Outside airline into Skimmer

arvind · Oct 13, 2020

I ran an airline to my skimmer and it did not make much difference in pH. From 7.95 it went up to 8 in a day. I am running the tubing for about 13 feet. It is a one inch PVC pipe of 8 feet connected by a 1/2" tubing on both ends. Is the distance an issue here? Is there anything else that can be done here, other than the CO2 scrubber route?

dank reefer · Oct 13, 2020

You can try and put a air pump to suck air from the outside instead of letting the skimmer do all the pulling. if you happen to have a air pump handy, give it a try or if a fellow reefer around you has one that's not being used give it a try.

Edited: Just re-read your post and say that you are using 1/2 tubbing. Not sure they make an air pump that can handle 1/2 tubbing.

HuduVudu · Oct 13, 2020

arvind said:
I ran an airline to my skimmer and it did not make much difference in pH. From 7.95 it went up to 8 in a day. I am running the tubing for about 13 feet. It is a one inch PVC pipe of 8 feet connected by a 1/2" tubing on both ends. Is the distance an issue here? Is there anything else that can be done here, other than the CO2 scrubber route?

I think your theory is flawed that the low PH is caused by CO2 build up or your testing kit is failing you.

Most people use probes and can quickly see their PH FLUCUATIONS change when the CO2 in their tanks is reduced. If you are using a test kit you need to test multiple times a day to get a feel for your flucautions. Good times to check are when the lights come on in the middle of the light cycle when the light goes off and several hours into the dark cycle.

That said if indoor CO2 isn't and issue the next big culprit is going to be your KH.

Some things to ponder.

arvind · Oct 13, 2020

HuduVudu said:
I think your theory is flawed that the low PH is caused by CO2 build up or your testing kit is failing you.

Most people use probes and can quickly see their PH FLUCUATIONS change when the CO2 in their tanks is reduced. If you are using a test kit you need to test multiple times a day to get a feel for your flucautions. Good times to check are when the lights come on in the middle of the light cycle when the light goes off and several hours into the dark cycle.

That said if indoor CO2 isn't and issue the next big culprit is going to be your KH.

Some things to ponder.

For testing pH I am relying on my Apex Ph probe which has been consistent. I have been running the airline since last night and comparing the values between same time yesterday vs now. The difference is about .05.

My kH is about 8. This is where i want to keep it and want to adjust my pH at this level.

Also the tank room is usually empty unless i am there working on it. One possible theory could be is that the CO2 is not that great in the room to begin with so an airline to skimmer is not going to make that much of a difference. So i have to look into other methods if I want to bring my pH up, i guess.

HuduVudu · Oct 13, 2020

arvind said:
For testing pH I am relying on my Apex Ph probe which has been consistent. I have been running the airline since last night and comparing the values between same time yesterday vs now. The difference is about .05.

My kH is about 8. This is where i want to keep it and want to adjust my pH at this level.

Also the tank room is usually empty unless i am there working on it. One possible theory could be is that the CO2 is not that great in the room to begin with so an airline to skimmer is not going to make that much of a difference. So i have to look into other methods if I want to bring my pH up, i guess.

How long have you had the probe and when was the last time that you calibrated it?

harley32907 · Oct 13, 2020

Having same problem, got a BRS 2x jumbo c02 scrubber didn't raise it much, raising my kh to 9 did

HuduVudu · Oct 13, 2020

harley32907 said:
Having same problem, got a BRS 2x jumbo c02 scrubber didn't raise it much, raising my kh to 9 did

Nine seems like overkill. Perhaps there is something else at play? I would check your test kit first.

harley32907 · Oct 13, 2020

Apex ph probe, Hanna ph probe

HuduVudu · Oct 13, 2020

harley32907 said:
Apex ph probe, Hanna ph probe

Your Alk test kit.

harley32907 · Oct 13, 2020

Hanna, Apex

dank reefer · Oct 13, 2020

Here are a couple of other things to check/test.

Make sure that none of your probes wires are close to any power cables from your equipment.
Open up your windows closest to the tank for a day and see if the PH rises. if it does, then you have excess CO2 in the house.

harley32907 · Oct 13, 2020

I live in Florida, its going to be in high 80s today so opening widows is a no go for most of the year. Last winter (so to speak) when it was cooler, I opened windows, doors, no change.

Sdot · Oct 13, 2020

HuduVudu said:
I think your theory is flawed that the low PH is caused by CO2 build up or your testing kit is failing you.

Most people use probes and can quickly see their PH FLUCUATIONS change when the CO2 in their tanks is reduced. If you are using a test kit you need to test multiple times a day to get a feel for your flucautions. Good times to check are when the lights come on in the middle of the light cycle when the light goes off and several hours into the dark cycle.

That said if indoor CO2 isn't and issue the next big culprit is going to be your KH.

Some things to ponder.

Hmmm, im going to push back a little on this. If he was able to run a line outside and it did raise the PH, i would say it is a co2 problem. Perhaps running such a long line diminished its effectiveness? I would use a co2 scrubber, however before going that route test the theory. Take water from your tank place out side in a cup or similar and gently aerate it and see where your PH lands. If its a big jump, co2 is your problem if not look for other issues.

t5Nitro · Oct 13, 2020

Has anyone experimented with no plants vs plants near the tank indoors with closed windows to actually how effective that is? I still haven't bought a pH meter so I haven't tested it.

HuduVudu · Oct 13, 2020

arvind said:
For testing pH I am relying on my Apex Ph probe which has been consistent. I have been running the airline since last night and comparing the values between same time yesterday vs now. The difference is about .05.

Please @Sdot read the entire thread. It is frustrating when people jump in at the end and they haven't taken in all of the information. I commented as I did because of the minor change in PH when the line was run.

HuduVudu · Oct 13, 2020

t5Nitro said:
Has anyone experimented with no plants vs plants near the tank indoors with closed windows to actually how effective that is? I still haven't bought a pH meter so I haven't tested it.

I have ... plants are purely decorative.

Embarassing ... House plants are really just asthetic.

This article though not scientific sums up what I am seeing empirically: https://www.gardenmyths.com/houseplants-increase-oxygen-levels/ I finally broke down and bought a CO2 monitor (AirThings) and have been monitoring the CO2 in my house. Now with a house full of plants, I see absolutely no...

www.reef2reef.com

And now that I am stuck with a large assortment of house plants, I am even more sure.

t5Nitro · Oct 13, 2020

Phew. The only downside to co2 scrubbers, i think, is the frequent exhaustion of media. If they're like our anesthesia machines, then they don't last long.

HuduVudu · Oct 13, 2020

t5Nitro said:
Phew. The only downside to co2 scrubbers, i think, is the frequent exhaustion of media. If they're like our anesthesia machines, then they don't last long.

There is a way to refresh the media. I think it involves baking it so probably a pain to do that, but there is a way.

Sdot · Oct 13, 2020

HuduVudu said:
Please @Sdot read the entire thread. It is frustrating when people jump in at the end and they haven't taken in all of the information. I commented as I did because of the minor change in PH when the line was run.

Hey thanks for the advice, but i did read the entire thread before i made my comment. I stand by my statement.