Reef Octopus Skimmer - Adding an airline from the Outside

[Scott Christenson]

Hello Reefers,

I have a Reef Octopus NWB-150 Skimmer with 2 air intake ports at the top. As anyone ever heard of adding an airline tube to one or both of the ports that would bring in outside air to inject oxygen into the system?

 

[WVNed]

 

[Scott Christenson]

1/4" ports sound about right to you? Do yours go outside?

 

[Waters]

You can run them outside but it works even better to run them through a reactor filled with CO2 media since you don't always know what you are pulling in from outside.

 

[WVNed]

1/4" ports sound about right to you? Do yours go outside?

It goes to an opening I made in a covered porch ceiling. Its just unglued pipe friction fit together.

 

[Rjramos]

I like running the intake air through a canister with lime soda pellets, which removes CO2, this is what will cause your pH to drop. CO2 can build up inside our homes, where O2 at app. 20% of air is about the same inside or out.

 

[Mandelstam]

Hello Reefers,

I have a Reef Octopus NWB-150 Skimmer with 2 air intake ports at the top. As anyone ever heard of adding an airline tube to one or both of the ports that would bring in outside air to inject oxygen into the system?

Echoing Rjramos here, what you're doing is not injecting more O2, your injecting less CO2 (or at least not elavated levels of CO2).

 

[Tastee]

I do this for my Jeboa skimmer, twin lines from outside, feeding from a still dry location. The tank is in a large upstairs room where I spend most nights and occasionally we entertain with several guests. Prior to putting in the outside line I saw reasonably significant pH dives when we entertained.

Since running the outside line I have only noticed a marginal reduction in pH swings in normal times, but a big improvement when we entertain. I just use airline and for me it was a quite simple modification so ‘why not’.

 

[Lorenzo Angotti]

Yes I had an air line out but connected straight to by skimmer, learnt something new today, did not realise that some members have it going through a reactor first or use a canister to reduce CO2. I found my way that the PH did not rise significantly rise but was more stable. I suppose it also depends on the size of your inline tube. Probably have to put a drainpipe through to get more air! Just kidding!