Running an outside line to skimmer with no external wall.

Sierra_Bravo · Jun 9, 2020

I posted this in my build thread but decided to do a separate post here in case it helps anyone.

I wanted to install an outside line to supply my skimmer with the goal being to improve my pH. I usually get down to 7.8 overnight and rarely go much higher than 8.0 during the day. This is with a giant ball of chaeto and extended grow light hours.

Trouble is my aquarium fish room is dead in the middle of my home. My only choice was to go through a storage area under our stairwell to reach an external wall I could drill through. I used a piece of 3/4" pvc to reach under the stairs.

On the outside of the wall I used a slip x threaded elbow and a reducer bushing so I could unscrew the end should I ever need to clean it. To keep the creepy-crawlies out, I found a faucet screen washer fits perfectly and the bushing fit snugly against it for a good fit. I made sure to seal the outside with caulking. I think it's not overly obvious when you look at the wall, so I'm good with it.

On the inside, I drilled a solid cap and tapped a 3/8 nylon hose barb to connect my vinyl line. The line was first connected to a reactor full of carbon, then into a large CO2 scrubber, then into my skimmer. The skimmer is able to pull air easily through all this.

So, what did I achieve for all this effort? Well, not a lot, unfortunately. This is my pH reading 24 hours later. I'm very surprised it didn't have a bit more impact.

kyleinpdx · Jun 10, 2020

How large is the tank? Here’s hoping it’s just taking longer than 24hrs to build up a buffer.

Sierra_Bravo · Jun 10, 2020

kyleinpdx said:
How large is the tank? Here’s hoping it’s just taking longer than 24hrs to build up a buffer.

Not that big. It's 120 gallon.

Greg P · Jun 10, 2020

Excellent idea !!

I ran an input to my skimmer from outside back in about 2013. I use a carburetor breather-filter from an automotive small-block 350 on the outside of the house. I change it about every 3 months to rid the bug buildup.
I change the floss from a roll I purchase from the LFS sold as filter floss.

((FORDTECH)) · Jun 10, 2020

Sierra_Bravo said:
I posted this in my build thread but decided to do a separate post here in case it helps anyone.

I wanted to install an outside line to supply my skimmer with the goal being to improve my pH. I usually get down to 7.8 overnight and rarely go much higher than 8.0 during the day. This is with a giant ball of chaeto and extended grow light hours.

Trouble is my aquarium fish room is dead in the middle of my home. My only choice was to go through a storage area under our stairwell to reach an external wall I could drill through. I used a piece of 3/4" pvc to reach under the stairs.

On the outside of the wall I used a slip x threaded elbow and a reducer bushing so I could unscrew the end should I ever need to clean it. To keep the creepy-crawlies out, I found a faucet screen washer fits perfectly and the bushing fit snugly against it for a good fit. I made sure to seal the outside with caulking. I think it's not overly obvious when you look at the wall, so I'm good with it.

On the inside, I drilled a solid cap and tapped a 3/8 nylon hose barb to connect my vinyl line. The line was first connected to a reactor full of carbon, then into a large CO2 scrubber, then into my skimmer. The skimmer is able to pull air easily through all this.

So, what did I achieve for all this effort? Well, not a lot, unfortunately. This is my pH reading 24 hours later. I'm very surprised it didn't have a bit more impact.

I think you have to much restriction threw combination of all . Small pvc very long pvc then threw carbon and co2 scrubber. I run 1 1/2 inch pvc nothing else except strainer outside for bugs and have good results. Even you just running the co2 scrubber should have better results that that

Sierra_Bravo · Jun 10, 2020

((FORDTECH)) said:
I think you have to much restriction threw combination of all . Small pvc very long pvc then threw carbon and co2 scrubber. I run 1 1/2 inch pvc nothing else except strainer outside for bugs and have good results. Even you just running the co2 scrubber should have better results that that

Thanks for the reply. I should have mentioned it in my original post, but I was already running the scrubber prior to installing an outside line. I disconnected the end of the tube after the carbon and it feels like it gets good suction. I'll run a straight line from outside an dsee what happens.

Jon's Reef · Jun 10, 2020

You could try cutting out the carbon filter and run the intake line to the top of the skimmer cup. Make sure you have some way to protect against skimmer overflow getting sucked up. The humidity and "recycled" scrubbed air is supposed to prolong media life. I was sitting at 7.6-7.9 with an external line, in a few hours 8.1+.

Sierra_Bravo · Jun 10, 2020

Jon's Reef said:
You could try cutting out the carbon filter and run the intake line to the top of the skimmer cup. Make sure you have some way to protect against skimmer overflow getting sucked up. The humidity and "recycled" scrubbed air is supposed to prolong media life. I was sitting at 7.6-7.9 with an external line, in a few hours 8.1+.

That's actually the setup I was running prior to doing this project. If I hadn't had that my pH would have been 7.5 as well.