CO2 scrubber review

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

I like to keep my pH very very stable. It runs 8.2 and as soon as it dips to 8.19 2nd solenoid opens and directs 100% scrubbed air into skimmer raising pH back up to 8.2 very fast. If you let 1 open side On all the time you are drawing at least 75% min scrubbed air so impact is less.

 

[SuperDragon]

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/

Good Deal!

 

[SuperDragon]

My solenoid valve failed. My pH was up to 8.47. Solenoid was in closed position and scrubber pulled pH high.
McMaster said they would replace, only asked me if I was running more than 5psi and I said no. Shipping out today, good customer service.

 

[EJReef]

My solenoid valve failed. My pH was up to 8.47. Solenoid was in closed position and scrubber pulled pH high.
McMaster said they would replace, only asked me if I was running more than 5psi and I said no. Shipping out today, good customer service.

I think 8.5 PH is fine. That's good they replaced it.

 

[XNavyDiver]

Update:

My CO2 scrubber is more controllable and pH is stable at 8.2 to 8.3. No more wide swings in pH with the use of a Solenoid. Sorb lasts MUCH longer than before. Highly recommended for stability. Alk is unstable some days, but I'm slowing increasing 2 part, no rush. I'm already past double the amount of 2 part prior to addition of the scrubber. Growth is very noticeable.

Just stumbled on this older thread. You and I have the same skimmer (actually you have the larger version, I have the 3000sss) and I hooked up a scrubber to the silencer. I was dealing with low pH and its working well to raise it, but yours is on a different level with a solenoid valve controlled by your apex. I have the apex also but don't have the technical expertise to do what you have done. Awesome. I'm going to route the reactor intake to the skimmer cup just as you did though. Hope that extends the life of the media for me.

 

[CoralNerd]

I just purchased a solenoid from here https://chicagodist.com/products/water-solenoid-valve, whish me luck.

 

[SuperDragon]

I just purchased a solenoid from here https://chicagodist.com/products/water-solenoid-valve, whish me luck.

Keep us informed. Looks like a much affordable option. Is it normally closed or open?

 

[CoralNerd]

Normally, the valve is closed.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

I didn't read through the whole thread, but did see that you already have yours hooked up to your skimmer. Here's how I rigged mine. It's not a no-hassle-fix, but I do get about a month out of one mason jar.

 

[CoralNerd]

It's not a no-hassle-fix, but I do get about a month out of one mason jar.
[/ATTACH]

So air is sucked from the mason jar with water? Do you have holes at the top of that jar? Snap a pic of the top of the jar please. Thx

 

[Ty Hamatake]

So air is sucked from the mason jar with water? Do you have holes at the top of that jar? Snap a pic of the top of the jar please. Thx

You are right. I'm not home right now or I would. There is just another hole in the lid. I adjust the airflow through my scrubbers with a tee attached the the skimmer air intake (path of least resistance for the air) and I check how much air is passing through by plugging the hole in the mason jar lid and seeing how it effects the skimmer. It may be crude, but it works for me.

 

[CoralNerd]

Not a bad idea. I guess if your tanks PH is too high you could open that air on the skimmer silencer and close it if the PH is too low.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

Not a bad idea. I guess if your tanks PH is too high you could open that air on the skimmer silencer and close it if the PH is too low.

That's the idea. I originally tried a solenoid, but it was the Neptune one and allowed far too little air through. I hardly ever adjust the valve I have now, it's mainly to increase the longevity of the media by allowing ambient air to be pulled in instead of All of it going through the scrubber.

 

[CoralNerd]

I need to figure out how to maintain a stable ph as when I add new scrubbing media my ph goes way up then alk consumption goes crazy. Then it's the reverse when the media is used up. Hopefully this solenoid will take car of this problem as I hate adjusting my alk doser up and down.

 

[southern186]

im looking into adding an algae scrubber too. Look like chaeto doesnt serve me well. Maybe combo with marinepure to top it off. thanks for sharing

I’m running all of this in my tank + co2 scrubber connected to a fresh air line from out side. Tank stays happy and clean!

 

[CoralNerd]

Here's how it's coming along. Tomorrow I'll hook it up and take more photos.

 

[EJReef]

I just purchased a solenoid from here https://chicagodist.com/products/water-solenoid-valve, whish me luck.

Why did you get a water solenoid for air?

 

[CoralNerd]

It's alive
I added a TLF valve in case it's scrubbing too much, ph too high. That way I can restrict the air flow to the scrubber. As air still gets pulled from the scrubber even when the solenoid is open. I would need two solenoids to be a perfect setup but, I'll give this a try. [emoji1]

 

[BoomCorals]

I have tried everything, and no matter what I do my PH is always low around like 7.5 or 7.6 In spite of this I have no problems growing corals, so I'm wondering if I should even keep chasing this. I can't run a line outside unfortunately, but I have tried a DIY co2 scrubber and also the BRS co2 scrubber. I attach to the air intake line of my reef octopus skimmer, and it seems to make no difference. The media exhausts after about a week, yet my PH barely goes up a tenth of a point when the scrubber is on and has fresh media. I'm not sure what more I can do.

 

[EJReef]

I have tried everything, and no matter what I do my PH is always low around like 7.5 or 7.6 In spite of this I have no problems growing corals, so I'm wondering if I should even keep chasing this. I can't run a line outside unfortunately, but I have tried a DIY co2 scrubber and also the BRS co2 scrubber. I attach to the air intake line of my reef octopus skimmer, and it seems to make no difference. The media exhausts after about a week, yet my PH barely goes up a tenth of a point when the scrubber is on and has fresh media. I'm not sure what more I can do.

If it’s not broke don’t fix it. Do you use kalkwasser? Have you calibrated your PH probe lately?