Co2 Scrubber

[BiGGiePauls33]

Who uses one and how do you like it?

 

[coralfishreef]

I had a couple co2 scrubbers setup for a few months. They raised pH and there was increased Alk consumption, but they went through media quickly. When the media was depleted I wouldn’t know until the tank Alk spiked unless I was paying attention to the pH levels. The color changing media isn’t reliable. I didn’t try recirculating the air through the skimmer myself, but I recommend trying that if you’re thinking about using a co2 scrubber. I also recommend having a way to see Alk daily like a Trident or KH Director. A pH probe works but I don’t pay much attention to the pH reading.

 

[PSU4ME]

Got a full tub of the media here......tried it once and it worked well, you just need gotta find a way to do recirc on the skimmer air. I don’t plan to use it going forward though

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Just ordered 12lbs of soda lime from MedVet last night. We shall see how it goes.

 

[PamBrent71]

We debated getting a CO2 scrubber but wound up using an air pump to push fresh air to the tank. We have 1 pump driving air around 25-30 feet to the skimmer and a SECOND pump to create a blanket of fresh air on top of the tank. Each one is 300 gallons per hour.

We use the garage as our "fresh air" sourcs because a CO2 meter told us that the basement wasn't an option. I would have thought a 50+ yr old house would be leakier but I was surprised.

If you have a source of "sorta fresh" air where you can situate a Whisper AP300 air pump, it might be worth looking at as an alternative to a CO2 scrubber if you haven't tried it. We only have an 80 gallon tank so I can't say how well it would work for a really nice (large) tank.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

No source of fresh air during colder months. Elderly Father so he's always cold. It's like 75 in here.

 

[Joker]

I was going to go with a co2 scrubber but I tried something else before I bought one and it worked. I took my stand doors off and my ph went from 7.7/7.8 to 8.4/8.5 almost immediately. The next step would have been running the air intake of the skimmer to outside and have a small carbon filter at the end but didnt make it there lol. I read alot that co2 scrubber you will be always changing out the media because it depletes really fast. I didnt want to always be buy more media

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

My sump and cabinets are door free, 4 people and two dogs on a super tight house. Can't open windows in colder months due to elderly father. Appreciate everyone's input though.

 

[Joker]

My sump and cabinets are door free, 4 people and two dogs on a super tight house. Can't open windows in colder months due to elderly father. Appreciate everyone's input though.

Can you drill a small hole to run the skimmer air intake outside?

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Can you drill a small hole to run the skimmer air intake outside?

Nope, not my house.

 

[JPags]

I was using a two little fishes reactor with media and it did ok but I don’t want to keep paying for media, so o just ran a line in my basement to run outside. And it’s working well.

 

[Cheddah93]

Made the right choice of soda lime from med vet. I found that media last the longest for the amount of improvement that it gives. Of course the cost too.

 

[salthobby]

I use one on my 125 gallon tank. I get my Media from Med Vet and buy the 5 gallon container. I change the media every couple weeks and the 5 gallons lasted me about a year before I had to get another one.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

So after configuring the GFI and Carbon reactor with some soda lime and running for a couple days. I'm now at

8.02 and 8.37 respectfully.

 

[PSU4ME]

Oh it definitely works but it just depletes fast unless you can get it to recirculate the skimmer air. When I tried it, the ph went up fast then about a week later I lost some acros. Might not be related but keep your eye out!

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Oh it definitely works but it just depletes fast unless you can get it to recirculate the skimmer air. When I tried it, the ph went up fast then about a week later I lost some acros. Might not be related but keep your eye out!

Planning on the recirculating aspect, just need some tubing as the lid to my skimmer has 8 air holes in it.

 

[Jose01550]

Planning on the recirculating aspect, just need some tubing as the lid to my skimmer has 8 air holes in it.

just cover 7 with tape and use one for the tubing for the scrubber. it works great.if the ph goes to high you mite need a 1/2" electric solenoid. HSH-Flo 1/2" DN15 110-230VAC

 

[DEIGNAN14]

I’m thinking about pulling the trigger on a recirculating scrubber too. I always considered the gas exchange in my skimmer to be significantly beneficial. Any thoughts around the potential negative impacts of eliminating this gas exchange with a recirculating scrubber? I know some control it with a solenoid that’s pulls in ambient air periodically but I’ve read that some see their ph never gets high enough for that to kick in.

 

[Jose01550]

I’m thinking about pulling the trigger on a recirculating scrubber too. I always considered the gas exchange in my skimmer to be significantly beneficial. Any thoughts around the potential negative impacts of eliminating this gas exchange with a recirculating scrubber? I know some control it with a solenoid that’s pulls in ambient air periodically but I’ve read that some see their ph never gets high enough for that to kick in.

i had to put a solenoid on mines it goes way up. but i think it all depends on the skimmer pulling air. i have a reef octopus and i can tell you i get at day 8.4 and 8.2 at night and thats with the solenoid with out it it goes higher. never got this high without the scrubber. i even had a line outside before the scrubber and the highest was 8.15

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

i had to put a solenoid on mines it goes way up. but i think it all depends on the skimmer pulling air. i have a reef octopus and i can tell you i get at day 8.4 and 8.2 at night and thats with the solenoid with out it it goes higher. never got this high without the scrubber. i even had a line outside before the scrubber and the highest was 8.15

I'm running Reef Octo Elite 200 SSS.