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

Zar

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yea i saw BRS attached a fresh air valve w/ a solenoid and hooked it up to apex so that when ph hit a specific number the fresh air valve would open up.

I used to run through sodalime 5 gallon within 3 to 4 weeks on my reefer 350, it became quite expensive, But after seeing this video from brs I just put a 1/2 line through the wall and straight to a p pre-filter canister then to my skimmer and now I my ph stay stable at 8.2 to 8.3.

15923640866915454822888897536877.jpg 15923641106398397973763244252013.jpg
 
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CJO

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I used to run through sodalime 5 gallon within 3 to 4 weeks on my reefer 350, it became quite expensive, But after seeing this video from brs I just put a 1/2 line through the wall and straight to a p pre-filter canister then to my skimmer and now I my ph stay stable at 8.2 to 8.3.

That seems like a crazy burn rate. I've got a 65 gallon aquarium and am on the same 5- gallon bucket as when I started this thread... 9 years ago! (to be fair, I did take it offline for a year or two)
 

Zar

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That seems like a crazy burn rate. I've got a 65 gallon aquarium and am on the same 5- gallon bucket as when I started this thread... 9 years ago! (to be fair, I did take it offline for a year or two)
CJ, I ran it straight to the skimmer (bubble blaster hy-10000) so it exhaust it really quickly.
 

Rp8

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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-
  • 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)
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.

sofnolime.jpg


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.

Gatorade.jpg


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.

holes.jpg


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.

Capandairline.jpg

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.

cclamp.jpg


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.

installed.jpg


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
ApexpH2-11-11presodalime.jpg


After CO2 Scrubber
ApexpH3-1-11postsodalime.jpg

I hope this helps some people out. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

CJ
Can I get a pic of how u attached the hose to the intake of the skimmer?
 

Rit6942

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Ive never had an issue with ph or ph swings in 30 plus years of reef keeping..........is that a new problem with led lighting? Im running my 1st led light now as a trial period(Kessil a360x)over a small 50g cube.....in its 3rd month of use........ph is always rock solid day or night(i do run a refugium w reverse light timing).

Also a quarter point(or even a half or full point)has never affected coral growth or health from my own experience......
 

lakai

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I have Soda lime and i find it last longer than the CDX. The CDX last about 5 days, the soda lime last for nearly double.

1592491771628.png

CDX works better that is why it burns out so quick. The jorbet stuff last longer because it is not as effective.
 

92Miata

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Ive never had an issue with ph or ph swings in 30 plus years of reef keeping..........is that a new problem with led lighting? Im running my 1st led light now as a trial period(Kessil a360x)over a small 50g cube.....in its 3rd month of use........ph is always rock solid day or night(i do run a refugium w reverse light timing).

Also a quarter point(or even a half or full point)has never affected coral growth or health from my own experience......
Its not really swings that are the problem - its low pH in general. Its mostly a product of more tightly closed houses having higher CO2 levels. (and people being home more often isn't helping)
 

SteveMM62Reef

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I found a rebuild kit for an old air pump, while I had it apart, I drilled a 3/16” hole near the coil. Stuck a piece of ridged air line tubing in it with Super Glue. Sealed the base when I reinstalled the base. Ran tubing outside, and used an old pill bottle with holes drilled in it. Stuffed in with Dacron to work as a filter. My pH came up too rapidly for me, I put a bleed valve in at first. The pump discharge was run to the Skimmer. I’m going to try a bigger air pump soon. I have a couple more places I can inject air.
 

Mical

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Eh not in my experience... id say they are about the same.

+1 on about the same. I'm trying an experiment between my 2 tanks (both w/CO2 scrubbers) I put a small amount of BRS ROX carbon in the bottom of scrubber with the Jorbet stuff for 1 tank and straight Jorbet in the other. Read somewhere the carbon will help extend the life of media. I'm getting about a month out of Jorbet currently.
 

Sdot

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+1 on about the same. I'm trying an experiment between my 2 tanks (both w/CO2 scrubbers) I put a small amount of BRS ROX carbon in the bottom of scrubber with the Jorbet stuff for 1 tank and straight Jorbet in the other. Read somewhere the carbon will help extend the life of media. I'm getting about a month out of Jorbet currently.
Wow a month...you are doing really good. I get maybe 11 days out of it.
 

sergifed91

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I run aco2 scrubber in spring and summer months to early fall. Winter for some reason it stays between 7.8 and 8.15. In thinking that there is always a breeze in the winter months here. But I do battle temperatures in the winter. If it's not ph then it's the water temp.
 

Basementreefer

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+1 on about the same. I'm trying an experiment between my 2 tanks (both w/CO2 scrubbers) I put a small amount of BRS ROX carbon in the bottom of scrubber with the Jorbet stuff for 1 tank and straight Jorbet in the other. Read somewhere the carbon will help extend the life of media. I'm getting about a month out of Jorbet currently.
And how much life did you get out of it with carbon?
 

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