Low PH - run skimmer airline outside, or CO2 scrubber?

[rocknut]

Figured that the local FRAG forum would be a good place to get some feedback regarding this issue, as I can't be the only person in Arizona that is dealing with this. Basically, my PH went from 8.2 ish this winter when the windows were open most of the day, and sometimes all night, to as low as 7.5 now that everything is closed up and the AC is on. I have switched from dosing 2 part, to using a Kalk reactor, and I am still seeing PH levels down to 7.5 at night. In fact haven't seen anything past 7.8 even with the lights on.

I keep going back and forth between setting up a CO2 scrubber using a Two Little Fishies Phosban reactor I have in the garage, or running some PVC and getting some outside air to feed the skimmer. The tank is actually really close to an unused doggie door, so I would only need to go about 5 feet to get outside air. I would use 1" PVC (so I don't restrict the skimmer), with some sort of carbon filter outside to make sure no contaminants make their way into the tank.

Any opinions on which way to go? The more I read and research, the more confused I get as opinions on both seem to be all over the place. Obviously I could just give one of these options a try and see what happens, but figured getting some direct feedback from other reefers here in Arizona can't hurt.

Appreciate it!
Thanks,

Rocky

 

[jesusmeza80]

Cdx! Great idea I got from mark! Go with the co2 scrubber!

 

[CSample]

What is your alk at?

 

[rocknut]

My alk typically sits at about 7.4 DkH. Right now it is up just a bit to 8.0

 

[Stolireef]

Have you noticed any issues with the inhabitants of your tank? I've found that chasing pH is basically a waste of time. If everything is happy, don't worry about it. You are however running at the bottom edge of kH. If you're not doing that because of an ULNS, you might want to consider bumping it up a bit to avoid a potential big swing in pH.

 

[AntiSatan]

Do you run a refugium on reverse lighting hours as that some times help stablize ph from day to night from what I have heard.

 

[rocknut]

Hey Stoli, you helped me with some questions on another thread a few weeks back. Honestly, when I first started my first tank way back when, I was told to basically not worry about PH, and focus on the "big three". At this point, I am trying to not overlook ANYTHING as my tank definitely hit the skids about two months ago. Long story, but the nutshell version is: ULNS system, nutrients got low, added powerful Zeovit aminos, cyano/dinoflagellate outbreak, aggressive GFO to kill the algae along with lights out, alk swing during lights out, beat back MOST of the algae but lost about 80% of my SPS.

So, I have bumped up my water changes to try to bring my chemistry back inline, and I'm just not seeing the recovery I would hope to see? I suppose that I am still seeing a delayed reaction in the corals, but want to make sure I am addressing any chemistry issues that are still causing an issue. Everything else looks good, just PH that seems strange/out of whack. May not be an issue, but figure it can't hurt to try to bring it up to correct level, especially if it is an easy fix.

 

[rocknut]

Do you run a refugium on reverse lighting hours as that some times help stablize ph from day to night from what I have heard.

Because I am running EcoBak pellets, I haven't set up a refugium (although I have considered it). I agree that that should stabilize the PH, but it seems low even when the lights are on, so not sure.

 

[Stolireef]

If you're running ulns, then your kh is fine but you should be aware of the risk of a pH swing.

 

[evolved]

I run a CO2 scrubber myself, made from a simple clear tumbler I picked up a Target. I buy soda lime in a 5g bucket from Airgas, and the media in the tumbler only lasts a week for me.

 

[jporter]

I run a CO2 scrubber myself, made from a simple clear tumbler I picked up a Target. I buy soda lime in a 5g bucket from Airgas, and the media in the tumbler only lasts a week for me.

Can you post some pictures of this setup. Sounds like a simple effective way of keeping PH higher during summer months. Thanks. JP

 

[evolved]

I have one somewhere; let me find it. It's far from glamorous.

 

[rocknut]

I run a CO2 scrubber myself, made from a simple clear tumbler I picked up a Target. I buy soda lime in a 5g bucket from Airgas, and the media in the tumbler only lasts a week for me.

Thanks for the feedback/recommendation. That is kind of the direction I was leaning in. I saw a DIY project somewhere that sounds exactly like what you have done. Also, just got off the phone with Airgas, and they are telling me that they stopped carrying the five gallon buckets, and only have cartridges now. I know there are some veterinary supply stores that sell it online, in bulk.

 

[evolved]

I thought I had something better than a semi-blurry phone pic, but this will have to do for now. The yellow tube is the skimmer airline.

Also, just got off the phone with Airgas, and they are telling me that they stopped carrying the five gallon buckets, and only have cartridges now. I know there are some veterinary supply stores that sell it online, in bulk.

Ah, that's a bummer. It's been a while since I bought a bucket there; it lasts me quite a while. But yes, you can get a bucket online.

 

[rocknut]

I thought I had something better than a semi-blurry phone pic, but this will have to do for now. The yellow tube is the skimmer airline.

Ah, that's a bummer. It's been a while since I bought a bucket there; it lasts me quite a while. But yes, you can get a bucket online.

So, another question: have you noticed any differences in your tank with the elevated ph? I kind of think that even if I don't see any obvious difference, I'll still feel better seeing this number be closer to "in line". Thanks again.

 

[rocknut]

Just as a follow up: I did check Amazon, and they sell 3 pound bags for $16.05, and 5 gallon buckets for $84.00 - free shipping with Amazon Prime.

 

[mic209]

Here's a write up I did on how to build a co2 scrubber and where to get media.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2222539

I actually have been bad about changing the media which has probably been exhausted for a few months now, lol. Ph has been hovering around 7.8-7.9 since we closed up the house and turned on the A/C, with the fresh media it goes up to 8.0-8.1. In all honesty, I don't notice a difference in health of my corals with the lower Ph, so I don't really worry about it now. For your kalk reactor, do you have it on a steady drip or is going through your ATO?

 

[m-six hundred]

Very good information. I use the Two Little Fishies brand CDX. Next time I will order from Amazon.

 

[rocknut]

Here's a write up I did on how to build a co2 scrubber and where to get media.



http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2222539



I actually have been bad about changing the media which has probably been exhausted for a few months now, lol. Ph has been hovering around 7.8-7.9 since we closed up the house and turned on the A/C, with the fresh media it goes up to 8.0-8.1. In all honesty, I don't notice a difference in health of my corals with the lower Ph, so I don't really worry about it now. For your kalk reactor, do you have it on a steady drip or is going through your ATO?

Thanks for linking that write up, very helpful!

Regarding my kalk reactor, the reason I never used kalk before was because I worried about my evaporation fluctuating depending on the time of year, etc, and this rate affecting the amount of kalk going into the tank, if thru a top off. Seemed like it would be a really tricky way to maintain stable alk. I am now feeding the reactor using my top off water reservoir, but thru my doser. Currently, I am dosing 75ml every three hours, and this is keeping my alk and calcium steady - most likely because my corals are all in zero growth mode as the tank recovers from some issues a few months ago. As uptake increases, I plan to also dose two part again, in addition to the kalk.