Recirc CO2 scrubber issues

[Derrick0580]

I set up a BRS co2 scrubber with a 2nd scrubber plumbed in before the media filled one as a moisture catch. My problem is the fact that I am still getting a ton of moisture in the media filled scrubber. I do not have the insert in the moisture catch canister, just the empty housing. I am trying to figure out how to keep the condensation out of the exit so it is not drawn into the media housing. Is there something I can put in the insert of the catch canister or in the center exit hole to keep the condensation from getting over into the media canister? Hopefully the pictures attach so you can see the way it is set up. I even have the tube between them in an upward arch to try and keep the water in the catch canister. Possibly a piece of black prefilter sponge?

 

[Chrisv.]

The sponge isn’t a bad idea. It may block flow when it gets saturated. I almost wonder if putting something in the first canister for condensation to form on would help. I’m thinking like the old cpr bac—pak Bio-Bale filtration media, which can still be purchased…or a nasty tangle of thickmonofilament fishing line.

 

[calli]

Hey Derrick,

Did you have any updates on this, how has is been working and did anything change since Jan?

I am also making a scrubber and have the exact same question about the DI canister.

DIY Co2 Scrubber

Hey All, I am just in the middle of making a DIY Scrubber and I have a question about the RO canisters that people typically use. I see people using the DI resin insert for the co2 media and I don't know if I want to use that. Seems it would be just as easy to dump the media from the blue...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[SPS2020]

Use a BRS sponge; that worked for me in the same setup.

 

[calli]

Yeah I was thinking that would do the trick, a bit of filter floss in the chamber.

 

[Derrick0580]

I ended up filling the water catcher canister with polyfilter floss to catch the moisture and that helped keep the media dry. I also, stopped filling the media chamber completely full and using the sponge out of my media reactor propped up by a couple tooth picks to keep the media off the bottom of the media canister. I honestly don’t see the media lasting any longer and at this point I am seriously considering running a line out the window to verify fresh air will for sure keep the ph up because I know opening the windows raises it to 8.3-8.4 so if the line out the window keeps it up there I will drill a hole through the wall behind the tank and run pvc with a hose barb on it, run that through the first scrubber with the canister filled with carbon then the second through the co2 media to thoroughly scrub the air.

 

[calli]

I ended up filling the water catcher canister with polyfilter floss to catch the moisture and that helped keep the media dry. I also, stopped filling the media chamber completely full and using the sponge out of my media reactor propped up by a couple tooth picks to keep the media off the bottom of the media canister. I honestly don’t see the media lasting any longer and at this point I am seriously considering running a line out the window to verify fresh air will for sure keep the ph up because I know opening the windows raises it to 8.3-8.4 so if the line out the window keeps it up there I will drill a hole through the wall behind the tank and run pvc with a hose barb on it, run that through the first scrubber with the canister filled with carbon then the second through the co2 media to thoroughly scrub the air.

I just actually started mine up tonight. There is already a good amount of moisture in the line. It’s a little bit. But I don’t have floss in the first chamber. I will add that but I think I also might just run the line back outside then through the scrubber.

the picture with the least amount of moisture is going back to the veturi

 

[Derrick0580]

I did find out the hard way that once the floss gets plugged with moisture it will cause the skimmer to overflow. Luckily my octo has a float switch on the lid and shuts off!

 

[calli]

I did find out the hard way that once the floss gets plugged with moisture it will cause the skimmer to overflow. Luckily my octo has a float switch on the lid and shuts off!

Well I just flipped it around. I put the line from the scrubber going outside. It was like watching a car accident. I could see the moisture filling the lines.

 

[dedragon]

i just use polyfil as well but im thinking of trying out cheaper pellet activated carbon from petco as it may be better

 

[calli]

i just use polyfil as well but im thinking of trying out cheaper pellet activated carbon from petco as it may be better

I found a 5 gallon pail of it for $150 plus tax. That’s cdn so maybe usd would be $100-120 or so.
This one is for the medical industry.

i am now also wondering if I should put water in the first chamber, I recall reading the media works better with a bit of humidity. Have you heard this?

 

[dedragon]

yes but being a recirculating air co2 scrubber i think the moisture from the skimmer itself should be more than enough

 

[dedragon]

good score on carbon though, that will last you forever

 

[calli]

been a full 24hrs with the scrubber in recirculating setup.

 

[piranhaman00]

How are people keeping moisture from building up in scrubber canister?

 

[stonecoldant316]

I beleive that moisture(H20) is actually a byproduct of the Sodalime w/ CO2 reaction, correct me if I'm wrong. I have an IceCap scrubber and they just have the media in a seperate chamber 1" off the bottom of the whole aparatus. So its easy to drain.

 

[stonecoldant316]

**double post**

 

[Morpheosz]

How are people keeping moisture from building up in scrubber canister?

I use the BRS Jumbo for my scrubber. It has a 1/2" port on the bottom. I attached proper fittings to reduce that to a 1/4" line that I run to a drain. It works perfect - the media stays damp but any condensation that puddles makes it's way out through that drain hole. Maybe you could drill a little drain hole in the bottom of your canister and stick a 1/4" fitting in there and do the same.

Mine has run without issue for a bit over 4 months on my 75g before I changed the media for the first time this past weekend as the pH had started dropping. I am fortunate to have my equipment in my laundry room and the scrubber mounted high on the wall so I just gravity drain that tube to my house drain and it's zero maintenance.