An Easy Way to Increase Your Tank's pH with a CO2 Scrubber
- Thread starter CJO
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Will do.
I plan on a test run starting this weekend, time permitting. I just need to finish the BLE commands and figure out where to mount this JUMBO scrubber. That thing is certainly jumbo sized for sure.
CamGlacier
Community Member
Just wondering something, I have a pH of 7.8 and want to raise it for more coral growth. The tank is nothing fancy a 30gal bowfromt, HOB filter & skimmer. I don’t have enough room for a refugium within the system. A CO2 scrubber sounds good to me and media will last a long time with a 266gph Venturi pump. Will this be effective at rasing the pH in my tank? Since I have such a small tank is it needed to have? The tank is closed off completely sealed because my nano fish like to jump.
Jason mack
Monti madness
Thanks for this info ...I made one of these yesterday and attached it too my skimmer ...works great I managed too source 1 kg of this for 8euros 14 euros with postage ..A common issue among aquariasts is that their tank has a lower than desired pH. Many tanks commonly dip to a pH of 7.8 or even lower at night. Although, to the best of our knowledge, this isn't low enough to harm the inhabitants of your aquarium, it does slow down the growth of your corals.
The low pH is generally caused by excess carbon dioxide (CO2) in the system for various reasons. Common causes are the buildup of organics in a system, living in an energy efficient (fairly air-tight) house, and the use of a calcium reactor.
There are several ways of combating the problem. Many people grow macro algae in a refugium on an opposite light cycle from their main tank. The macro algae uses the CO2 during the light periods to create energy (remember photosynthesis?). Others dose with kalkwasser, which both adds calcium and alkalinity to the system and raises its pH. I was doing both of these things but was still having issues with low pH.
That's when I read about the use of a CO2 scrubber. What's a CO2 scrubber? Very simply, it's a container that holds soda lime. When you run air through the container, the soda lime binds with the CO2. This is commonly used in scuba diving rebreathers and in air lines for patients under anathesia.
In aquariums, it is very easy to connect the container to the air intake of your skimmer so that no extra carbon dioxide is going into your system. Most people who run CO2 scrubbers report a 0.2 to 0.3 increase in their average pH.
Parts/tools needed-
How to begin- first you need to source your soda lime. The soda lime needs to be in a pellatized form. The powder form can easily get into your system and it is quickly used up. It is also good to get they type that changes color when it binds with the CO2 so that you know when to change it out. I've heard that some people get theirs from a scuba dive store, but that it is expensive. mdb_talon mentions below that he purchased his from a dive store for around $75 for a 5 gallon bucket. I purchased mine from National Airgas, a welding supply store. They call it Sofnoline, which I think is a typo on Sofnolime, the brand name. Some people have paid around $120 for a 5-gallon bucket. I was quoted $80, but was able to talk them down to $60. It should be enough to last me for a year or two.
- pelletized soda lime
- a clean, clear plastic container with cap
- drill
- drill bits
- super glue
- silicon
- airline tubing that fits your skimmer's air intake
- beer
- screws (optional)
- C-clamp (optional)
- hacksaw (optional)
If you want to just buy a smaller amount, Eynonreefer sourced a 3 lb bag for $7.50 JOR553 - Soda Lime, 3 lb. bag in Anesthesia Products at Med-Vet International
Next, you need a container to hold the pellatized soda lime. You can use any clean, clear plastic container that you find around your house. I used an empty Gatorade container.
You need to drill small holes in one end of the container for the air to come in. Make sure that the holes are small enough that the soda lime can't fall through and make sure that there are enough of them so that the air is not overly restricted.
On the other end, drill a hole in the cap large enough so that the airline just fits. Push it in a little way and use superglue to temporarily hold it (superglue dries fast, but doesn't do a good job of adhereing to these plastics). Then, use silicon to seal both sides of the interface between the airline and the cap.
