Anyone have experience using a CO2 Scrubber and an apex with a solenoid? Trying to keep my PH higher. It drops under 8 at night and early in the day, gets to about 8.2 later in the afternoon. Trying to figure out where to start.
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Why not just keep the scrubber running 100% of the time? If you are trying to mitigate the daily swing and worry that it'll get too high during the day then i dont think that'll be a big concern bc the scrubber works by relative concentration - meaning the higher the concentration, the more co2 it takes out. Also, pH scale is exponential, not linear. Both of these factors mean you won't see a linear relationship in the scrubbers impact between the low point vs high point. Ie, if scrubber brings your pH from 7.8 to 8.1 at night, it doesn't mean that it bring it from 8.2 to 8.5 during the high point.
i just tube my co2 scrubber "out" tube directly into my skimmer air intake. I made mine recirculate so also connected a tube from the skimmer collection cup cap into the scrubber "in" tube.
I guess if you want some kind of air flow control, a valve would work.
I have yet to experience pH being "too high" due to scrubbing and the need to turn it off or control it with a controller b/c often times its quite the opposite where even with scrubber it doesn't get it high enough b/c it has to work against the other surface exchange (overflow, DT wavemaker, etc) that's actively exchanging more CO2 (assuming the cause of high CO2 is high ambient room air) back into your tank. But, i guess each tank is different so if your situation is lucky enough where the scrubber is "too effective", you can do what @yman182 suggested above to set up an automatic control.So how do you control the "Co2 scrubbing" if its just directly into it? Like control the PH?
what's ur secret lol? my scrubber barely gets the job done topping out at 8.2. I don't wanna hijack this thread so feel free to pm me.I have the issue that if I let the scrubber run wild, my pH will go to 8.5+, which is why I installed the solenoid.
I have the issue that if I let the scrubber run wild, my pH will go to 8.5+, which is why I installed the solenoid.
I haven't. Its mainly morning and night that it dips. Once It gets to around 3-8pm it gets closer to 8.2. Sitting at 7.9 atm.8.2 is pretty good. have you tried running a fresh airline into your skimmer?
yup, tried that - i think mine has to do with the "good" air exchange inside the skimmer and it just can't keep up with the rest of the "bad" air exchange in the rest of my system. i'm content with where its now, swing between 8.1 - 8.2 just jealous of the people that can consistently maintain it at 8.3. =P8.2 is pretty good. have you tried running a fresh airline into your skimmer?
There's a great article from Randy about chasing the PH. if you are 8.1 to 8.2 your in the zone man! Don't get crazy with Co2 Scrubbers. Ive been there. The Media is expensive and you have to keep the bottom of the canister moist for it to be effective and not exhaust the media quickly...
are you dosing Alk daily? if so r you already using sodium carbonate? i found that if you just need to boost it slightly (.1 - .2) range, this is an effective alternative, esp if you spread the doses to multiple smaller doses every few hours at night when it's low. This is what i do to keep it at mostly a .1 swing between day/night. offcycle fuge also helps.Well, my main issue is I feel like I'm losing potential for growth for coral since I am only around 8.1-8.2 for maybe 1/3 of the day.
are you dosing Alk daily? if so r you already using sodium carbonate? i found that if you just need to boost it slightly (.1 - .2) range, this is an effective alternative, esp if you spread the doses to multiple smaller doses every few hours at night when it's low. This is what i do to keep it at mostly a .1 swing between day/night. offcycle fuge also helps.
At 8.1 to 8.2 I don't think you would be loosing growth!
Hmm...Can you post a pic of your setup?
That is my worry. Is it adjustable based on the amount of media you put in? Like GFO?