimmer silencer piece/tubing. Went from 7.80 Ph to to 7.97 by end of night 1.
Now end of night 2 is almost here and I'm at 8.04. I run my lights 4pm to 2am. So couple hours to go.

Bit disappointed, wanted to get to 8.2 or 8.3. Maybe night 3 and 4?

Jay, you say 2 co2 scrubbers! How do you run 2 of them? 2 skimmers? That way you have a co2 scrubber running through each skimmer?

Anyone know if the duo jumbo co2scrubber will give a higher PH than just the Jumbo single scrubber? Or does the duo just mean you just replace the media half as often. So wondering if the duo jumbo scrubber will get my ph higher, or if 2 skimmers running any co2 scrubber will get my ph higher?

 

[Joshua Mummery]

I don't think it would make a huge difference, just more time to scrub the air. Only concern i would have with a jumbo or dual C02 scrubber would be the draw on your skimmer.

 

[miniChou]

I would agree. I doubt a larger scrubber would make a difference in your pH. If you want to increase your pH I would consider tweaking other factors. BRS did a video on this topic:


Another interesting factor that increases my pH is my lighting. I have a SPS dominant tank and I run a T5/LED hybrid. My T5 lights on are a separate outlet. One time my outlet failed to turn my T5 lights on during the day and only my LEDs were used to light my tank. During this period my pH level dropped and caused an Alk spike. I think for some tanks that don't have their lighting optimized, improving their lighting to increase coral growth would result in an increase to pH as well.

 

[Joshua Mummery]

Now that you mention it i have noticed that too. I used to have a AP700 over a 110 tall mixed reef and now i changed that our for a SB reef Ultra and T5 add one my PH has been more stable than ever. Changed my skimmer to the octo skimmer 220 ss with out the C02 scrubber and my ph has been floating around 8.1-8.2 during day and 8.0-8.1 at night. I also ball dose from aqua forrest so that helps with all my parameters

 

[PR_nano]

I read it might take longer than 2 days to get a higher pH reading. I order a scrubber to see if I can hit 8~, right now with windows closed barely get to 7.8. Experimented for a week the highest I saw was 7.98 with windows open.

 

[mitch91175]

@Jaysushi
@Clownfishy
@Joshua Mummery
@miniChou

Hey everyone.

I installed the Jumbo CO2 scrubber yesterday. Connected to bottom of skimmer intake. Removed the skimmer silencer piece/tubing. Went from 7.80 Ph to to 7.97 by end of night 1.
Now end of night 2 is almost here and I'm at 8.04. I run my lights 4pm to 2am. So couple hours to go.

Bit disappointed, wanted to get to 8.2 or 8.3. Maybe night 3 and 4?

Jay, you say 2 co2 scrubbers! How do you run 2 of them? 2 skimmers? That way you have a co2 scrubber running through each skimmer?

Anyone know if the duo jumbo co2scrubber will give a higher PH than just the Jumbo single scrubber? Or does the duo just mean you just replace the media half as often. So wondering if the duo jumbo scrubber will get my ph higher, or if 2 skimmers running any co2 scrubber will get my ph higher?

Also using kalk in conjunction will get you high pH

 

[jbilliel]

My Co2 scrubber works well, but dang it gets used up in 1 week or less. I can't get my tube to outside so I am stuck with looking for other options. I like the idea of drawing the intake from the top of the skimmer, but curious how people then clean the skimmer top? Are people just not cleaning the top or perhaps using a paper towel to remove the detritus?

 

[jbilliel]

My Co2 scrubber works well, but dang it gets used up in 1 week or less. I can't get my tube to outside so I am stuck with looking for other options. I like the idea of drawing the intake from the top of the skimmer, but curious how people then clean the skimmer top? Are people just not cleaning the top or perhaps using a paper towel to remove the detritus?

Anyone have any thoughts?