While you are waiting for the silicon to dry, you can decide where you want to put your container. If you have a large enough area under your tank, you might be able to just stand it up anywhere. My cabinet is fairly tight, so I used some screws and cut a plastic C-clamp in half to create a small holder for the container over the cabinet doors.
Once the glue is dry, fill the container with soda lime, put on the top and connect the other side of the airline to your skimmer's air intake.
I connected my CO2 scrubber a few weeks ago and the low point of my pH has gone from 7.8 up to 8.0.
Before CO2 Scrubber
After CO2 Scrubber
I hope this helps some people out. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.
CJ
It will change color when used up ..
The ph graph is for the last week ...you can see where I added the scrubber ..awesome ..!!!!
Jason mack
Monti madness
Here's some photos of itThanks for this info ...I made one of these yesterday and attached it too my skimmer ...works great I managed too source 1 kg of this for 8euros 14 euros with postage ..
It will change color when used up ..
The ph graph is for the last week ...you can see where I added the scrubber ..awesome ..!!!!
BeejReef
2500 Club Member
Ingenious!A common issue among aquariasts is that their tank has a lower than desired pH. Many tanks commonly dip to a pH of 7.8 or even lower at night. Although, to the best of our knowledge, this isn't low enough to harm the inhabitants of your aquarium, it does slow down the growth of your corals.
The low pH is generally caused by excess carbon dioxide (CO2) in the system for various reasons. Common causes are the buildup of organics in a system, living in an energy efficient (fairly air-tight) house, and the use of a calcium reactor.
There are several ways of combating the problem. Many people grow macro algae in a refugium on an opposite light cycle from their main tank. The macro algae uses the CO2 during the light periods to create energy (remember photosynthesis?). Others dose with kalkwasser, which both adds calcium and alkalinity to the system and raises its pH. I was doing both of these things but was still having issues with low pH.
That's when I read about the use of a CO2 scrubber. What's a CO2 scrubber? Very simply, it's a container that holds soda lime. When you run air through the container, the soda lime binds with the CO2. This is commonly used in scuba diving rebreathers and in air lines for patients under anathesia.
In aquariums, it is very easy to connect the container to the air intake of your skimmer so that no extra carbon dioxide is going into your system. Most people who run CO2 scrubbers report a 0.2 to 0.3 increase in their average pH.
Parts/tools needed-
How to begin- first you need to source your soda lime. The soda lime needs to be in a pellatized form. The powder form can easily get into your system and it is quickly used up. It is also good to get they type that changes color when it binds with the CO2 so that you know when to change it out. I've heard that some people get theirs from a scuba dive store, but that it is expensive. mdb_talon mentions below that he purchased his from a dive store for around $75 for a 5 gallon bucket. I purchased mine from National Airgas, a welding supply store. They call it Sofnoline, which I think is a typo on Sofnolime, the brand name. Some people have paid around $120 for a 5-gallon bucket. I was quoted $80, but was able to talk them down to $60. It should be enough to last me for a year or two.
- pelletized soda lime
- a clean, clear plastic container with cap
- drill
- drill bits
- super glue
- silicon
- airline tubing that fits your skimmer's air intake
- beer
- screws (optional)
- C-clamp (optional)
- hacksaw (optional)
If you want to just buy a smaller amount, Eynonreefer sourced a 3 lb bag for $7.50 JOR553 - Soda Lime, 3 lb. bag in Anesthesia Products at Med-Vet International
Next, you need a container to hold the pellatized soda lime. You can use any clean, clear plastic container that you find around your house. I used an empty Gatorade container.
You need to drill small holes in one end of the container for the air to come in. Make sure that the holes are small enough that the soda lime can't fall through and make sure that there are enough of them so that the air is not overly restricted.
On the other end, drill a hole in the cap large enough so that the airline just fits. Push it in a little way and use superglue to temporarily hold it (superglue dries fast, but doesn't do a good job of adhereing to these plastics). Then, use silicon to seal both sides of the interface between the airline and the cap.
