Recirculating Co2 scrubber - amazing results

Viking_Reefing · Jun 19, 2023

So I’ve been trying ways to optimize my PH for a good long while and tried most standard options…this includes a fresh air vent in my sump room from the air exchanger and I thought the results might be of interest for some of you.
Apologies for my voice…having kids is rough and I was getting over a cold

TL;DR - recirculating co2 scrubbers are awesome!

LadAShark · Jun 19, 2023

Viking_Reefing said:
So I’ve been trying ways to optimize my PH for a good long while and tried most standard options…this includes a fresh air vent in my sump room from the air exchanger and I thought the results might be of interest for some of you.
Apologies for my voice…having kids is rough and I was getting over a cold

TL;DR - recirculating co2 scrubbers are awesome!

Kids really are virus magnets too!

I've been considering a co2 scrubber, because I keep high nutrient systems, I think pH may be an issue in my reefs even though I don't really measure it.

Viking_Reefing · Jun 20, 2023

LadAShark said:
Kids really are virus magnets too!

I've been considering a co2 scrubber, because I keep high nutrient systems, I think pH may be an issue in my reefs even though I don't really measure it.

Yeah, should go through a round of QT every time they come home from daycare!

Personally I wouldn’t put any measures in to action before knowing if there’s anything to fix and measuring to be able to evaluate the effect.

legalizedreefer · Sep 2, 2023

You’ve inspired me. Just ordered a full review setup and a motorized ball valve to control via pH (apex) whether skimmer is pulling room air or recirc scrubber air

Viking_Reefing · Sep 6, 2023

legalizedreefer said:
You’ve inspired me. Just ordered a full review setup and a motorized ball valve to control via pH (apex) whether skimmer is pulling room air or recirc scrubber air

Glad to hear it. Should work wonders for you!

piranhaman00 · Sep 6, 2023

Didn’t watch video but major issues here are lack of O2 saturation and potentially nuking tank if skimmer overflows. Keep both of these issues in mind when setting up these configurations.

legalizedreefer · Sep 6, 2023

Viking_Reefing said:
Glad to hear it. Should work wonders for you!

Started work on it last night. Got it all set up except having a heck of a time converting my skimmer with a 3/8” barb. Almost at a solution though

Viking_Reefing · Sep 7, 2023

piranhaman00 said:
Didn’t watch video but major issues here are lack of O2 saturation and potentially nuking tank if skimmer overflows. Keep both of these issues in mind when setting up these configurations.

The oxygen thing is a theoretical I’ve seen mentioned several times but it seemed to be just that, a theoretical. I’ve yet to see anyone actually running in to any kind of problems in terms of tanking oxygen. Furthermore, one of my buddies has an oxygen sensor on his system and didn’t register any impactful change after installing a recirculating skimmer.

The second part is a real concern though. If you watch the video I have about a 100cm run to my canisters which elucidates most of that risk. However, a float switch in the skimmer cup would of course be ideal and something I’ll be adding in due time.

bakbay · Sep 7, 2023

Glad it’s working out for you! Many folks and I have done the recirculating CO2 scrubber method.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-150g-cube-journey.933685/post-10997684

The media will last 4x longer vs just doing regular CO2 scrubbing.

Viking_Reefing · Sep 7, 2023

bakbay said:
Glad it’s working out for you! Many folks and I have done the recirculating CO2 scrubber method.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-150g-cube-journey.933685/post-10997684

The media will last 4x longer vs just doing regular CO2 scrubbing.

I’d say that in my case it’s much longer than 4x haha. I used to change it out weekly but now I’m getting 4 months out of it (granted, I now have 2x the volume).

OscarHaglund · Sep 7, 2023

Im also running a recirculating scrubber. With enough surface movement i have not noticed any o2 issues for the more than half a year i have been doing this.

Like mentioned the bad thing that can happen is if your co2 media (pelletized calcium hydroxide) gets flooded and sucked into the tank.

Avoid this by having a float switch on the skimmer and placing the media above the skimmer cup. In my original design i had the media standing in the bottom of my cabinet floor and this was a bad idea. Luckily i caught it early and nothing bad happened.

piranhaman00 · Sep 7, 2023

Viking_Reefing said:
The oxygen thing is a theoretical I’ve seen mentioned several times but it seemed to be just that, a theoretical. I’ve yet to see anyone actually running in to any kind of problems in terms of tanking oxygen. Furthermore, one of my buddies has an oxygen sensor on his system and didn’t register any impactful change after installing a recirculating skimmer.

