Alex T.
Active member
I just thought i'd share something that has apparently worked for me...
I've been having elevated levels of CO2 introduced to my SPS tank since everything started growing quickly and consuming more calcium/alkalinity. The subsequent higher bubble rate in my calcium reactor was really lowering my Ph below normal. I tend to run between 8.2 and 8.4 over a 24 hour period, however since the middle of August I've been struggling to keep Ph higher than 8.15 at end of lighting period. I dripped kalk in topoff but the Ph increase was nominal at best.
I run an external ETSS skimmer, so what I did was attach a piece of PVC to the bulkhead fitting in the sump and put a "T" that points up toward the surface as well. The top of the "T" fitting is approximately 3 inches above the sump water level. I started dripping the effluent from the calcium reactor into this opening and within 3 days my Ph is now 8.15 in the morning and 8.3 at lights out. I'm assuming most of the CO2 is pulled directly into the skimmer and most of it is blown out of the air outlet in the skimmer cup that goes to the remote waste collection container.
Sorry for so much writing...just wanted to share as this was very helpful to me. I remember reading something about this a few years back and finally the time came where I had to give it a try.
I've been having elevated levels of CO2 introduced to my SPS tank since everything started growing quickly and consuming more calcium/alkalinity. The subsequent higher bubble rate in my calcium reactor was really lowering my Ph below normal. I tend to run between 8.2 and 8.4 over a 24 hour period, however since the middle of August I've been struggling to keep Ph higher than 8.15 at end of lighting period. I dripped kalk in topoff but the Ph increase was nominal at best.
I run an external ETSS skimmer, so what I did was attach a piece of PVC to the bulkhead fitting in the sump and put a "T" that points up toward the surface as well. The top of the "T" fitting is approximately 3 inches above the sump water level. I started dripping the effluent from the calcium reactor into this opening and within 3 days my Ph is now 8.15 in the morning and 8.3 at lights out. I'm assuming most of the CO2 is pulled directly into the skimmer and most of it is blown out of the air outlet in the skimmer cup that goes to the remote waste collection container.
Sorry for so much writing...just wanted to share as this was very helpful to me. I remember reading something about this a few years back and finally the time came where I had to give it a try.