While you are waiting for the silicon to dry, you can decide where you want to put your container. If you have a large enough area under your tank, you might be able to just stand it up anywhere. My cabinet is fairly tight, so I used some screws and cut a plastic C-clamp in half to create a small holder for the container over the cabinet doors.
Once the glue is dry, fill the container with soda lime, put on the top and connect the other side of the airline to your skimmer's air intake.
I connected my CO2 scrubber a few weeks ago and the low point of my pH has gone from 7.8 up to 8.0.
Before CO2 Scrubber
After CO2 Scrubber
I hope this helps some people out. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.
CJ
Jason mack
Monti madness
It has certainly helped with my ph on my tank ...I'm now getting a ph oh 8.2 -8.3 during the day and at night it doesn't drop below 8.08
What app is that on your phone?I have a 800sq ft house and a $165 window fan. I just recently updated my Seneye so I don’t have data on how it effected the pH but here is the result from opening a window and turning the fan on CO2 levels. Keep in mind this meter is in a bedroom which is smaller than the front room/dining area. My parents have a whole house fan and that thing has some crazy power in comparison to this. But theirs was also way more expensive.
Only issue about the fan is the same issue people have with keeping the windows closed... need to run it when the weather is nice.
Also note from the graph in 10-12 hours the CO2 was back over 1000ppm.
rkpetersen
walked the sand with the crustaceans
Excellence Award
Reef Squad Emeritus
Pacific Northwest Reefers
I've used this veterinary anesthetic soda lime before: https://www.jorvet.com/product/jorvet-soda-lime-5-gallon/
You can also get it through amazon and ebay in a smaller size bag.
I should also mention that the CO2 absorber media that they're now selling in bulk mylar bags at BRS has virtually no color changing dye in it. What color change there is is extremely subtle, you have to take the cannister out of the reactor and look at it under a good light to see any change at all. This issue first appeared when they switched from jugs to bags for this media. Fairly disappointing as I bought quite a lot at once and now have to wait until it's gone before I switch back to JorVet or find a new brand.
rkpetersen
walked the sand with the crustaceans
Excellence Award
Reef Squad Emeritus
Pacific Northwest Reefers
Looks like it's for a Seneye.
I didn't realize seneye measured co2?
rkpetersen
walked the sand with the crustaceans
Excellence Award
Reef Squad Emeritus
Pacific Northwest Reefers
Oh my mistake I thought you were asking about the post just above yours. The other app must be for a CO2 monitor, although I can't tell which one.
._Z_.
Active Member
Made one of these today using a voss plastic water bottle and BRS media for my tunze 9004 skimmer. Already seeing a .20 pH increase!
The small bag of media fit perfectly, wish I could find a cheaper source without buying 5 gallon buckets though.
The small bag of media fit perfectly, wish I could find a cheaper source without buying 5 gallon buckets though.
Joshua Mummery
I Like Turtles
Nice write up.
Luckily i had an extra canister I used in a make shift C02 scrubber. My ph has stayed at 8.1 during the day and 7.9 at night
Luckily i had an extra canister I used in a make shift C02 scrubber. My ph has stayed at 8.1 during the day and 7.9 at night
sergifed91
Valuable Member
nice write up. getting ready to do this with my own skimmer. ph drops to 7.7,7.69 at night and up to 7.8 during the day. I had a DIY HOB cheato reactor on my dt but took that down and made a diy media reactor. running about a week now. since I took it off the ph has dropped. I just didn't like seeing the bubbles in the Dt and no room for a refugium with the current setup. but by first of year will look at red sea aquariums.
Made one of these today using a voss plastic water bottle and BRS media for my tunze 9004 skimmer. Already seeing a .20 pH increase!
The small bag of media fit perfectly, wish I could find a cheaper source without buying 5 gallon buckets though.
I found 3 lb bag on eBay, $24.50.
Jorgensen, CO2 absorber sodasorb. It is JorVet soda lime.
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