High CO2 Lifereef vs needle wheel skimmer/scrubber combo

[USMA36]

I run a 230 gallon tank (200 gallon total volume) mixed reef. The tank is in the basement of my well sealed up house. I am currently running a Lifereef 24” internal skimmer powered by a Maxspect jump 10k pump @ 100%. I have a brs jumbo co2 scrubber connected to the skimmer drawing air through the skimmer collection cup. My question is would a needle wheel skimmer draw more air through my co2 scrubber than the lifereef? I absolutely love the lifereef skimmer but I am struggling to get my pH to stay consistently above 8. I’m running 2500ml of saturated limewater via a dos overnight and I am still hovering 7.9 -8.1. I really want to be 8.2-8.4 range. I also run 70ml of carbocalcium dosed throughout the day.

 

[legionofdoon]

Absolutely not. I run my lifereef with a DCP8000 at 100% and if I hold my finger over the air inlet hose it'll collapse it from the vacuum the real venturi valve. A regular needle wheel pump can't pull anywhere near as much air volume as the lifereef. I'm using the upgraded venturi but even the stock one will pull more than a needle wheel. That being said while the design of the lifereef minimizes clogging of the venturi I clean mine pretty often sometimes a snail can get in there.

 

[USMA36]

Absolutely not. I run my lifereef with a DCP8000 at 100% and if I hold my finger over the air inlet hose it'll collapse it from the vacuum the real venturi valve. A regular needle wheel pump can't pull anywhere near as much air volume as the lifereef. I'm using the upgraded venturi but even the stock one will pull more than a needle wheel. That being said while the design of the lifereef minimizes clogging of the venturi I clean mine pretty often sometimes a snail can get in there.

Thanks. I had that issue with mine. I take the Venturi off once a month. Baby snails are forever getting lodged in the Venturi.

 

[sergifed91]

Absolutely nori am testing it with airline through a window. Not sure on the reading cause on pH probe which is brand new says 7.79 and the older pH probe says 8.05. going to get another pH tester and see what the results are.