Very high CO2 in home ( low Ph)

[kevensquint]

Have you tried reducing the CO2 in your home?

Its rented so I can only open windows. Outa the question until april. It would cost a fortune in heating if I did that.

 

[Mr_Banana_Pants]

I'm pretty happy with how well the line to the outside is working on my system. I was just suggesting the OP look at surface agitation before investing $$ on a co2 scrubber, as it costs nothing to investigate first

If he has a tight house and if he is already using a skimmer I don't think surface agitation would change anything. The skimmer is already giving you more area for gas exchange then surface agitation would. If there is no skimmer then definately worth the test... just my opinion

 

[Waterjockey]

Its rented so I can only open windows. Outa the question until april. It would cost a fortune in heating if I did that.

If your windows open vertically, can you stick a piece of high density Styrofoam under a window and punch a hole in the Styrofoam for an airline?

 

[neuwave]

Yes, I'm considering it, but it would cost me approx $42/month here in montreal. So checking every possible option.

How did you calculate $42 a month?

 

[Waterjockey]

If he has a tight house and if he is already using a skimmer I don't think surface agitation would change anything. The skimmer is already giving you more area for gas exchange then surface agitation would. If there is no skimmer then definately worth the test... just my opinion

I was under the impression the OP ran a line outside from his skimmer, but wouldn't be able to do that during the winter in Montreal.

Re surface agitation and outside air to skimmer, I think that depends on a number of factors. As noted in my post earlier in this thread, I have a line from outside to my skimmer, and when I increased surface agitation significantly, it reduced my gains by about 50%.

 

[kevensquint]

Skimmer line is outside yes, ph has risen to 7.7 from 7.4. I suppose passing the outside air through a scrubber would further reduce CO2 and boost a little more. Once I can stay at 7.8 or better the corals will be able to use some Alk and I can then dose limewater which will again help. I will also get some chaeto this week and have a long photoperiod for it. Should work out, I was hoping to avoid the extra cost of a scrubber since in 26 years this is my first issue with low ph. Seems very foreign to me as far as problems go.

 

[Waterjockey]

I'm going to ask the obvious, but when was the last time you calibrated your pH probe?

 

[kevensquint]

I'm going to ask the obvious, but when was the last time you calibrated your pH probe?

The day I started checking ph on this newer system, I guess two days ago. Then I calibrated a second ph unit and checked, in fact my tank was actually at 7.3 at one point. I wasn't sure this was possible and considererd breaking out my ph unit to go on a calcium reactor for a third check. But I used these two in vinegar and RO/DI water. They read 2.4 on vinegar and 7 on pure water. So I figured it was just CO2 and not the probes.

 

[TheEngineer]

Have you done the bubbler test on your water to make sure it is actually CO2 in the house that's the problem?

 

[kevensquint]

Thanks for all the input. The notable increase in ph after feeding the skimmer with outside air has me convinced indoor CO2 is the issue. The procedure I have decided to follow is this: outside air to dry reactor with soda lime beads to skimmer- maximum photoperiod in the refugium tank with chaeto etc- once I maintain 7.8 some of my hard corals to go back in and dosing limewater once Alk starts to be used. This should keep me in the acceptable range.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Thanks for all the input. The notable increase in ph after feeding the skimmer with outside air has me convinced indoor CO2 is the issue. The procedure I have decided to follow is this: outside air to dry reactor with soda lime beads to skimmer- maximum photoperiod in the refugium tank with chaeto etc- once I maintain 7.8 some of my hard corals to go back in and dosing limewater once Alk starts to be used. This should keep me in the acceptable range.

Just make sure your skimmer can pull through all that line. Most skimmer pumps were not designed to pull from so far away and there is almost always a reduction in efficiency. You can solve that by purchasing a pump that can push air under pressure, like a skimmer under water. Luft pumps are known for this and help a lot...
Otherwise that is a plan that will definitely work. And definitely add kalkwasser to your top off water; it will scrub the CO2 out of your water column very effectively.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi Randy,I did investigate online and read your article on this matter. My ph is crazy low on my new system 7.4, with Alk at 10dkh. I've tested with two calibrated ph meters. ATM , I have put a hose from outside to my skimmer. Since my apartment is sealed tight for the winter, I have no choice but to find creative solutions before adding corals. My tank is a shallow tank so very large surface area to absorb my home CO2 .
I don't predict the skimmer hose with fresh air will have a big enough impact. I have access to NaOH pellets. Would dosing a solution via a doser to boost ph harm anything in a reeftank? We use it in pharma to boost lotions etc.... however, I am not aware of its possible affect in a reef. Thanks.

NaOH will also boost alkalinity.

That is why folks use limewater (kalkwasser; calcium hydroxide) because it boosts pH and alk, and adds an appropriate amount of calcium to keep alk from rising relative to calcium.

 

[mcarroll]

Curious if you even tried to grow a stony coral in this tank before dealing with the bother of messing with CO2?

Curious if you'd try growing one with just the fresh-air-intake to the skimmer before spending even more effort/money?

(Sounds like you may have a frag of something you could contribute to the experiment?)

This may or may not be the case for you, but pH monitors tend to create phantom issues where there are really none....it's often better not knowing your tank's pH.

Listen to @Waterjockey – fresh air, water agitation and all.

 

[mcarroll]

To review, #23 and #25 especially, but the rest too.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I've had good success using Kalkwasser in my ato, 1 tsp per gallon of RO. Without it my pH would drop to 7.5 at night and maybe 7.8 during the day. Now at night I'm at about 7.8 and 8.0-8.1 during the day.

This is very similar to the way my 125-gallon tank runs, although nighttime values around 7.9-7.95 with daytime values similar to yours.

 

[beaslbob]

It is not right, but it is the case. I can slightly improve the cost by buying it in bulk at a Dive shop. I am not ready to invest that much per month without some reefers saying it helps a lot.
I cannot dose my limewater until I can have calcification to reduce my Alk level. I cannot have calcification until I raise my Ph

then suck out the co2 with macro and other algae.

my .02

 

[neuwave]

Like beaslbob said, a refugium on reverse cycle can also help or 24hr cycle. The outside hose to your skimmer should help but it seems like has only helped only minimally. I wonder if your hose to the outside air is too far for the skimmer to pull the air in fast enough. Kalkwasser seems like is out of the question since it will add too much alk to your system without the presence of enough hard corals to utilize it. You could go with a lesser concentration solution of Kalkwasser as a slow drip or in your top off.

If you decide to make a CO2 scrubber, do NOT go by the directions suggested on the label from premade kits. Check your air flow rating on your skimmer and that will dictate how big of a scrubber you will need. I haven't seen you mention how big your tank is or the size of your skimmer or air flow rate. So I can't give you much of a suggestion on scrubber size. If you want to extend the life of your sodalime you can have it attached to a controller and have a valve open and close when desired ph is reached or on a timer for certain parts of the day when co2 is highest. I use a scrubber in the summer in Florida (which is most of the year). Even though I love opening my windows this time of year when the temp finally cools off and get that instant boost of high ph.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Have you considered an algae CO2 scrubber?

 

[kevensquint]

*update, it took a few days, maybe a week. But simply using outside air plumbed to the skimmer brought my tank to 8.1 and held it steady. There is no need for a CO2 scrubber in my case.