CO2 scrubbers
- Thread starter Crystal08
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cwerner
Active Member
I don't use that particular skimmer, but the BRS kit is probably the cheapest you can get. Measure the OD (Outer Diameter) of your skimmer tubing and try to get a reducer to match the tubing sizes. Also make sure to bypass your skimmer silencer since your scrubber will be doing that for you.
www.bulkreefsupply.com
Universal CO2 Scrubber
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) can directly affect the pH of your aquarium, and with a low pH, corals may not grow as fast. Connecting a CO2 scrubber directly to the venturi on your skimmer along with CO2 absorption media you can control the amount of CO2 that is being sucked into your skimmer...
www.bulkreefsupply.com
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Crystal08
Active Member
I’m sorry this might be a dumb question but I’m still learning. What part is the skimmer silencer?I don't use that particular skimmer, but the BRS kit is probably the cheapest you can get. Measure the OD (Outer Diameter) of your skimmer tubing and try to get a reducer to match the tubing sizes. Also make sure to bypass your skimmer silencer since your scrubber will be doing that for you.
Universal CO2 Scrubber
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) can directly affect the pH of your aquarium, and with a low pH, corals may not grow as fast. Connecting a CO2 scrubber directly to the venturi on your skimmer along with CO2 absorption media you can control the amount of CO2 that is being sucked into your skimmer...
cwerner
Active Member
Oh. I just googled your protein skimmer and it looks like yours doesn't have one, or uses the collection cup container as a silencer. It's normally a cylinder shape that is designed to quiet the air sucking noise from your pump sucking in air from the tube and mixing it with the water. What you'll do is connect that air tube directly to that scrubber using a tubing converter of some type. Something like this:
I'm not sure what diameter your hose tube is so I can't recommend something specific.
I'm not sure what diameter your hose tube is so I can't recommend something specific.
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Crystal08
Active Member
They sell this one on BRS. I don’t know exactly what size the tubing is on the Fluval and there website doesn’t say but it looks exactly like the regular size they sell at fish store as replacements.
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vetteguy53081
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BRS unit has done well for me in the past
jmichaelh7
2500 Club Member
Turn it into a recirculating skimmer and see even more ph
jmichaelh7
2500 Club Member
ptrick21186
Active Member
I have the BRS one as well. It works but I find the cost of the media and the time changing it doesn't justify the .2 increase in pH that I get from it. I normally run about 8.1 during the day. This will bring it up to 8.3. Not a lotta bang for my buck. But then again each system/house is different. You could have higher CO2 levels that make it worth it.
Steve2020
Well-Known Member
I have been running a CO2 scrubber skimmer recirc for about 2yrs now on my 255gal tank and have been pleased with the results. Unfortunately I am not familiar with that skimmer but I just watched a few videos on how that skimmer works and I have a question before I can give you any recommendations. Are you running it with the airline flow control valve inserted into the hole in the collection cup or do you have it hanging over the side to bring in fresh air? I am asking because with the flow control/airline in the skimmer cup you would be recycling what I call dirty air ( which IMO is not a good thing ), instead of bringing in fresh air. I understand the manufacturer says to put it in the hole and I personally do not agree with that.
There are a few ways to do a recirc. Some better than others.
Are you running an aquarium controller?
cwerner
Active Member
You will get a larger benefit recirculating the air, but there's still a nice bump by simply letting fresh air into the air inlet on the C02 scrubber. Yours is probably not designed to suck air from the cup, but you might be able to modify it by drilling a hole in the collection cup lid to put the tubing through or gluing a barb fitting into the lid.
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Crystal08
Active Member
The tubbing runs from inside to top of the collection cup. Theres a whole. But i don’t know if that’s what you are talking about. I’m pretty new and just have the basics. Here’s what it looks like in parts
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Steve2020
Well-Known Member
If it was me, before spending the money on a recirc setup, I would take the flow control valve out of the hole and bring in the room ambient air or better yet outside air and see if you get an increase in PH. You should be able to tell in a few days. Make sure that the valve/airline is in a position to drain into your sump or tank in case the collection cup overflows. DO NOT hang it over the side of you sump or tank. Leave the hole in the cup lid open. Do not plug it. The hole will be your vent.
On another note, it is possible to do a recirc setup with that skimmer but what I do not know is if it will put out enough l/hr of air to be able to go through the scrubber full of media. I can't find the l/hr of air data anywhere.
I would hate to see you spend the money on a recirc setup just to find out the skimmer can not provide enough air.
Naturalreef
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My tank was running 7.8-8.0 and I would get up to 8.1 running a line outside. Kalkwasser helps, but with frags the demand is low hence not a big bump in PH. I took a chance and ordered a icecap medium Co2 scrubber and made it recirculating.
My goodness what a change! 4 people in the house, I’m averaging 8.2-8.45. No people in the house for a day and it jumps to 8.6. I’ll see how long the media lasts, but it’s been a few weeks already and still churning out great numbers.
The nice thing about the icecap scrubber is that is has a built in water trap at the bottom so it doesn’t get the media wet. Moisture from skimmer cup helps keep the media long lasting. I drilled a hole in the side of my IM desktop skimmer cup and put a John guest fitting on. I have a skimmer sensor so it never flows down the tube.
Cost me around $100.
My goodness what a change! 4 people in the house, I’m averaging 8.2-8.45. No people in the house for a day and it jumps to 8.6. I’ll see how long the media lasts, but it’s been a few weeks already and still churning out great numbers.
The nice thing about the icecap scrubber is that is has a built in water trap at the bottom so it doesn’t get the media wet. Moisture from skimmer cup helps keep the media long lasting. I drilled a hole in the side of my IM desktop skimmer cup and put a John guest fitting on. I have a skimmer sensor so it never flows down the tube.
Cost me around $100.
