Skimmer Air Intake Outside Ideas (see chart)

[CuzzA]

So we've had a couple nice mornings and evenings the past couple days and consequently I've opened up the house. In doing so I watched my pH rise significantly.

From the chart you can see on 9/17 at the 0700 mark I opened the windows and doors and my pH skyrocketed. On 9/18 the windows and doors were shut. Yesterday 9/19 at 1546 I performed a water change and opened the windows and doors and again the pH skyrocketed. My house is very air tight. New windows, new doors, etc. So my CO2 levels are obviously very high. At least 2 people are always home (someone watching my 2 year old). My fluctuations look good, almost always less than .1 and I'm always in the acceptable range.

But for the sake of avoiding drastic fluctuations as my home will be opening and closing a lot in the coming months, I'm rethinking running my skimmer air intake to the exterior of the home. My understanding is that I will need to increase the tube diameter the further I get away from the skimmer so that it won't suffocate. However, my real concern is pollution. Do any of you know of a solid product to filter the air coming in? Some sort of carbon air filter, etc. I'm considering a CO2 scrubber as well, but I'd rather not have to maintain another piece of equipment and pay for the media if exterior air will work. Air is still free at this point, who knows though, that might change one day. I could see an air tax. Lol.... Wait, that's not funny.

Any help and suggestions are appreciated.

 

[MidwesternTexan]

An air tax.

Then, there's the tax on tax.

Taxed when you earn it, taxed when you spend it, etc., etc.

 

[CuzzA]

An air tax.

Then, there's the tax on tax.

Taxed when you earn it, taxed when you spend it, etc., etc.

Yep, SMH. They started taxing rain based on property size here in Florida last year. I could see it now... Life tax, we need to tax your air!

 

[bmullikin1]

Im doing the same thing, my ph was low, ran line outside, and made a cap that has filterfloss and a bag of carbon in it. Its also under patio enclosure that helps as well, have not had any problems that im aware of, just be careful when cleaning or spraying for bugs etc.

 

[CuzzA]

Im doing the same thing, my ph was low, ran line outside, and made a cap that has filterfloss and a bag of carbon in it. Its also under patio enclosure that helps as well, have not had any problems that im aware of, just be careful when cleaning or spraying for bugs etc.

Did you notice a substantial rise in pH or more importantly less fluctuation?

 

[bmullikin1]

ph went up a few 1/10s, but stay alot more stable, when everyone is home making more C02 in the house.

 

[rogergolf66]

I use a co2 scrubber I built with 3 chambers. 2 for co2 and 1 to filter the air with large pellet air phase carbon. I ran my skimmer line to the garage because I had no easy way outside. But outside will work fine just add an air phase carbon filter. U could use an RO canister. That's what I use.

The last 3 filters on the right are co2 co2 and air phase carbon and it's connected to my skimmer

Roger

 

[CuzzA]

Roger, how often are you changing the soda lime media? I see a 9 lbs. jug on BRS for $50 that will fill a standard reactor 7 times. How often do you change the carbon filter?

 

[rogergolf66]

I bought a 5 gal bucket I think was 50 lbs for $90 local in clearwater. If in the house change every 3 weeks in the garage change every 2 months. The carbon john faois told me to change it once a month. Again bought 5 gal bucket of air phase for $80 including shipping

 

[CuzzA]

Would you mine sharing exactly what and where you bought from?

 

[rogergolf66]

Bucket says sodalime and purchased from Airgas near Hercules between sunset and drew st. Do google search but it's just south of railroad tracks on the east side of the road. They didn't stock it they custom ordered it in for me. Call them they will order it in then u can pick it up from them.

 

[MJNTWise]

Is there any way to do a group buy for it? I m looking to get some to.

 

[rogergolf66]

I think they make a 50-55 gal drum we could split up in 5gal buckets. I'm in need to buy another 5 gal soon.

 

[MJNTWise]

I think they make a 50-55 gal drum we could split up in 5gal buckets. I'm in need to buy another 5 gal soon.

well im in for a 5 gal bucket.

 

[MJNTWise]

Jorvet J0553B Soda Lime Bucket

Google that....Dont know if it cheaper or the samething?

 

[rogergolf66]

Jorvet J0553B Soda Lime Bucket

Google that....Dont know if it cheaper or the samething?

Well that's about the same price and it's local so no shipping cost. Also the one I have is color changing I don't see anything about that one color changing or not?

 

[CuzzA]

Update:

So I went ahead and drilled a 1" hole through my block wall and installed a 3/4" sch40 PVC pipe. On the inside I installed a 3/4" barb fitting to 3/8" ID vinyl tubing that runs about 6' to my skimmer. On the outside wall I hooked up a 3/4" to 1" bushing and then a 1" to 1 1/4" threaded elbow to a 1 1/4" threaded fitting to a 12" piece of 1 1/4" pipe and then capped it with a 1 1/4" coupling. Squeezed between the coupling and pipe is a few layers of quilt batting and then I filled the 12" pipe with carbon. I hope this will be sufficient to keep pollution out.

Nevertheless, my DIY carbon reactor didn't cost me a penny as I had all the pieces in my plumbing bin and my pH has immediately started trending up. In 30 minutes it's already increased by .03. I haven't noticed a substantial change in bubble production, but if anyone knows the signs of what skimmer suffocation looks like, I'd love to hear it. Less skimmate?

Now to make a slightly conspicuous sign that reads "WARNING: AIR INTAKE, DO NOT SPRAY ANY PESTICIDES OR CHEMICALS!"