Ph swings

[jsker]

Good news. Keep us posted, we should have some slightly cooler and dryer air rolling in here this coming weekend. Let see where you are at next Saturday

 

[jsker]

I'm sure there are a multitude of variables that can affect the gains from providing fresh air but the difference with a window open vs not for my setup is .2-.3 across the board. At the peak of the hot season here this summer, (windows hadnt been opened in weeks if not months) I was seeing a low of 7.7x and a high of around 7.9x (results from Reef Angel's probe). I closed the room off (my home office) and opened the window one night and it jumped to 8.0x at the low 8.3x on the high side. I definitely need to install a line because it is too cold during the winter to leave a window open as well but I've been hesitant to break out the drill until I actually have time to test a few different sizes for the supply line. Not a huge distance but I need to run at least seven feet; I'd be surprised if 3/8" was large enough to not influence the efficiency of the skimmer at that distance but I dont have any facts either.

I ran 10' with the 3/8 tubing. If a connector is used for the reason the line is go short make sure the connector is at the least 5/16 ID so not to restrict the line. I would say to increase the tubing size but maintain 5/16 ID or larger. When I took the picture the other day, I could hear the air being pulled into the line. I also have the hole for the line 7' off the ground if that make a difference. I felt that the air would be better higher then from the ground. Another factor for placing the outside hole higher was so the duct would not get sucked in from mowing of the grass or landscape blowing.

 

[bif24701]

I'm sure there are a multitude of variables that can affect the gains from providing fresh air but the difference with a window open vs not for my setup is .2-.3 across the board. At the peak of the hot season here this summer, (windows hadnt been opened in weeks if not months) I was seeing a low of 7.7x and a high of around 7.9x (results from Reef Angel's probe). I closed the room off (my home office) and opened the window one night and it jumped to 8.0x at the low 8.3x on the high side. I definitely need to install a line because it is too cold during the winter to leave a window open as well but I've been hesitant to break out the drill until I actually have time to test a few different sizes for the supply line. Not a huge distance but I need to run at least seven feet; I'd be surprised if 3/8" was large enough to not influence the efficiency of the skimmer at that distance but I dont have any facts either.

If I did a line it would have to be no smaller than 1/2"for my size skimmer.

 

[Centerline]

I ran 10' with the 3/8 tubing. If a connector is used for the reason the line is go short make sure the connector is at the least 5/16 ID so not to restrict the line. I would say to increase the tubing size but maintain 5/16 ID or larger. When I took the picture the other day, I could hear the air being pulled into the line. I also have the hole for the line 7' off the ground if that make a difference. I felt that the air would be better higher then from the ground. Another factor for placing the outside hole higher was so the duct would not get sucked in from mowing of the grass or landscape blowing.

If everything is stable in the 7.8 - 8.2 range for the next week (that's what I expect) I will give the larger diameter tubing a shot and see if it makes a difference. I would love to see a solid 8 - 8.3. After reading Randy's article and post, noting his recommendation to not let the PH drop to 7.5, the 7.6 number I was at really had me worried. It may be that the only thing that has saved my coral so far is that I run my ALK pretty high. But the air line really seems to have made a difference. As of this moment the PH is 7.9 plus. Four T5s just came on, two 250 Radiums are due to come on in 45 min and two xhos at 6pm. It will be interesting to see the PH level at 8 pm - typically the highest measured level of the day at 8.1 or so as all lights are still fired up and bio activity running at full blast.

 

[Centerline]

BTW, I really would like to thank all of you for jumping in with advice and sharing your considerable knowledge with me. I really had no idea what a great bunch of people were on reef2reef.

 

[bif24701]

If everything is stable in the 7.8 - 8.2 range for the next week (that's what I expect) I will give the larger diameter tubing a shot and see if it makes a difference. I would love to see a solid 8 - 8.3. After reading Randy's article and post, noting his recommendation to not let the PH drop to 7.5, the 7.6 number I was at really had me worried. It may be that the only thing that has saved my coral so far is that I run my ALK pretty high. But the air line really seems to have made a difference. As of this moment the PH is 7.9 plus. Four T5s just came on, two 250 Radiums are due to come on in 45 min and two xhos at 6pm. It will be interesting to see the PH level at 8 pm - typically the highest measured level of the day at 8.1 or so as all lights are still fired up and bio activity running at full blast.

Restrictive air flow is more about the performance of the skimmer rather than the pH issue. Either way pH will be improved. However with my skimmer reducing air some much kills it. I had to modify my scrubber to allow better flow. Skimmers are built with a certain water/air mixture range in mind. Disrupting that can have an effect on how well it skims.