An Easy Way to Increase Your Tank's pH with a CO2 Scrubber

[DRThompson]

Started my CO2 scrubber about a year ago. I use a BRS reactor and hooked it up to my skimmer air intake. I ran the other end of the CO2 reactor to the back of my stand (see pics) hoping to get "fresher" air. I am unable to pull outside air. I live in FL my A/C is ALWAYS on which builds up excess levels of CO2 in my house.

I have a 200gal system and have to change out the media every 14 days.

My pH levels before the scrubber would drop to 7.8 at night and barely get over 8.0 during the day. Now my pH levels stay above 8.0 at night and will peak just under 8.2.

 

[reeksreef]

Started my CO2 scrubber about a year ago. I use a BRS reactor and hooked it up to my skimmer air intake. I ran the other end of the CO2 reactor to the back of my stand (see pics) hoping to get "fresher" air. I am unable to pull outside air. I live in FL my A/C is ALWAYS on which builds up excess levels of CO2 in my house.

I have a 200gal system and have to change out the media every 14 days.

My pH levels before the scrubber would drop to 7.8 at night and barely get over 8.0 during the day. Now my pH levels stay above 8.0 at night and will peak just under 8.2.

DRThompson you can't run the air intake to a window?

 

[DRThompson]

not close enough, wife wont approve holes thru the walls

 

[wowkingjames]

Thanks for the info.

 

[reeksreef]

Started my CO2 scrubber about a year ago. I use a BRS reactor and hooked it up to my skimmer air intake. I ran the other end of the CO2 reactor to the back of my stand (see pics) hoping to get "fresher" air. I am unable to pull outside air. I live in FL my A/C is ALWAYS on which builds up excess levels of CO2 in my house.

I have a 200gal system and have to change out the media every 14 days.

My pH levels before the scrubber would drop to 7.8 at night and barely get over 8.0 during the day. Now my pH levels stay above 8.0 at night and will peak just under 8.2.

Dr. Did you get the soda lime locally?

 

[gettaReef]

I think I may need to do this as well as I cannot find a permanent way to install my skimmer airline outside, and when I did put the airline out the window when it was open the ph still didn't increase as much as I'd like and wasn't consistent. I also considered using kalk to raise ph which worked but I prefer dosing 2 part and found balancing the use of kalk to maintain alk, calcium, and ph difficult and inconsistent. I see that BRS sells a C02 reactor that is similar to their media reactors and the soda lime. Like reeksreef just asked, do you know where one can get soda lime locally?

 

[gregcoyote]

It is sold in gardening supply, or the Internet. It must be pure soda lime.

FYI: You can turn sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) into sodium carbonate (soda ash) by spreading it on a cookie sheet and baking at 400F for an hour. This drives off that extra C02 molecule. That helps keep the ph swing down as its dosed.

 

[DRThompson]

I bought my first bag from shopmedvet.com
Anesthesia Products : Soda Lime, 3 lb. bag

Then, when I decided to go "all in" I bought a bucket of sodalime from wayfair for $90. I dont think they sell it anymore though. My bucket is down to 1/3rd so I guess I'd better start shopping

I'm told you can buy from any place that sells rebreathing equipment for scuba divers.

 

[reeksreef]

I bought my first bag from shopmedvet.com
Anesthesia Products : Soda Lime, 3 lb. bag

Then, when I decided to go "all in" I bought a bucket of sodalime from wayfair for $90. I dont think they sell it anymore though. My bucket is down to 1/3rd so I guess I'd better start shopping

I'm told you can buy from any place that sells rebreathing equipment for scuba divers.

Ok thanks. Have to look into it

 

[DRThompson]

Found a 5 gal bucket on amazon: do a search for:Jorvet J0553B Soda Lime Bucket

It's $84 with free shipping.

 

[gettaReef]

Excellent, thank you. About how long did the 5gal bucket take you to get to the third that's left?

 

[DRThompson]

I use about a pound every 10-14 days depending on how many people are breathing here . The 5 gal bucket I bought weighed about 40lbs.

I know it's been over a year but honestly I'm not sure when I opened the bucket for first use.

 

[YippeeKiYea]

Nice write up

 

[Djshabb]

Very interesting

 

[dmann]

Where would you hook the scrubber too on a reef octopus nw110? To the line going to the pump? Then where?

 

[Djshabb]

It is an air filter. It hooks up to air line and it would pull air through the media in the canister.

 

[prsnlty]

It goes to this part of your skimmer. I have both a co2 scrubber and outside airline on mine because i have 2 nozzles. The more fresh air for me the better....

 

[Frozn]

Is there a specific amount when using the soda lime per/gallon or are you just filling a reactor. Curious as my tank is centrally located and i am unable to run a line for outside air

 

[DRThompson]

I just fill the reactor. You dont need an expensive reactor if you are on a budget. I like the BRS reactor because I can hang it in my sump which makes it easy to replace the media. You could even use a gatorade bottle or soda bottle.

The amount you need/use will depend on how much CO2 is in the air and how much air/CFM your skimmer is drawing thru the media. Definitely not a set amount per gallon though.

 

[itche_scratche]

Nice write up