How long for CO2 scrubber to start making a difference

BRS
Jump to Last
C

crazyfishmom

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 29, 2023
Messages
2,832
Reaction score
4,569
Location
North Andover
What state or country do you live in
Massachusetts
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
I got a CO2 scrubber for the holidays and just hooked it up this morning. My pH sits between 7.8-almost 8 depending on time of day.

From your experience, how long before you start to see a difference?
 
Deltec
WWC
BRS
Top Shelf Aquatics
crazyfishmom said:
That’s what it looks like right now for me… need to find other solutions I guess!
Click to expand...
I’d give it a day or two though. It will probably keep the night time ph a little higher.
 
RedReefer said:
Top off with lime water helps. Along with the co2 scrubber.
Click to expand...
My alkalinity is super super stable right now… I definitely don’t want to mess with anything that might change that. It’s all a trade off I guess!
 
crazyfishmom said:
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Unless your house is very well ventilated it should make a difference. Even in the winter when my household CO2 stays around 400 I still see it has an effect. pH will hit 8.44 then . Summer it tops at 8.3 on a good day.
Live in Florida.

Check your hook ups and occasionally blow though the tubing to make sure there are not obstructions. How big of a system you running?
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
Gatorpa said:
Unless your house is very well ventilated it should make a difference. Even in the winter when my household CO2 stays around 400 I still see it has an effect. pH will hit 8.44 then . Summer it tops at 8.3 on a good day.
Live in Florida.

Check your hook ups and occasionally blow though the tubing to make sure there are not obstructions. How big of a system you running?
Click to expand...
210 gallon tank with 60 gallon breeder for a sump. I think I’m at ~200 gallons of actual water. I’m in MA so opening windows is not an option this time of year. I’ve never tried to dial in pH and I’m not seeing huge swings but it would be nice to get it a little higher consistently.

It’s been hooked up for a few hours and I don’t see any difference at all yet. I may also not have a big enough scrubber to deal with this water volume so that’s the other possibility. I’ll give it a few days before trying to mess with anything else.
 
crazyfishmom said:
210 gallon tank with 60 gallon breeder for a sump. I think I’m at ~200 gallons of actual water. I’m in MA so opening windows is not an option this time of year. I’ve never tried to dial in pH and I’m not seeing huge swings but it would be nice to get it a little higher consistently.

It’s been hooked up for a few hours and I don’t see any difference at all yet. I may also not have a big enough scrubber to deal with this water volume so that’s the other possibility. I’ll give it a few days before trying to mess with anything else.
Click to expand...
I've got one hooked up to my skimmer and to be honest the .1 or .2 difference it makes I don't feel is worth the price and hassle of CO2 resin. So its really just a fancy muffler at this point
 
ptrick21186 said:
I've got one hooked up to my skimmer and to be honest the .1 or .2 difference it makes I don't feel is worth the price and hassle of CO2 resin. So its really just a fancy muffler at this point
Click to expand...
LOL I’m starting to think maybe trying to raise my pH is a futile endeavor unless I want to also increase alkalinity which I really really don’t. For now I’m just waiting and watching. I’ve been meaning to set up a refugium or hook but an algae scrubber but my nutrients are on the lower side so I worry I’ll tank them if I do that. Maybe would be good to wait till I have a higher bio load or my Coral start to consume more calcium/alkalinity before messing with anything else. Problem is: I’m a tinkerer
 
Deltec
made a big difference for me starting on day 1. I was 7.8 - 8 without it. Now I’ll get near 8.4 during peak hours and lows at night around 8.15.
 
crazyfishmom said:
LOL I’m starting to think maybe trying to raise my pH is a futile endeavor unless I want to also increase alkalinity which I really really don’t. For now I’m just waiting and watching. I’ve been meaning to set up a refugium or hook but an algae scrubber but my nutrients are on the lower side so I worry I’ll tank them if I do that. Maybe would be good to wait till I have a higher bio load or my Coral start to consume more calcium/alkalinity before messing with anything else. Problem is: I’m a tinkerer
Click to expand...
7.8-8 is honestly not bad. Don't get too hung up on chasing numbers. Your measurement equipment alone could have a +/-.2 reading anyways
 
Orphek OR3 reef aquarium LED bar
ptrick21186 said:
I've got one hooked up to my skimmer and to be honest the .1 or .2 difference it makes I don't feel is worth the price and hassle of CO2 resin. So its really just a fancy muffler at this point
Click to expand...
I buy it in bulk from e bay or amazon. $130 lasted me 20 months changing every 2 weeks or so.
 
crazyfishmom said:
210 gallon tank with 60 gallon breeder for a sump. I think I’m at ~200 gallons of actual water. I’m in MA so opening windows is not an option this time of year. I’ve never tried to dial in pH and I’m not seeing huge swings but it would be nice to get it a little higher consistently.

It’s been hooked up for a few hours and I don’t see any difference at all yet. I may also not have a big enough scrubber to deal with this water volume so that’s the other possibility. I’ll give it a few days before trying to mess with anything else.
Click to expand...
I have an outside air line go to the CO scrubber then to the skimmer.

Some people suggest using a recirculating line from the skimmer to the CO scrubber then back to the skimmer. Never tried that.
 
BRS

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
See comments…

New Posts

Chewy.com
Nutramar Foods
Tidal Gardens
Top Shelf Aquatics
TCK Corals
Dinkins Aquatic Gardens
Deltec
World Wide Corals
New Posts
Back
Top