Air compressor to raise ph

DanTheReefer

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 2, 2019
Messages
482
Reaction score
494
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Wondering if anybody has used an air compressor to feed the skimmer and raise the ph.
Our best ph options are typically kalk (I’m already doing this), co2 scrubber (expensive media), open windows (can’t in FL), draw air from outside into skimmer (tricky in my reef’s interior wall location in the house). Wondering if instead of drawing air from outside, we can put an air compressor in line with the skimmer and periodically take it outside to fill it. Thoughts?

E782ADF8-0968-43FD-9E3E-E6DC4755D1A3.jpeg
 

Garf

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 23, 2020
Messages
5,017
Reaction score
5,854
Location
BEEFINGHAM
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Wondering if anybody has used an air compressor to feed the skimmer and raise the ph.
Our best ph options are typically kalk (I’m already doing this), co2 scrubber (expensive media), open windows (can’t in FL), draw air from outside into skimmer (tricky in my reef’s interior wall location in the house). Wondering if instead of drawing air from outside, we can put an air compressor in line with the skimmer and periodically take it outside to fill it. Thoughts?

E782ADF8-0968-43FD-9E3E-E6DC4755D1A3.jpeg
If you force air into a skimmer it will produce huge bubbles and reduce the effectiveness. In fact I find reducing airflow sometimes works better.
 
OP
OP
D

DanTheReefer

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 2, 2019
Messages
482
Reaction score
494
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
If you force air into a skimmer it will produce huge bubbles and reduce the effectiveness. In fact I find reducing airflow sometimes works better.
Wouldn’t be forcing air, wouldn’t have the skimmer feed line under pressure
 

Potatohead

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 3, 2017
Messages
2,427
Reaction score
3,581
Location
Vancouver
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The point is to remove CO2, not add O2

Although it would be kind of cool to say your reef was supercharged
 
OP
OP
D

DanTheReefer

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 2, 2019
Messages
482
Reaction score
494
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The point is to remove CO2, not add O2

Although it would be kind of cool to say your reef was supercharged
The air interacting with the tank at the skimmer would have a lower percentage of co2 than the air in the home, that’s why drawing outside air or opening windows is effective
 

Joe31415

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 25, 2020
Messages
1,087
Reaction score
797
Location
Milwaukee
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
That's an interesting idea. I actually have my air compressor outside but I have a line plumbed into my basement. I could easily tap into that and run it up to the tank. However, I think it would make more sense to put the air compressor line *near* the skimmer air intake, not directly into it. That way air isn't being forced in, but the skimmer has access to the fresh air.

Another option might me to just submerge the line from the compressor (maybe stick an airstone one it) in the sump. You won't get as much gas exchange, but I don't think it would hurt.
 

kenbennedy

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 5, 2021
Messages
172
Reaction score
197
Location
Houston
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
You can use a regulator to limit the pressure between the air compressor tank and the skimmer intake.

I would also be concerned about whether the compressor lubricants are introduced into the compressed air and then the reef tank. This is usually a concern with breathable gasses, and could possibly require an online filter.
 
OP
OP
D

DanTheReefer

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 2, 2019
Messages
482
Reaction score
494
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
You can use a regulator to limit the pressure between the air compressor tank and the skimmer intake.

I would also be concerned about whether the compressor lubricants are introduced into the compressed air and then the reef tank. This is usually a concern with breathable gasses, and could possibly require an online filter.
That is one of my main concerns. The other one is how long the air would last for a tank that is practically sized
 
OP
OP
D

DanTheReefer

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 2, 2019
Messages
482
Reaction score
494
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
That's an interesting idea. I actually have my air compressor outside but I have a line plumbed into my basement. I could easily tap into that and run it up to the tank. However, I think it would make more sense to put the air compressor line *near* the skimmer air intake, not directly into it. That way air isn't being forced in, but the skimmer has access to the fresh air.

