Thoughts on installing an air line to outside my home for my skimmer?

[RussC]

I've got a very tight house with spray foam insulation top to bottom. Long of the short of it...my PH never exceeds 7.8. Its interesting to watch, too. Left town for week. House was completely closed. We weren't there to breath CO2 and the PH went up to 8.25 ish over that time every day. Anyway, I'm thinking about running a line to the exterior of my house to increase my PH. I believe this will improve my coral growth. Things I'm considering:

1) What about outside contaminants such as yard fertilizer overspray,, etc? So I'm thinking about installing an inline carbon filter in this pvc pipe style line. Nothing fancy. Just a larger section of pipe full of our normal filtering carbon we use in the tank. Any ideas? Any thoughts on that?

2) What about temperature changes? I live in the south. Its hot! Just how much temperature fluctuations could one expect with a line plumbed directly to the outside? Even in the cold? This line I'm thinking about would not exceed a 1" diameter.

Just to make my point. The fireplace is in the center of the house. When we burn a fire, I have to crack a window to allow airflow for this fire to burn and create the necessary airflow up the chimney to carry the smoke out. My house is sealed. Its one heck of an insulator. Fabulous savings on electricity. But it does have a few drawbacks one has to consider.

I plan to connect this line to my skimmer air intake line.

 

[mcgyvr]

1) Concerns are valid and proposed solution is likely totally acceptable..
2) Temperature should be of little concern..

Before you spend time properly doing this project I would simply suggest you run a temporary (across the carpet/out the window type thing) to ensure its going to be beneficial and leave that for a few days/week and see..
Many times skimmer lines aren't as beneficial as people think they will be

 

[RussC]

That is a good suggestion!

 

[ca1ore]

Before you spend time properly doing this project I would simply suggest you run a temporary (across the carpet/out the window type thing) to ensure its going to be beneficial and leave that for a few days/week and see..
Many times skimmer lines aren't as beneficial as people think they will be

Seconded! Running a fresh air line to my skimmer made no difference at all (well, other than muffling the sucking sounds).

 

[RussC]

Since we are on the subject, Any other ideas on other ways to increase my PH?

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Best not to chase numbers, PH is not that bad & as you have seen it's because of CO2 in the house.

 

[zipke]

Maybe you should try CO2 absorbent, medical grade soda lime oraz something like that.

Wysłane z mojego Redmi Note 4 przy użyciu Tapatalka

 

[mcgyvr]

Dont dismiss it yet....try it...it can work for some and not others....variables....

 

[Joe0813]

I have the BRS co2 reactor and it really doesn't do a thing. if I shut all my windows and turn the central air on my PH goes 8.2-8.3 to 7.6-7.7 during the day. its even got as low as 7.5 at night. I ve tried everything to keep it up with the windows shut and it just doesn't budge

 

[saveafish]

Two reasons people do this.
1. Big noisy skimmers. Downdrafts, spray injected and Beckett. Putting the suck noise outside.
2. Stable air. Ex. Beckett and downdraft, if you toot wrong or fry chicken you'll loose head foam.

 

[Uncle99]

I ran a 1/8" inch ridged airline tube to the outside for my skimmer.
Went from 7.9 to 8.0..... Not much but I will take it....was easy
It's at the side of my house, no spraying going on here, but valid consideration.

We have had super hot summer. 35c......absolutely no change in tank temp.

Now, I have learned not to chase the PH anymore.....8 is what it's going to be.

It's either that or I have to change from 2 part to Kalkwasser.....has the added benefit of increasing PH......

 

[jkcoon]

I have a line running outside and it really helped get my ph up. I used the silicone tubing sold by BRS and ran it from the skimmer air inlet to a 9" basic charcoal filter, then to outside. To transition to outside, I simply closed the window on a 1" thick piece of rigid styrofoam that the tube passes through and then "pinned" the window closed with a couple pieces of PVC. Works great and hardly noticeable. If I'm spraying for weeds or anything, I'll pull the tube out temporary and I hope the carbon filter will take care of trace issues

 

[slief]

Seconded! Running a fresh air line to my skimmer made no difference at all (well, other than muffling the sucking sounds).

3rd! Running a fresh air line to my skimmer made no appreciable difference on mine either.

 

[ca1ore]

Since we are on the subject, Any other ideas on other ways to increase my PH?

I find using a Kalk stirrer on the output of my ATO to help. More in winter than summer, but still net helpful.

 

[ruiny]

I’ve cocncerdered running a line but am very concerned about temp. Not the heat but the cold. -30 Celsius at night in the winter is definitely going to happen. Maybe if the line is long enough in the house to warm up the air. But I’m not sure.

 

[RussC]

I've been all over the board on this one. I still dont have a plan of attack.

 

[RussC]

I've cocncerdered running a line but am very concerned about temp. Not the heat but the cold. -30 Celsius at night in the winter is definitely going to happen. Maybe if the line is long enough in the house to warm up the air. But I'm not sure.

Did you see a difference in PH after your line install?

 

[mcgyvr]

I've been all over the board on this one. I still dont have a plan of attack.

Just do it and stop thinking about it.. Rig up the temporary line and if it doesn't work no biggie..
Worst case is you are out a few bucks for some tubing.. big deal...

 

[homer1475]

Here in upstate NY we typically get as cold as -50F for days on end(yes I'm very close to Canada). While running an airline outside had no effect on my PH, the cold air also had no effect on my tank temps.



Well I did see some benefit, like a .2 increase. Not enough to make a huge difference, but it's in place so I still use it.

 

[darrick001]

If you have any reactors running they may be increasing the CO2 to the point it's lowering your PH. Try putting the out flow of your reactors into a piece of pvc with an airstone to promote gas exchange. This helped raise mine to an acceptable limit. The outflow on your reactors should have the lowest pH in your system due to the bacteria releasing co2. If you don't have room for the PVC try directing the outflow directly into the skimmer.