Skimmer- air line outside

[gtrider]

Hello community!

I own a Octo essence 130. I’d like to run the air line outside to keep my PH up this winter. Is it as simple as removing the existing line replacing the line with a longer one, and running the end plugged in the skimmer neck outside? See picture.

 

[geddavis]

yes. I own a omega but the venturi is set up about the same on both of those. just get the same type of hose and push it into the pumps venturi entree

 

[BuvRahl]

Some of my own dealings with low pH due to c02 in my apartment. I leave one window cracked about two inches, and my tank now runs any pH I want. Sure, it adds a slight draft, but nothing like having two windows cracked. I just crack a window in the room we're not in. 3 people and a dog... As far as co2 creators. Outside line helped in a small amount, and changed the effectiveness of my skimmer around 8-10 feet out of the house.

 

[gtrider]

Thanks @geddavis !

@BuvRahl - I live in Detroit so it’s super cold in winter, and the tank is in my office and I work from home. . I left my widows cracked for the spring, summer and fall.
How did it effect the performance of your skimmer?

 

[afartindolphin]

If the length to the window is very long you may want to increase the diameter of your tubing. Larger tube will give less restriction on airflow which could affect skimmer performance.

I've also noticed when it's hot/humid outside and AC is on inside I sometimes get condensation build up in my line.

 

[gtrider]

Makes sense. Thanks @afartindolphin

 

[BuvRahl]

Thanks @geddavis !

@BuvRahl - I live in Detroit so it’s super cold in winter, and the tank is in my office and I work from home. . I left my widows cracked for the spring, summer and fall.
How did it effect the performance of your skimmer?

Spent most of my childhood Christmas's in Lincoln Park, Belleville and Dearborn ... White Castle anyone?

Back to the subject, I understand your winter's and I live in Denver so I deal with dry cold and alot of water evaporation. I would explore a window vent if it's secure enough for work. OP mentioned using larger tubing, and then step down to your connection, which is definitely worth trying. I noticed a difference in effectiveness by a large factor as well as directly super cooling my tank.

I live in an apartment so can't make structural changes. This has been the least impact on budget, with huge improvements in tank ph stability in the range that I want it.

 

[Clownfish2]

You will definitely get a pH performance difference using large diameter piping to outside such as 1 inch PVC.

I slid the window up about 3 inches behind my tank. Took a board and wedged it in the window tracks. Drilled a 1 inch hole through the board for the 1 inch PVC pipe, it’s about 2 feet length. I used window caulk to seal the board in the window. Locked the window inside by wedging a long vertical wood pole from above the sliding window to top of window frame.

The pvc pipe is capped off and ends adjacent to the skimmer. In the capped end, I drilled a small hole for the skimmer air intake to connect to. I use a plastic push connect coupler between the skimmer line and the short piece of tubing that is attached to the capped off end of the pipe so I can disconnect the skimmer if needed.

pH runs stable at 8.2-8.3 all day everyday. Also put about 3 inches of carbon in the pipe and sandwiched between 2 pieces of filter foam in the 1 inch pvc pipe to capture any unwanted particulates from outside.

 

[afartindolphin]

I haven't been able to get my pH stable doing this. I have a ton of surface agitation in my display so it may be counteracting it. I am in the process of going skimmerless so I will keep an eye on my pH graph and see if there's much of a change.

 

[ca1ore]

If you peruse the various threads on this topic you will find highly variable results - from 'made no difference' to 'made a huge difference'. It is certainly worth trying, and definitely upsize the airline, but your specific results will vary. In my case, a fresh air line makes no difference, mainly because it is not enough to offset my entire sump system 'marinating' in a basement fish room where ambient CO2 levels are high. Exchanging room air with a large blower does make a difference, but that is only practical during the Spring and Fall.