New co2 Scrubber and Alk Drop!

[Jhillreef]

I just installed the BRS CO2 scrubber because my Ph can’t get over 8.00 have a big family so that’s probably the reason. Anyway, now my Alk is dropping since the install. Any idea why?

 

[blaxsun]

I assume this is through the Trident? Have you manually tested just to rule Trident error out?

 

[Jhillreef]

Yeah, I check with the salifert test. Which is always higher. But I use the trident one for consistency. But it’s been pretty consistent until I added the scrubber. Just odd to me

 

[blaxsun]

Yeah, I check with the salifert test. Which is always higher. But I use the trident one for consistency. But it’s been pretty consistent until I added the scrubber. Just odd to me

It's not a huge change (0.2) over 24 hours. Mine typically fluctuates more than that.

 

[Jhillreef]

Ok, what would be a more concerning drop? Like number wise ? Also, would the scrubber cause this drop?

 

[SWherrey]

Ok, what would be a more concerning drop? Like number wise ? Also, would the scrubber cause this drop?

Anything greater than .5 a spike up is a lot worse than a drop. By you adding a scrubber you increase ph which in turn increase alk demand

 

[ConsummatePro]

Graph your Alk against your pH. You’ll likely see the ph going up and the Alk dropping - which I’ve taken as a sign the corals are liking the higher ph and using more Alk (ie growing)!

here’s my recent example: I refilled my BRS jumbo CO2 reactor on April 1. See how the ph (blue) goes up and alk (orange) drops. Waiting for the Trident controlled dosing to catch up the alk now.

 

[CMO]

What is your PH at now? With higher PH you will see more alk draw IME.

 

[therootcause]

It has been three months since you added your CO2 scrubber. How is your pH/Alk? How is your coral growth?

 

[Jhillreef]

It has been three months since you added your CO2 scrubber. How is your pH/Alk? How is your coral growth?

Not any better. I can’t win…

 

[Jhillreef]

Direct to the air intake on the Quantum skimmer and then sucking air from outside! Must just have too much CO2 in the house… big family.. I can’t keep stressing. But the growth sucks.

 

[Jhillreef]

Using BRS basic scrubber. Maybe I need to try the icecap one. Not sure what else

 

[therootcause]

Direct to the air intake on the Quantum skimmer and then sucking air from outside! Must just have too much CO2 in the house… big family.. I can’t keep stressing. But the growth sucks.

My reactor is a quart sized yogurt container with the airline shoved through the lid - so I don't think that is the problem. My pH was sub-8 like yours in my 180 gallon reef in the basement but once I made my DIY scrubber and placed it outside my pH now averages 8.25 with a low of 8.01 and a high of 8.37 over the past 72 hours.

Skimmer running 24/7? What size is the tank?

 

[Jhillreef]

My reactor is a quart sized yogurt container with the airline shoved through the lid - so I don't think that is the problem. My pH was sub-8 like yours in my 180 gallon reef in the basement but once I made my DIY scrubber and placed it outside my pH now averages 8.25 with a low of 8.01 and a high of 8.37 over the past 72 hours.

Skimmer running 24/7? What size is the tank?

 

[Jhillreef]

24/7 and it’s a Waterbox Frag 105

 

[Jhillreef]

You have the whole Reactor outside ? Or the airline

 

[therootcause]

You have the whole Reactor outside ? Or the airline

The whole dang thing is sitting outside. Is it possible that air from inside of your house is still entering the skimmer? It would be great to solve this problem and boost your pH.

 

[Jhillreef]

Yeah, I don’t know maybe I should just try moving the whole thing outside

 

[Jhillreef]

This normal? It makes a like weird clogged noise when take it off the scrubber end

 

[therootcause]

Looks normal to me. It's taking in water and you should feel a suction on the airline tubing to know that it's pulling air. For me, if skimmer noise changes or bubbles aren't rising up the neck of the skimmer it's usually because I have some macroalgae stuck in the pumps intake.