Do CO2 scrubbers work?

[XNavyDiver]

Got cha that maybe why I'm having trouble with my ph. I'm having to dose kal in ato everyday to maintain a 8.0-8.1

I have the opposite problem. I dose nothing yet my dKH is around 10. I just switched salt mix with a lower dKH to bring it down. I'd like to get it in the 8.3 to 8.5 range.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have the opposite problem. I dose nothing yet my dKH is around 10. I just switched salt mix with a lower dKH to bring it down. I'd like to get it in the 8.3 to 8.5 range.

That's wild. I'm at 8.5 ish and use IO w a high alk. You must have a crazy low consumption. And w low alk consumption I'll assume few organisms using co2 as well.

 

[XNavyDiver]

That's wild. I'm at 8.5 ish and use IO w a high alk. You must have a crazy low consumption. And w low alk consumption I'll assume few organisms using co2 as well.

All your assumptions are correct. Very few very small fish and about 12 sps frags in a 100 gal tank.

 

[Velcro]

Agreed.
Keeping in mind there are organisms and processs in the tank creating co2.

For sure. If you are carbon dosing you might see slightly lower pH due to bacteria shenanigans

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

All your assumptions are correct. Very few very small fish and about 12 sps frags in a 100 gal tank.

That's why your ph is low, very little using the co2.

So you could use kalk in the ato, or a scrubber. The choice is financial. What's the cost benefit for you.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

For sure. If you are carbon dosing you might see slightly lower pH due to bacteria shenanigans

Another reason I am pro sand cleaning btw.

 

[XNavyDiver]

That's why your ph is low.

So you could use kalk in the ato, or a scrubber. The choice is financial. What's the cost benefit for you.

Thank you![emoji16]

 

[Velcro]

That's why your ph is low, very little using the co2.

So you could use kalk in the ato, or a scrubber. The choice is financial. What's the cost benefit for you.

If he has high dissolved CO2, kalk will lead to high alkalinity.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thank you![emoji16]

Your welcome.

 

[XNavyDiver]

If he has high dissolved CO2, kalk will lead to high alkalinity.

Which is why I'll probably chose the scrubber route.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If he has high dissolved CO2, kalk will lead to high alkalinity.

Yes , he'll have to adjust the dosing. I did when I was using kalk in the ato.

100ml in 2.5 of rodi used weekly impacted the ph , but effected my C/A very little.

My choice was to dose the majority of the alk component at night and first thing in the am to level out the minor ph swing. Stop the kalk and not be concerned as much with alk stability.
It was leading to far too much number chasing for far too few descernable results.

 

[Velcro]

Which is why I'll probably chose the scrubber route.

I highly recommend it. All you have to do for the air recirculation method is get a small nylon elbow with male threads. Start with a very small drill bit and move up in size higher and higher until the threads will screw into the hole. Use teflon tape on the threads and voila. Most skimmer air intakes have a way to hook hose up to the output of the co2 reactor.

 

[Velcro]

Yes , he'll have to adjust the dosing. I did when I was using kalk in the ato.

100ml in 2.5 of rodi used weekly impacted the ph , but effected my C/A very little.

My choice was to dose the majority of the alk component at night and first thing in the am to level out the minor ph swing. Stop the kalk and not be concerned as much with alk stability.
It was leading to far too much number chasing for far too few descernable results.

I was just under the impression that he isn't dosing anything for alk and it's staying high. If that's the case then alk will increase faster than pH is affected by kalk.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Fwiw.
My sumpless 30

June 3

July 8

The tricolor vileda on the right is now touching this coral.

 

[XNavyDiver]

I was just under the impression that he isn't dosing anything for alk and it's staying high. If that's the case then alk will increase faster than pH is affected by kalk.

You are correct. No dosing yet.... just not enough consumption yet to justify it. I will when my testing tells me to start. It's all set up and ready to go.

 

[Velcro]

You are correct. No dosing yet.... just not enough consumption yet to justify it. I will when my testing tells me to start. It's all set up and ready to go.

How often are you doing waterchanges? What salt, what is you system volume and what size changes are you doing?

 

[XNavyDiver]

How often are you doing waterchanges? What salt, what is you system volume and what size changes are you doing?

Bi weekly, just switched to Fritz from RSCP, about 130 gal, 32 gallon brute containers worth wc everytime.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You are correct. No dosing yet.... just not enough consumption yet to justify it. I will when my testing tells me to start. It's all set up and ready to go.

I would start that before looking at a scrubber personally. It does effect the Ph after all.

 

[Velcro]

Bi weekly, just switched to Fritz from RSCP, about 130 gal, 32 gallon brute containers worth wc everytime.

Good choice. I just switched to fritz and I'm seeing great things. Here's a 20 day before and after of my Tierra del Fuego

 

[MIReefer78]

I bought a BRS CO2 scrubber with media. It works. My setup is new. Live sand, dry rock, a couple clowns and inverts so far. My PH was 7.8-7.9 consistently. Added the scrubber and now I'm between 8.0-8.2 with 8.1 being the average. I run bubble magus curve 5 on a Red Sea Reefer 170. Not dosing yet but when I start I expect the PH to be in the 8.2-8.4 range