CO2 scrubber review

[SuperDragon]

Update:
I have gotten 11 days out of this last batch and that was 2 days without a solenoid. I would expect to get about 14 days out of the Sorb. Prior to this it lasted me about 5 days but with high swings in pH.

 

[drawman]

Update:
I have gotten 11 days out of this last batch and that was 2 days without a solenoid. I would expect to get about 14 days out of the Sorb. Prior to this it lasted me about 5 days but with high swings in pH.

Sweet! Any pics of the solenoid setup?

 

[SuperDragon]

Sweet! Any pics of the solenoid setup?

I'm sorry, I'll get one up tonight

 

[SuperDragon]

I found a post-it note and scribbled up a diagram. Its easier to look at then the guts of the setup.
Air is pulled from the moist collection cup, to a "T" or "Y" of your choice, this tube should be lower so it creates a drip loop (in case things get too wet it will prevent water going back up into media), then goes to either scrubber or electronic valve, after both the scrubber/valve outputs are joined with a "T" or "Y", then to the skimmer intake. This allows for moist air for the media and to recirculate the already lower CO2 air vs. using room air again to preserve media and efficiency. Basically it's a bypass for the media until the system needs it.

 

[SuperDragon]

This is it @drawman

 

[drawman]

I found a post-it note and scribbled up a diagram. Its easier to look at then the guts of the setup.
Air is pulled from the moist collection cup, to a "T" or "Y" of your choice, this tube should be lower so it creates a drip loop (in case things get too wet it will prevent water going back up into media), then goes to either scrubber or electronic valve, after both the scrubber/valve outputs are joined with a "T" or "Y", then to the skimmer intake. This allows for moist air for the media and to recirculate the already lower CO2 air vs. using room air again to preserve media and efficiency. Basically it's a bypass for the media until the system needs it.

Thanks for the diagram. So when the pH gets high the solenoid opens effectively bypassing a good amount of airflow (but not all of if) around the reactor? Looks like a great way to do it.

 

[coralseas]

Great info guy!

 

[EJReef]

I'm getting the same PH with the Y and no solenoid with considerably less air flow through the scrubber.

 

[EJReef]

This is it @drawman

What did you use to connect the soft tubing to the solenoid? Cut a barbed union in half?

 

[SuperDragon]

What did you use to connect the soft tubing to the solenoid? Cut a barbed union in half?

Just kept it simple. 3/8 RO tubing from Lowes sold by the ft, used 2 inches.

 

[SuperDragon]

Update: My scrubber is still running well with the solenoid. This weekend it will be 2 weeks and I expect to change it now every two weeks. The media is not exhausted yet.

 

[lactose]

I run a lifereef skimmer, which has a Venturi that draws air from the skimmer cup to keep the Venturi drawing humid air (prevents clogging).

I had the idea to place my co2 scrubber in between the Venturi and skimmer cup so the humid air is pulled through the co2 media. It lasts MUCH longer than when I was pulling room aid through it.

THANK YOU. This is perfect I was trying to figure out how to not have to add an ATO for the water in my scrubber and all this time I had the tube with moist air from the skimmer sitting right in front me... I just hooked this up. I was having to add water like twice a day to the bottom of the canister of the CO2 media to keep it working (the media wasn't exhausted but the effect on PH would slow/stop until I put back in water) I am hoping this will work well and save me the manual water entry.

I never thought of it that way. I wonder if it lasts longer due to the residual air in the cup as well.

This is another great point, the air in the cup having bubbled out of the skimmer should have lower CO2 - its like a rebreather for the tank.

Thanks again all, I am hoping with my solenoid in place this will be a good long term solution. I generally had 7.8 or lower and slow growth and now I am averaging 8.15-8.2 (hoping goes up with moisture) and starting to see uptick in Alk consumption.

 

[Velcro]

THANK YOU. This is perfect I was trying to figure out how to not have to add an ATO for the water in my scrubber and all this time I had the tube with moist air from the skimmer sitting right in front me... I just hooked this up. I was having to add water like twice a day to the bottom of the canister of the CO2 media to keep it working (the media wasn't exhausted but the effect on PH would slow/stop until I put back in water) I am hoping this will work well and save me the manual water entry.



This is another great point, the air in the cup having bubbled out of the skimmer should have lower CO2 - its like a rebreather for the tank.

Thanks again all, I am hoping with my solenoid in place this will be a good long term solution. I generally had 7.8 or lower and slow growth and now I am averaging 8.15-8.2 (hoping goes up with moisture) and starting to see uptick in Alk consumption.

I came from a normal skimmer that used to draw air from the room through the scrubber. After switching to the lifereef and plumbing it this way the co2 media last SOOOO much longer.

 

[EJReef]

Does your solenoid get hot when it has been energized for a while? Like too hot to keep your finger on. My 24v DC one does

 

[SuperDragon]

Does your solenoid get hot when it has been energized for a while? Like too hot to keep your finger on. My 24v DC one does

Yeah, I was wondering if the 24v one runs hot like my 120v. Now we know the answer.

 

[EJReef]

Yeah, I was wondering if the 24v one runs hot like my 120v. Now we know the answer.

Thanks, good to know. Thought I did something wrong and didn't want to start a fire. I think BRS said theirs was hot too in one of the videos.

 

[EJReef]

Yeah, I was wondering if the 24v one runs hot like my 120v. Now we know the answer.

I put the solenoid on the CO2 scrubber line instead of the skimmer cup line. It still works that way and should save even more media.

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

I have a reef octopus recirculating skimmer. What I did is that on top of the the silencer there are 2 inlets for air to be drawn in. I placed a solenoid on each inlet. 1st is solenoid always open kind 12v and it draws air from outside all the time. 2nd solenoid is always close 12v kind which is attached to brs co2 scrubber.
Apex is programmed to close 1st solenoid and kill the free flowing air into skimmer when ph is lower than 8.1 and open the 2nd solenoid that draws air through the scrubber till ph is back over 8.2. So both solenoids work opposite to each other and btw I bought my solenoids for less than $17 each.
http://www.electricsolenoidvalves.com/plastic-valves/

 

[EJReef]

I have a reef octopus recirculating skimmer. What I did is that on top of the the silencer there are 2 inlets for air to be drawn in. I placed a solenoid on each inlet. 1st is solenoid always open kind 12v and it draws air from outside all the time. 2nd solenoid is always close 12v kind which is attached to brs co2 scrubber.
Apex is programmed to close 1st solenoid and kill the free flowing air into skimmer when ph is lower than 8.1 and open the 2nd solenoid that draws air through the scrubber till ph is back over 8.2. So both solenoids work opposite to each other and btw I bought my solenoids for less than $17 each.
http://www.electricsolenoidvalves.com/plastic-valves/

Cool. Why not just use one solenoid on the scrubber line inlet and have the other inlet to the outside with no solenoid?

 

[EJReef]

Yeah, I was wondering if the 24v one runs hot like my 120v. Now we know the answer.

Mine measured 180 degrees Fahrenheit with a thermometer, haha.