Co2 Scrubbers Save

GabeM · Jun 11, 2020

I have been having problems with low pH especially when my skimmer turns off because the cup is full. Yesterday I added a Co2 scrubber after moving the tank to my office. There is a marked improvement in the tank in terms of pH and I see more polyp extension - my acropora look hairy even.

I have posted the below graph to show my pH over the last week, the red points are when the skimmer shuts off and the green is when I installed the scrubber.

Not sure if useful but I wanted to post this to show anyone who may be on the fence the difference.

Sdot · Jun 11, 2020

Yes Co2 scrubbers work! My PH regularly hits 8.4 at its peek. Changing the media is apart of my tank maintenance regiment

bevo5 · Jun 11, 2020

I ran a Co2 scrubber out a 3 liter bottle and it worked great. I ended up having to change out the media pretty frequently, but as the above poster said - it's just a part of the maintenance.

Seems like you're already seeing those good results.

chadg · Jun 13, 2020

I agree the work! I had a 1" drain pipe that just went outside, I first hooked up a tube to that to my skimmer to see if I could get a jump in PH from outside air. Nothing. I then hooked up a reactor with CO2 media in it. Wow, jumped right away. As you can see. The line shows where I put the media in and then the next 2 1/2 days. My only problem? The media looks like it is already 3/4 spent! This is going to get expensive if I have to change it every 5-7 days....

GabeM · Jun 13, 2020

chadg said:
I agree the work! I had a 1" drain pipe that just went outside, I first hooked up a tube to that to my skimmer to see if I could get a jump in PH from outside air. Nothing. I then hooked up a reactor with CO2 media in it. Wow, jumped right away. As you can see. The line shows where I put the media in and then the next 2 1/2 days. My only problem? The media looks like it is already 3/4 spent! This is going to get expensive if I have to change it every 5-7 days....

What media did you use?

chadg · Jun 13, 2020

GabeM said:
What media did you use?

CDX Carbon Dioxide Adsorption Media

Introduce carbon dioxide adsorption into your system if your tank continuously suffers from low pH. This can be caused when aquariums are in closed air buildings. Add CDX media into your PhosBan Reactor Connect PhosBan Reactor to your protein skimmer's air intake with a CDX Adapter CO2...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

CDX from Two Little Fishes

dadnjesse · Jun 13, 2020

I use this one on ebay. A small container won't last long.

Pardon Our Interruption...

www.ebay.com

Joralf · Jun 22, 2020

dadnjesse said:
I use this one on ebay. A small container won't last long.

Pardon Our Interruption...

www.ebay.com

I am having the same issue with low PH. How long that container last? I know it varies with the amount of CO2 in the house but just to have an idea.
Thanks,

adrianr514 · Jun 22, 2020

Joralf said:
I am having the same issue with low PH. How long that container last? I know it varies with the amount of CO2 in the house but just to have an idea.
Thanks,

It’s about 40 lbs worth. So it will definitely last.

Joralf · Jun 22, 2020

OK, Thanks. I just ordered it.

chadg · Jun 25, 2020

It took about 10 days for me to go through the 750ml container.

GabeM · Jun 25, 2020

Interesting I am still running on the initial 500ml I installed.

dadnjesse · Jun 25, 2020

Joralf said:
I am having the same issue with low PH. How long that container last? I know it varies with the amount of CO2 in the house but just to have an idea.
Thanks,

I bought the 5 gallon container 11/2019 and change the media every two weeks and it is still 1/2 full.

((FORDTECH)) · Jun 30, 2020

Wondering does anyone use a co2 scrubber and run the intake for scrubber to the outside air line instead of to skimmer lid to help make media last longer then pulling from inside house with high co2 levels

GabeM · Jun 30, 2020

((FORDTECH)) said:
Wondering does anyone use a co2 scrubber and run the intake for scrubber to the outside air line instead of to skimmer lid to help make media last longer then pulling from inside house with high co2 levels

If you can run a line to the outside just do that - the CO2 levels outside are much lower than indoors (2-3x lower generally.)

((FORDTECH)) · Jun 30, 2020

GabeM said:
If you can run a line to the outside just do that - the CO2 levels outside are much lower than indoors (2-3x lower generally.)

I do have a 1 1/2 inch pvc line going outside but only is efficient durning winter because during summer when ac is on my line outside does not do much at all. So I wanted to compensate durning summer when ac is on with the co2 scrubber and then winter I will not use it use less co2 media

GabeM · Jun 30, 2020

((FORDTECH)) said:
I do have a 1 1/2 inch pvc line going outside but only is efficient durning winter because during summer when ac is on my line outside does not do much at all. So I wanted to compensate durning summer when ac is on with the co2 scrubber and then winter I will not use it use less co2 media

You have a line going from straight outside to your skimmer input? I am not sure what this has to do with A/C, as it should work regardless.

Sledgehammer87 · Jun 30, 2020

((FORDTECH)) said:
Wondering does anyone use a co2 scrubber and run the intake for scrubber to the outside air line instead of to skimmer lid to help make media last longer then pulling from inside house with high co2 levels

That is what I did. I ran a tube outside first with no effect. Then I added the CO2 scrubber and connected the outside air house to the intake. I figure it will help the media last longer at a bare minimum.

((FORDTECH)) · Jun 30, 2020

GabeM said:
You have a line going from straight outside to your skimmer input? I am not sure what this has to do with A/C, as it should work regardless.

Yes you would think but here is my thread I started about the issue. And since I made this thread I have seen many other people post th at in winter with heat on outside line to skimmer gets them 8.1-8.3 ph but soon as summer comes and ac turned on ph drop to 7.8-8.0 randy tried to explain the reason why but I don’t like it cause I wish it wasn’t happening lol

Solid .2 ph drop over night after a/c turned on

As title states last night I turned on my ac for first time this year and when woke up this morning ph is at 7.9 and always runs at 8.1-8.2 I know this is not out of range or something I should immediately be concerned about but I’d like to know why this happened. I do have my skimmer line...

www.reef2reef.com

((FORDTECH)) · Jun 30, 2020

Sledgehammer87 said:
That is what I did. I ran a tube outside first with no effect. Then I added the CO2 scrubber and connected the outside air house to the intake. I figure it will help the media last longer at a bare minimum.

Yes that is what I was asking. Do you feel it makes media last longer this way then recirculating it or drawing air from inside house?