Too cold for skimmer intake?

[Ratsinmyhead]

Iv been reading about keeping ph up. One of the best ways I have seen is by pulling fresh air from outside to the skimmer. I’m setting up my tank in the basement and feel this would help greatly in dealing with the ph swing. I would be using an oversized pipe, say 1/2-1” pvc from outside and reducing right at the skimmer.

The problem I am thinking, is that I live in Minnesota. The temps outside in the winter can be down to -20. Wouldn’t bringing this supercooled air into the skimmer chill the water greatly? My skimmer is before my refugium and I don’t want freezing cold water flowing in to the fuge. Anyone have any experience with this situation? Or any possible solutions to warm the air on its way to the skimmer? The run would be about 10-12ft.

 

[reef lover]

Following....

 

[Saltybuckeye]

I have always wandered the same thing. I am in Ohio, and our temps don’t get near that cold most winters, but still around zero for some stretches.

 

[marlinmon]

I imagine your tank heater would keep up with it. But you could just make the length of the hose longer and make several "loops" inside the house so the air is exposed to the warmer temperature longer.

 

[count krunk]

instead of pvc, maybe use air line the whole way? That would be fresh air, and I don't think it would be enough to lower the temp of the tank.. provided the tank isn't tiny

 

[Ratsinmyhead]

It will be on a 180g tank so lots of volume. And I have heard that running the same sized airline as the skimmer intake, the entire length has too much friction loss and messes up the amount of air available to the skimmer. Maybe I could use some soft flexible pipe 1” and make a few loops like marlinmon has suggested.

 

[marlinmon]

It will be on a 180g tank so lots of volume. And I have heard that running the same sized airline as the skimmer intake, the entire length has too much friction loss and messes up the amount of air available to the skimmer. Maybe I could use some soft flexible pipe 1” and make a few loops like marlinmon has suggested.

Another alternative is use an air pump. That's what I do on mine, but only because I have a Tunze skimmer and have to force air in.

 

[dwest]

Iv been reading about keeping ph up. One of the best ways I have seen is by pulling fresh air from outside to the skimmer. I’m setting up my tank in the basement and feel this would help greatly in dealing with the ph swing. I would be using an oversized pipe, say 1/2-1” pvc from outside and reducing right at the skimmer.

The problem I am thinking, is that I live in Minnesota. The temps outside in the winter can be down to -20. Wouldn’t bringing this supercooled air into the skimmer chill the water greatly? My skimmer is before my refugium and I don’t want freezing cold water flowing in to the fuge. Anyone have any experience with this situation? Or any possible solutions to warm the air on its way to the skimmer? The run would be about 10-12ft.

The ability for air to store heat energy is so small compared to water, I don’t think it will matter. Hasn’t been an issue in northern KY. I realize I don’t live in the coldest area of the world, but I would be surprised if it mattered anywhere.