Another option might me to just submerge the line from the compressor (maybe stick an airstone one it) in the sump. You won't get as much gas exchange, but I don't think it would hurt.
Oh nice so you have pressurized air running to your basement? Not bad. Yeah I think figuring out how to get the air in the skimmer without pressurizing it is important. I don’t know maybe I’ll just spend the $50 at harbor freight and see how it goes
 

Joe31415

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 25, 2020
Messages
1,087
Reaction score
797
Location
Milwaukee
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Oh nice so you have pressurized air running to your basement? Not bad. Yeah I think figuring out how to get the air in the skimmer without pressurizing it is important. I don’t know maybe I’ll just spend the $50 at harbor freight and see how it goes
Yup. I have a kit like this.
As for lubricants getting into the line, I have no idea. You can get a filter/drier, which I suspect would get some of it out. I also have about 30 feet of copper pipe that zig zags back and forth on the wall behind the compressor. Air leaving the compressor goes through that first. It gives any moisture in the line that much more time to condense out. Not a big deal for an aquarium (but necessary for a plasma cutter) but that could give oil a chance to get out as well. Plus all the tubing running through my (cold) basement.
 

innovusaquaculture

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 16, 2021
Messages
459
Reaction score
607
Location
Yucca Valley
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I run lines to all my skimmers from outside air compressors. i have a total of 4 compressors that run in tandem and pressurize 1000 gallons of air tanks to 200 psi outside. I run oil free compressors.
inside the air first runs through an air dryer, UV filters, micron filters, then carbon filters, then co2 scrubbers. Then runs through a two regulators. The first reduces the pressure to 30 psi and I have a "clean air" storage tank at that pressure. Then I adjust each skimmer with a regulator to get the exact air exchange I want for the tank.

I also use the same air for my phyto plankton and pod stations and the QT tanks.
 

joe0813

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 26, 2018
Messages
711
Reaction score
474
Location
Boston
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
no way id want to listen to a compressor keep kicking on and off even if it did work
 

stephj03

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
1,210
Reaction score
1,026
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Are you sure you need a compressor for this? Have you considered a piston style air pump? Would be cheaper, simpler and quieter.

 

Spieg

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 12, 2020
Messages
1,424
Reaction score
1,429
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I would also be concerned about whether the compressor lubricants are introduced into the compressed air and then the reef tank. This is usually a concern with breathable gasses, and could possibly require an online filter.
This is a valid concern. Exactly why specialized air compressors are required to fill scuba tanks.
 

Potatohead

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 3, 2017
Messages
2,427
Reaction score
3,581
Location
Vancouver
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The air interacting with the tank at the skimmer would have a lower percentage of co2 than the air in the home, that’s why drawing outside air or opening windows is effective

Ok, so basically you just want a tank of outside air to store inside. It would work but most skimmers pull a decent amount of air and it would likely deplete the tank pretty quickly, even if it starts at 100 psi. If there was a way to feed the compressor outside air it would work better, but then at that point you might as well just run a line to skimmer.
 

DeniableArc

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 19, 2019
Messages
645
Reaction score
962
Location
Sydney
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I run lines to all my skimmers from outside air compressors. i have a total of 4 compressors that run in tandem and pressurize 1000 gallons of air tanks to 200 psi outside. I run oil free compressors.
inside the air first runs through an air dryer, UV filters, micron filters, then carbon filters, then co2 scrubbers. Then runs through a two regulators. The first reduces the pressure to 30 psi and I have a "clean air" storage tank at that pressure. Then I adjust each skimmer with a regulator to get the exact air exchange I want for the tank.

I also use the same air for my phyto plankton and pod stations and the QT tanks.
Can we see some photos of your entire setup, seems really interesting!
 

Mastering the art of locking and unlocking water pathways: What type of valves do you have on your aquarium plumbing?

  • Ball valves.

    Votes: 58 49.6%
  • Gate valves.

    Votes: 64 54.7%
  • Check valves.

    Votes: 28 23.9%
  • None.

    Votes: 28 23.9%
  • Other.

    Votes: 9 7.7%

New Posts

Back
Top