Low pH? CO2 scrubber is an easy solution

[KingBlingTX]

After having a pH that cycled every day between 7.8-8.0, I decided to make a CO2 scrubber and see if that would push me up over the 8.0 mark. All I can say is it made a dramatic difference after the first day!! After 24 hours my pH peaked at 8.25 and the new low at night was 7.99.

It is a simple thing to do. I ordered 3L of Two Little Fishes CDX (carbon dioxide adsorption media). It is soda lime, so there are multiple places you can get the same material. I had a TLF-150 phosban reactor laying around, so I filled it up with the media. Connect the reactor outlet line to the airline that feeds your skimmer. TLF sells an adapter that connects airline to the larger reactor tubing, but i forgot to order one so I just figured out another way to make the connection. The media will change color to purple as it becomes exhausted. It is supposed to last ~6 weeks before it needs to be replaced.

Here is a pic of mine installed-

 

[Branespikin]

I need that. My Ph is around 7.5-7.7. Will order that today

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How well a scrubber works depends on the relative amount of aeration through the scrubber (the skimmer) and how much by other means (like the tank top).

Many have found replacing the media to be an expensive concern as well.

 

[Branespikin]

How well a scrubber works depends on the relative amount of aeration through the scrubber (the skimmer) and how much by other means (like the tank top).

Many have found replacing the media to be an expensive concern as well.

I have a pretty good skimmer. Its Nyos 120. This thing makes some bubbles. It got to try something. Im scared to put anything in my tank with that low PH. I dont understand why. My tank i had last year 75g i had PH always aroind 8-8.3. This one barely to 7.7 and peaks around late afternoon mornings to noon around 7.4. I might have to connect skimmer airline to outside somehow

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have a pretty good skimmer. Its Nyos 120. This thing makes some bubbles. It got to try something. Im scared to put anything in my tank with that low PH. I dont understand why. My tank i had last year 75g i had PH always aroind 8-8.3. This one barely to 7.7 and peaks around late afternoon mornings to noon around 7.4. I might have to connect skimmer airline to outside somehow

I suspect pH 7.4 is testing error. Have you recently calibrated the probe?

 

[Downbeach]

It would be a lot more cost effective if you can run a 1/2" hose from your skimmer's air intake, to an outside air source that is lower in CO2.

 

[jason2459]

It would be a lot more cost effective if you can run a 1/2" hose from your skimmer's air intake, to an outside air source that is lower in CO2.

I agree but for some of us it's not a good option. Apartments/condo's/townhomes/rentals/etc may frown on holes drilled through walls. The further away your tubing has to go the bigger tubing or even pipe will need to be. Or like me there's lots of polutents in the air that I would not trust carbon to filter out. In my case pesticides sprayed. I've already lost all my inverts(corals/shrimp/crabs/snails/etc) and several fish due to mold/mildew cleaners in the air made it to my tank. Not fun. I can't even have windows opened when it's nice out due to severe allergies in the family so windows are closed pretty much year round.

For me my main driver to increase pH is dosing limewater. My ATS gives a very small bump. Then to give a bit more buffer room especially in the coming winter months with fireplaces and furnace going I use the CO2 scrubber. I get my sodalime by a 5g container at MedVet with what ever free thing they are offering in their email ads. Good price.

Here's my CO2 scrubber setup with my Ozone generator.
MTC MVX Skimmer review
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/mtc-mvx-skimmer-review.252436/page-4#post-3101922

 

[Branespikin]

I suspect pH 7.4 is testing error. Have you recently calibrated the probe?

Its a brand new Apex Probe i cali rated and setup few weeks ago. Idk maybe i calibrated wrong. I will try again. I did test with an API test kit too and it was low. Idk dont really trust that kit anyways

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Its a brand new Apex Probe i cali rated and setup few weeks ago. Idk maybe i calibrated wrong. I will try again. I did test with an API test kit too and it was low. Idk dont really trust that kit anyways

