CO2 scrubber vs recirculating CO2 scrubber

[morrisDR]

Hey Randy! I was wondering if you know if a recirculating CO2 scrubber raises the pH of the tank more than the normal CO2 scrubber. I was also wondering which CO2 scrubber you suggest and what is the best CO2 scrubber media for a high pH increase.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey Randy! I was wondering if you know if a recirculating CO2 scrubber raises the pH of the tank more than the normal CO2 scrubber. I was also wondering which CO2 scrubber you suggest and what is the best CO2 scrubber media for a high pH increase.

I'm not a fan of fully recirculating skimmer scrubbers as they eliminate one use of a skimmer: oxygenation.

They might reduce pH more or less than a single pass, depending on how much CO2 is removed from the water and added to the air with each pass.

More folks report a bigger pH lowering with recirculating, but that's not necessarily always the case, and I'm also not certain if that is not simply a moisture effect.

 

[morrisDR]

I'm not a fan of fully recirculating skimmer scrubbers as they eliminate one use of a skimmer: oxygenation.

They might reduce pH more or less than a single pass, depending on how much CO2 is removed from the water and added to the air with each pass.

More folks report a bigger pH lowering with recirculating, but that's not necessarily always the case, and I'm also not certain if that is not simply a moisture effect.

Thank you and is there a difference between scrubber media brands or are they all the same, I heard kalkwasser had different qualities so I thought maybe the media also has that

 

[bakbay]

I run a recirculating CO2 system and didn’t notice a higher pH vs non-recirculating. What it did for me was the 3-4x prolonged media via recirculating; otherwise it got expensive real quick!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you and is there a difference between scrubber media brands or are they all the same, I heard kalkwasser had different qualities so I thought maybe the media also has that

Different media are likely to have different surface area, and I'd expect differences, but have not seen any useful data for reefers to compare them.

 

[legalizedreefer]

Beginning of this week I’m receiving all my parts for a recirculating skimmer triggered to pull ambient air via a motorized ball valve. I’ll likely program apex to open valve (ambient room air) when pH > than 8.3ish and close (recirc air) when pH < 8.2 I’ll report back on how well it works for me.

 

[morrisDR]

Beginning of this week I’m receiving all my parts for a recirculating skimmer triggered to pull ambient air via a motorized ball valve. I’ll likely program apex to open valve (ambient room air) when pH > than 8.3ish and close (recirc air) when pH < 8.2 I’ll report back on how well it works for me.

Thx I'm excited

 

[hoffmeyerz]

I run my scrubber as a recirculated system, however, I have a hole drilled in the lid of the skimmer cup so it mixes with ambient air as well. Recirculating without a doubt extends the life of the media. I recently switched to brs media and it seems to be working well for me so far. You can also find it pretty cheap online, the most common brand is JorVet. You can find it on Amazon and also veterinary supply companies.

 

[morrisDR]

I run my scrubber as a recirculated system, however, I have a hole drilled in the lid of the skimmer cup so it mixes with ambient air as well. Recirculating without a doubt extends the life of the media. I recently switched to brs media and it seems to be working well for me so far. You can also find it pretty cheap online, the most common brand is JorVet. You can find it on Amazon and also veterinary supply companies.

But does the pH decrease compared to the standard CO2 scrubber? I'm all about ph. If my pH was 12 I would be happy (just kidding)

 

[hoffmeyerz]

But does the pH decrease compared to the standard CO2 scrubber? I'm all about ph. If my pH was 12 I would be happy (just kidding)

Without my scrubber my ph hung about 7.9-8. Running it as I described with the brs media it hangs around 8.2-8.3. Decent enough increase for me. Drawing the air from the cup adds moisture and having the hole in the lid lets some ambient air mix as well. These days I've been getting 3-4 weeks out of the material. I don't bother addressing ph any more than the scrubber.

 

[tzabor10]

Without my scrubber my ph hung about 7.9-8. Running it as I described with the brs media it hangs around 8.2-8.3. Decent enough increase for me. Drawing the air from the cup adds moisture and having the hole in the lid lets some ambient air mix as well. These days I've been getting 3-4 weeks out of the material. I don't bother addressing ph any more than the scrubber.

Thx for the posts. I am struggling to keep co2 scrubbing media dry. Just went through desiccant in 1 day. Seems like a waste. Considering disconnecting the recirculating cap and going old school.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thx for the posts. I am struggling to keep co2 scrubbing media dry. Just went through desiccant in 1 day. Seems like a waste. Considering disconnecting the recirculating cap and going old school.

Dessicant?

 

[tzabor10]

Dessicant?

Recirculating top, to a water trap, to this stuff, to co2 scrubbing media, then to the skimmer Venturi. Or am I totally wrong?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I know folks use dessicant with ozonizers, but I was not aware anyone used it with a scrubber, where some moisture is desired.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

That’s odd. I thought we used a mix of Kalk in the pellets, how would that pull co2? I use that for my Poseidon.

 

[Garf]

That’s odd. I thought we used a mix of Kalk in the pellets, how would that pull co2? I use that for my Poseidon.

Now I’m confused, lol. What is your Poseidon?
FWIW, if you get to a state where you are dosing enough Kalk to keep up with a high rate of Alkalinity consumption, CO2 scrubbers are probably not required.
Note, pretty sure CO2 scrubber media is basically Kalk + sodium hydroxide ((maybe a little potassium hydroxide) if used as a rebreather, anaesthetic doodah.)

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

Now I’m confused, lol. What is your Poseidon?
FWIW, if you get to a state where you are dosing enough Kalk to keep up with a high rate of Alkalinity consumption, CO2 scrubbers are probably not required.
Note, pretty sure CO2 scrubber media is basically Kalk + sodium hydroxide ((maybe a little potassium hydroxide) if used as a rebreather, anaesthetic doodah.)

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[morrisDR]

I just use a normal CO2 scrubber nowadays. My pH is went from 8 to 8.3 and with my reef zlments ph plus my pH is about 8.6 sometimes higher it is very stable

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

I just use a normal CO2 scrubber nowadays. My pH is went from 8 to 8.3 and with my reef zlments ph plus my pH is about 8.6 sometimes higher it is very stable

What’s your alk at when your ph is north of 8.5? Can’t imagine ph naturally running that high without those ph boosting additions to hold it there?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That’s odd. I thought we used a mix of Kalk in the pellets, how would that pull co2? I use that for my Poseidon.

I'm not understanding your comment, and this whole thread seems to have gone off the rails in confusion. lol

If you mean a CO2 scrubber, that material uses soda lime, which is a combination of sodium hydroxide and calcium oxide.

It binds CO2 as calcium carbonate.