The second part is a real concern though. If you watch the video I have about a 100cm run to my canisters which elucidates most of that risk. However, a float switch in the skimmer cup would of course be ideal and something I’ll be adding in due time.

Happened to me.

Recirculating Co2 Skimmer Reminder/Warning

Hello, something very interesting I noticed on my tank recently that has been pointed out by @Randy Holmes-Farley and others as a warning. 160 gallons, lids on DT, air exchange is probably mostly through skimmer. I was running a Lifereef skimmer through a Co2 scrubber in recirculating fashion...

www.reef2reef.com

OscarHaglund · Sep 7, 2023

piranhaman00 said:
Happened to me.

Recirculating Co2 Skimmer Reminder/Warning

Hello, something very interesting I noticed on my tank recently that has been pointed out by @Randy Holmes-Farley and others as a warning. 160 gallons, lids on DT, air exchange is probably mostly through skimmer. I was running a Lifereef skimmer through a Co2 scrubber in recirculating fashion...

www.reef2reef.com

With glas lids on the tank, that makes sense

bakbay · Sep 7, 2023

I use Autoaqua Skimmer Security to prevent skimmer overflow — need that regardless of recirculating CO2 scrubbing though.

AutoAqua Smart Skimmer Security: Protein skimmer overflowing protection, without a controller!

This is how you stop your protein skimmer from overflowing even when you are not around! The AutoAqua Smart Skimmer outlet will keep that nasty fish waste in the skimmer cup where it belongs and not spilling out all over the place or back into your tank.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

legalizedreefer · Sep 7, 2023

Mine is all set up now. The immediate effect on the pH was undeniable. On day one, my previous day time high was less than my night time low.

However, despite having me media above my cup, I noticed this morning my recirc hose has pulled a bit of skin mate “foam” to the water in my scrubber. Clearly this is less than ideal, and I was limited with options for my 3/8” barb on my skimmer lid. The proximity of my recirc barb in my lid is far too close to the top of my skimmer neck, where skin mate rolls down to the cup. I’m going to order the scrubber attachment from fishofhex to mitigate that issue

Viking_Reefing · Sep 7, 2023

piranhaman00 said:
Happened to me.

Recirculating Co2 Skimmer Reminder/Warning

Hello, something very interesting I noticed on my tank recently that has been pointed out by @Randy Holmes-Farley and others as a warning. 160 gallons, lids on DT, air exchange is probably mostly through skimmer. I was running a Lifereef skimmer through a Co2 scrubber in recirculating fashion...

www.reef2reef.com

Right, that’s one instance I hadn’t thought of: where the tank is very much sealed and the primary (only?) gas exchange happens through the skimmer. In that instance I guess it could definitely happen. Stands to reason. However, it’s an important factor to highlight that very few run their tanks that way and without that context the statement can easily be misinterpreted.

Viking_Reefing · Sep 7, 2023

legalizedreefer said:
Mine is all set up now. The immediate effect on the pH was undeniable. On day one, my previous day time high was less than my night time low.

However, despite having me media above my cup, I noticed this morning my recirc hose has pulled a bit of skin mate “foam” to the water in my scrubber. Clearly this is less than ideal, and I was limited with options for my 3/8” barb on my skimmer lid. The proximity of my recirc barb in my lid is far too close to the top of my skimmer neck, where skin mate rolls down to the cup. I’m going to order the scrubber attachment from fishofhex to mitigate that issue

Couldn’t you just place the container farther away from the skimmer? That should mitigate some of the issue.
For your particular situation I’d definitely get the container regardless but a longer run could avoid having to empty it that often.

legalizedreefer · Sep 7, 2023

Viking_Reefing said:
Couldn’t you just place the container farther away from the skimmer? That should mitigate some of the issue.
For your particular situation I’d definitely get the container regardless but a longer run could avoid having to empty it that often.

I should try that. I’ve also thought of gluing a plastic “fence” around the intake port on the inside of the lid, just to prevent any foam from being sucked up

legalizedreefer · Sep 7, 2023

Yeah… I think I’ll keep the recirculating scrubber!

doubleshot00 · Sep 8, 2023

legalizedreefer said:
Yeah… I think I’ll keep the recirculating scrubber!

What mine looks like. And when no oxygen breathing thing is in my house ive had a ph of 8.64 once (or at least what the Apex said). I love my scrubber. It doesn't cost all that much to run compared to other products we spend on our tanks. The media lasts about 2.5 weeks for me. Now during cooler periods i open more windows and doors and it will last 3-4 weeks.

Now i wouldn't run a rec-co2 scrubber with out an Apex. Just to difficult to know when the media runs out. Guess you could get an individual Milwaukee.