CO2 Scrubber (worth the trouble?)

[SeaMonkee]

Noticing a drop from 8.3 down to 7.9 during the swing of the day in my 60g. Researched the BRS unit with 3/16 fittings (apparently if you replace with 3/8 fittings it will not affect your skimmer air intake levels), and I'm curious if it is worth the trouble? Trying to increase stability, and am curious if anyone has gone this route? Color changing media and the cannister., supposedly it acts as a silencer as well which would be nice, but the skimmer rarely makes noticeable noise.

 

[Elricsfate]

I bought it. Functions as advertised. Not sure what "the trouble" is, or whether you will consider it "worth it".

I thought the scrubber came with 3/8 fittings and line. That's my recollection.

 

[Saltwaternooby]

Have you tried/ can you get the outside air for your skimmer intake? That maybe enough to solve your ph swing, what's not liking the swing?

 

[cflow]

If you carbon dose you will have regular fluctuation in pH and it's not worth trying to adjust in my opinion. Outside air or keeping a window open can help if it's possible.

 

[SeaMonkee]

I bought it. Functions as advertised. Not sure what "the trouble" is, or whether you will consider it "worth it".

I thought the scrubber came with 3/8 fittings and line. That's my recollection.

Interesting input. Thanks. As for the fittings it stated 3/16 fittings on their site, if it comes with 3/8 great.

Have you tried/ can you get the outside air for your skimmer intake? That maybe enough to solve your ph swing, what's not liking the swing?

Not much notice to what does not like it, haven't seen digression yet, just trying to stabilize early. Exterior air would be easier, thanks!

If you carbon dose you will have regular fluctuation in pH and it's not worth trying to adjust in my opinion. Outside air or keeping a window open can help if it's possible.

Seems this is the way to go, thanks!

 

[RonMidtownStomp]

Slightly higher alk is keeping my night/day swing smaller. As my alk drops, it goes from 7.9-8.1 to 7.8-8.2. I don't think either swing is very critical.

 

[Saltwaternooby]

Didn't see any benefit when I was trying to keep it more stable so I stopped and just ran outside air into skimmer. More than 3 ft you need to pump it in fyi

 

[SeaMonkee]

Slightly higher alk is keeping my night/day swing smaller. As my alk drops, it goes from 7.9-8.1 to 7.8-8.2. I don't think either swing is very critical.

Didn't see any benefit when I was trying to keep it more stable so I stopped and just ran outside air into skimmer. More than 3 ft you need to pump it in fyi

I have yet to compare my alk decline with the pH drops, that's great advice.

The three feet will be an issue. Any suggestions on a quiet pump solution.

Thanks again.

 

[RonMidtownStomp]

Anthony, do you think if I run my skimmer air intake up into the attic that it would help? I already have power coming through the ceiling and can easily run an air line through a little hole. One of the only noises my system makes is that muffled but still kind of loud skimmer air intake. I would love to be able to put it up in the attic. I'm drawing so much air and have such a huge pump running on the skimmer that I doubt the longer air line would really make a significant difference.

 

[bfliflet]

Didn't see any benefit when I was trying to keep it more stable so I stopped and just ran outside air into skimmer. More than 3 ft you need to pump it in fyi

You can also increase the diameter of the tubing. The same resistance happens when running long runs of PVC pipe.

Btw, does your pH stabilize if you open a window or door? Is your pH swing on the low side happening only at night? If the latter, running a chaeto ball / ATS on opposite hours can help with increased CO2 production at night as photosynthetic creatures start respiration.

 

[SeaMonkee]

You can also increase the diameter of the tubing. The same resistance happens when running long runs of PVC pipe.

Btw, does your pH stabilize if you open a window or door? Is your pH swing on the low side happening only at night? If the latter, running a chaeto ball / ATS on opposite hours can help with increased CO2 production at night as photosynthetic creatures start respiration.

I have yet to try. As far as chaeto I cannot keep it alive, but the caulerpa does well and I've run alternating light cycles between the leds up top and the fuge cfl. But to answer the first question, swing occurs at night to the low end of the scale.