Do you have pH issues? (Group Buy)

[Reefmedic79]

Does your pH seem to stay on the low end of good, say 7.8-8.0?
Does it stay there no matter what you do?

Then you could be suffering from "closed house syndrome"(patent pending). CHS is caused by an increase level of ambient CO2 within your home due to new energy efficient home construction not allowing adequate exchange with the air outside the home. The best way to test if this is the cause of your pH problems is to take a cup of water from your tank and place it outside with an airstone in it for 30-40 min. then test your pH, if there is an increase then this is the likely cause.

This is the problem I have, and after extensive research, I've found that the possible means to correct this issues is Soda Lime, and utilizing it as a CO2 scrubber made out of a DIY reactor. The benefits of a CO2 scrubber is that it will raise your pH without effecting other parameters such as your ALK. The reactor is connected to you skimmer air intake allowing your skimmer to mix the CO2 removed air into your system. Many have seen increases in the pH as much as 0.3

If anyone is interested in trying this technique out, I found a line on purchasing 36lbs of Soda Lime for approx. $94 +tax , separated into 12 convenient 3lb bags. I figured $8 a bag would be would cover the cost. The amount needed per system varies, but 36lbs is estimated to last a year of monthly changes for a 600G system per one of the threads I researched.

So basically if you are interested please respond, and I'll get back to you on when I can pick the stuff up and figure out a way to get it out to everyone interested. I was thinking of meeting at a centralized LFS one weekend.

 

[eg8r210]

I am definitely interested however that estimation is no better than throwing darts at a wall blindfolded. The media will exhaust differently in every single home. I have looked into this in the past and the media can be purchased from Grainger and I have saw that Tony Vargas is also running a CO2 scrubber on his 300.

My only issue is that I have never tested the pH on my tank. The only way I will know if this is helping or hurting will be to watch the coral and see what happens.

 

[Reefmedic79]

True, the exhaustion rate will be different, and that will likely be the determining factor of the cost effectiveness per person trying it out.

However, if the cause of the low pH is due to the ambient CO2 you will definitely get results albeit they will vary as well.

Personally I've tried everything else, and have only gotten results when I've opened up the house, so I'm pretty certain the cause is CO2.

Either way, I plan on buying the case for personal use, I just don't foresee the need for a full 36lbs, so I thought I send out this message to see if anyone else is interested.

 

[SaltWater226]

when i leave the doors open in my house my pH goes up.. that fresh supply of oxygen comes in and I'm good for a week not having to open my doors again.

 

[Reefmedic79]

Mine goes up too when all the windows and doors are left open, now that it has cooled down I'm able to do so, but I'm looking for a constant fix or better yet a way to help stabilize the pH.

 

[SaltWater226]

how about drilling a hole in your wall and putting the skimmer air line out. So it can suck in fresh air into your skimmer?

 

[eg8r210]

how about drilling a hole in your wall and putting the skimmer air line out. So it can suck in fresh air into your skimmer?

This is something that I have thought about in the past also however it doesn't eliminate the need to still filter the air. I live in a neighborhood where people are crazy about their grass and are spraying stuff. There is a chance of that getting into the airline and messing up the tank. Also, I wonder about little bugs and such getting sucked in.

 

[Swirlygig]

Is your tank suffering from low PH? I have never had an issue that I know of from PH, so I personally don't see the benefit...just curious.

 

[Reefmedic79]

My pH maxes at 8.0 in the evening, dropping to 7.7-7.9 first thing in the morning. Dosing 2-part, kalk, and having a small five on opposite lighting has done nothing for me. For some reason, I can't seem to keep LPS alive past a couple months and I'm not getting the full colors out of my SPS frags. All other parameters are within normal limits with little fluctuation.

My goal is to maintain something closer to 8.3, which from my research, is doable with soda lime.

 

[jbannick18]

I had an sps reef up for 2 years and it grew great, never once checked Ph.

 

[CoralolisEffect]

Have a house with lots of windows from 1979. Wife was looking for new windows and doors. This thread is great. I need my old leaky windows and doors, it helps my ph. I love it. . Don't think wifeie will buy it though.

 

[Cdive]

I don't know if you bought the Soda Lime yet, but I might have a cheaper source for you - if you are interested? The material is used in closed circuit rebreathers. It's kept in a resealable plastic keg.

 

[KnownStrangeR]

I don't know if you bought the Soda Lime yet, but I might have a cheaper source for you - if you are interested? The material is used in closed circuit rebreathers. It's kept in a resealable plastic keg.

for curiosity sake, what is this stuff?

 

[Cdive]

for curiosity sake, what is this stuff?

Sofnolime carbon dioxide absorbent, 797 grade, by Mocular. It's used in closed circuit rebreathers. I have 3 kegs. Each has a net weight of 20 Kg (44 pounds). I will sell each keg for $50 or trade for frags, GBTA or RBTA. Each keg sells for about $159 online. It's expired on the label for diving on a rebreather, but they are sealed containers. I can post pictures if anyone is interested?

 

[Reefmedic79]

how about drilling a hole in your wall and putting the skimmer air line out. So it can suck in fresh air into your skimmer?

Not possible, due to location and my home being a rental.

Sofnolime carbon dioxide absorbent, 797 grade, by Mocular. It's used in closed circuit rebreathers. I have 3 kegs. Each has a net weight of 20 Kg (44 pounds). I will sell each keg for $50 or trade for frags, GBTA or RBTA. Each keg sells for about $159 online. It's expired on the label for diving on a rebreather, but they are sealed containers. I can post pictures if anyone is interested?

I haven't purchased it yet, and if it's the color changing type, I would be interested.

 

[CoralolisEffect]

Sofnolime carbon dioxide absorbent, 797 grade, by Mocular. It's used in closed circuit rebreathers. I have 3 kegs. Each has a net weight of 20 Kg (44 pounds). I will sell each keg for $50 or trade for frags, GBTA or RBTA. Each keg sells for about $159 online. It's expired on the label for diving on a rebreather, but they are sealed containers. I can post pictures if anyone is interested?

Same stuff they use on submarines for life support.

 

[Cdive]

Not possible, due to location and my home being a rental.



I haven't purchased it yet, and if it's the color changing type, I would be interested.

I didn't get color changing, because of the negatives associated with it.

I would be very cautious with any CO2 absorbent which is not in an air tight container. Not air tight = CO2 being absorbed and the material being used up. Many plastic bags aren't air tight. The stuff I buy is for human life support, which is a higher grade. I will let you know my results; if I build a reactor to test it with.

 

[eg8r210]

I didn't get color changing, because of the negatives associated with it.

I would be very cautious with any CO2 absorbent which is not in an air tight container. Not air tight = CO2 being absorbed and the material being used up. Many plastic bags aren't air tight. The stuff I buy is for human life support, which is a higher grade. I will let you know my results; if I build a reactor to test it with.

You can't say there are negatives without listing what they are...enquiring minds want to know what the negatives are for color changing media? Is it because it is not delivered in an air tight container? A bag?

 

[Reefmedic79]

The stuff I was planning on purchasing is from AirGas Medical used in anesthesia ventilators. I'm curious too, as to what the negatives are to the color changing variety?