Make sure it reads the buffers correctly (including a temp probe in them if the APEX temperature compensates) after calibration. If it still reads really low, try aerating a cup of water with inside and outside air, as described here:

http://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/

The Aeration Test

Some of the possible causes of low pH listed above require an effort to diagnose. Problems 3 and 4 are quite common, and here is a way to distinguish them. Remove a cup of tank water and measure its pH. Then aerate it for an hour with an airstone using outside air. Its pH should rise if it is unusually low for the measured alkalinity (Figure 2). Then repeat the same experiment on a new cup of water using inside air. If its pH also rises, then the aquarium’s pH will rise simply with more aeration because it is only the aquarium that contains excess carbon dioxide. If the pH does not rise in the cup (or rises very little) when aerating with indoor air, then that air likely contains excess CO2, and more aeration with that same air will not solve the low pH problem (although aeration with fresher air should). Be careful implementing this test if the outside aeration test results in a large temperature change (more than 5°C or 10°F), because such changes alone impact pH measurements.

 

[Branespikin]

Make sure it reads the buffers correctly (including a temp probe in them if the APEX temperature compensates) after calibration. If it still reads really low, try aerating a cup of water with inside and outside air, as described here:

http://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/

The Aeration Test

Some of the possible causes of low pH listed above require an effort to diagnose. Problems 3 and 4 are quite common, and here is a way to distinguish them. Remove a cup of tank water and measure its pH. Then aerate it for an hour with an airstone using outside air. Its pH should rise if it is unusually low for the measured alkalinity (Figure 2). Then repeat the same experiment on a new cup of water using inside air. If its pH also rises, then the aquarium’s pH will rise simply with more aeration because it is only the aquarium that contains excess carbon dioxide. If the pH does not rise in the cup (or rises very little) when aerating with indoor air, then that air likely contains excess CO2, and more aeration with that same air will not solve the low pH problem (although aeration with fresher air should). Be careful implementing this test if the outside aeration test results in a large temperature change (more than 5°C or 10°F), because such changes alone impact pH measurements.

I may have calibrated the probe incorrectly. I remember when i was doing it it wss not taking it that seriously and might have messed it up. Was my first time. I guess i need to order the buffers so i get it right this time.
Thx. I let you know how it worked out

 

[120reefkeeper]

After having a pH that cycled every day between 7.8-8.0, I decided to make a CO2 scrubber and see if that would push me up over the 8.0 mark. All I can say is it made a dramatic difference after the first day!! After 24 hours my pH peaked at 8.25 and the new low at night was 7.99.

It is a simple thing to do. I ordered 3L of Two Little Fishes CDX (carbon dioxide adsorption media). It is soda lime, so there are multiple places you can get the same material. I had a TLF-150 phosban reactor laying around, so I filled it up with the media. Connect the reactor outlet line to the airline that feeds your skimmer. TLF sells an adapter that connects airline to the larger reactor tubing, but i forgot to order one so I just figured out another way to make the connection. The media will change color to purple as it becomes exhausted. It is supposed to last ~6 weeks before it needs to be replaced.

Here is a pic of mine installed-

I'm glad it worked out for you! [emoji51]

 

[Branespikin]

I may have calibrated the probe incorrectly. I remember when i was doing it it wss not taking it that seriously and might have messed it up. Was my first time. I guess i need to order the buffers so i get it right this time.
Thx. I let you know how it worked out

Ok so i did the test this morning. I measured PH with handheld and it read 7.67 tank temp at 78 degrees. I aerated cup with pump outside and cup inside to keep water temp at around 78. The PH after an hour of outside air aeration went up to 7.97. I then did same test with pump inside house and PH stayed same at 7.67 no change. So im assuming its my air in my apt causing this. What should i do? Try and get a tube frim skimmer to outside? Dont know if thats possible to do. Do i get one of those scrubbers with soda lime?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The options include bringng in fresher air to the room, or to a skimmer inlet, a CO2 scrubber on a skimmer inlet, or limewater.

This has more:

pH and the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION
http://www.reefedition.com/ph-and-the-reef-aquarium/

 

[Branespikin]

Ok thanks. Ill see if i can drill a hole outside and connect skimmer. If not co2 scrubber. Maybe installing a ceiling fan might work?! Probably. Not since it will be spinning the air thats in the apt not pulling fresh from outside

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok thanks. Ill see if i can drill a hole outside and connect skimmer. If not co2 scrubber. Maybe installing a ceiling fan might work?! Probably. Not since it will be spinning the air thats in the apt not pulling fresh from outside

'

Circulating indoor air around won't help.

 

[Branespikin]

Yup understood. Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.