Co2 Scrubber

USMA36 · Apr 14, 2017

Thanks for the help. I have a 90 gallon dt and a trigger 36 sump. I'd estimate 100-110 gallons total water volume. The Skimmer is an SCA 302 rated to 180 gallons. It was pretty highly reviewed. I tried adding more water to the outer container. I am starting to see a slight color change now at the top of the canister. My pH is up around 8.0 right now. I am testing using an Apex double junction probe that was recalibrate today. The probe is only 1 month old. I also double check with a Red Sea pH kit. As far as the jump up in the last couple hours I am Not sure if adding more water helped or if it's the fact that I had some windows open today. The house is typically sealed up most of the time.

120reefkeeper · Apr 14, 2017

If you go though my article I wrote you'll see it took a couple of days for the results to start rolling in.

Gablami · Apr 14, 2017

Strange, the brs scrubber pulls air in around the canister, and air flow should go from bottom to top within the canister. So you shouldn't see purple on the top. Purple goes from the bottom up following airflow.

I started noticing changes within hours.

I don't understand why you're getting purple on the top and not the bottom unless there's something up with how your skimmer is setup. Are you reversing your input and output on the scrubber? It is directional. It says IN and OUT on top of the barbs.

nervousmonkey · Apr 14, 2017

Yeah, agreed with 120 on this one. For a 90, you will have really delayed reactions on your pH readings when looking for changes. I would look at your average in a couple days and see if it improves. You have great equipment so that's not the problem in the slightest. BTW, I have the exact same sump, I love Trigger sumps. Those are some awesome sumps aren't they?
Anyway, 120 is right on with his assessment. If you haven't read his article yet, definitely do so. He gives all the important information you need.

and in answer to Gab, the canister can actually work either way, it doesn't have to go from input to output, it can go the other way; I have one set up that way and it's fine, so as long as there is a color change in the media, I take that as positive.

Good job USMA! You'll see the changes soon enough. A lot also depends on flow rate through your sump, and a lot depends on surface agitation to get the CO2 out...

Gablami · Apr 14, 2017

Good point I guess it doesn't really matter because air is air, right? So the fact that there is purple is good

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USMA36 · Apr 14, 2017

I just checked. Mine definitely not labeled. I switched them around in case it really does matter.

120reefkeeper · Apr 14, 2017

Yes there is definitely an in and out and the media should turn purple from the bottom to the top.

120reefkeeper · Apr 14, 2017

Gablami said:
Strange, the brs scrubber pulls air in around the canister, and air flow should go from bottom to top within the canister. So you shouldn't see purple on the top. Purple goes from the bottom up following airflow.

I started noticing changes within hours.

I don't understand why you're getting purple on the top and not the bottom unless there's something up with how your skimmer is setup. Are you reversing your input and output on the scrubber? It is directional. It says IN and OUT on top of the barbs.

Nice results! [emoji6]

SuperDragon · Apr 15, 2017

The media is not effective if there is water touching it. Sounds like your scrubber is hooked up on inlet side, as described above since the sorb color is changing from top to bottom.
It's more effective to recirculate the scrubber air attaching the inlet to the skimmer cup to get moist air as well. The media will last much longer and the use of a solenoid helps too.

USMA36 · Apr 15, 2017

I'll try routing the hose up under my tank lid. I don't want to put it in the skimmer. I'm still fine tuning and overfill skimmer cup on occasion.

mitch91175 · Feb 27, 2018

I was looking for other solutions to CO2 and stumbled upon this website: https://www.alivewater.com/store/vortex-models-filters. Maybe some of the more knowledgeable folk can check it out. Their product suposses to restore the natural pH of drinking water, but I wonder if the claim is true, if something like this can be adapted for aquarium usage.

SuperDragon · Feb 27, 2018

mitch91175 said:
I was looking for other solutions to CO2 and stumbled upon this website: https://www.alivewater.com/store/vortex-models-filters. Maybe some of the more knowledgeable folk can check it out. Their product suposses to restore the natural pH of drinking water, but I wonder if the claim is true, if something like this can be adapted for aquarium usage.

Looks like a miracle product at best, just like drinking pH water (imagine what the pH of the stomach is and how that will help)

ca1ore · Feb 27, 2018

I went through the whole fresh-air-to-skimmer, CO2 scrubber efforts to find a negligible raise in pH - and that's being charitable. It is unclear to me why some folks claim a significant benefit while I saw almost nothing. Also keep in mind that long runs of small diameter tubing present back pressure to a skimmer in the same way return plumbing does to the water pump. I do still run a fresh air line to my skimmer, though mostly to muffle noise, and I upsized the tube diameter to 3/4". FWIW, during temperate months I run a blower through my sump room, and that makes a difference to the pH. Rhetorical question - why is that do you think?