Bubble Magus MiNi Q

[cookinwood]

So I have seen som threads about the bubble Magus MiNi Q and if it has the ability to attach a CO2 scrubber. While I was cleaning mine today I was examining it to see if it could be modified. I remember reading in a previous post there is a hole where the power cord enters, this hole is big enough to squeeze normal size air pump tubing into and there is water intake slots at the bottom of this slot. I have also read in threads is it possible to use a normal aquarium pump through a CO2 scrubber and get results... this I can confirm helps maintain pH. I was running the tube to the return side of a UV filter (this one to be exact..https://a.co/d/gOKmxlJ ) with the scrubber attached to the airline port on this it has maintained pH between 8.03-8.08 consistently for 72hours. Before I attached the scrubber, I was at 7.6 to 7.7 and after 48 hours of running, it slowly brought it above 8 and maintained it. The only downfall was the massive amounts of bubbles it was making... I did not mind this because there is bubble in the ocean! Now if the tube in the skimmer works I have yet to know. We will run it for 48 hours to see if the pH will maintain above 8. So far since installing it it dropped from 8.05-8.01. but I attached the photos to show the process. The scrubber is brs 5" mini reactor with their scrubbing media, it has been running for a week and maybe 8 pellets have changed purple, so using air from my house this media should last quite a while. I put the air control valve on to control flow. The air pump is a 6watt cheapo from amazon.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Thanks for sharing this! This I’m sure can be helpful to a lot of people!

 

[OakenGoby]

Any updates on this? How well does this work?

 

[cookinwood]

Any updates on this? How well does this work?

So I have seen som threads about the bubble Magus MiNi Q and if it has the ability to attach a CO2 scrubber. While I was cleaning mine today I was examining it to see if it could be modified. I remember reading in a previous post there is a hole where the power cord enters, this hole is big enough to squeeze normal size air pump tubing into and there is water intake slots at the bottom of this slot. I have also read in threads is it possible to use a normal aquarium pump through a CO2 scrubber and get results... this I can confirm helps maintain pH. I was running the tube to the return side of a UV filter (this one to be exact..https://a.co/d/gOKmxlJ ) with the scrubber attached to the airline port on this it has maintained pH between 8.03-8.08 consistently for 72hours. Before I attached the scrubber, I was at 7.6 to 7.7 and after 48 hours of running, it slowly brought it above 8 and maintained it. The only downfall was the massive amounts of bubbles it was making... I did not mind this because there is bubble in the ocean! Now if the tube in the skimmer works I have yet to know. We will run it for 48 hours to see if the pH will maintain above 8. So far since installing it it dropped from 8.05-8.01. but I attached the photos to show the process. The scrubber is brs 5" mini reactor with their scrubbing media, it has been running for a week and maybe 8 pellets have changed purple, so using air from my house this media should last quite a while. I put the air control valve on to control flow. The air pump is a 6watt cheapo from amazon.

 

[cookinwood]

Sorry for the delay, I was working on getting all parameters in check before restarting this experiment.
Today January 27 2025 is day 1.

Since I posted the original I have changed a few things to my setup to help raise pH. I can confirm what I did maintains 8.17-8.22 in MY system 24/7.

I added a larger CO2 scrubber with a medical oxygen humidifier bottle in front of it that the air pump runs to.
https://a.co/d/hDokeqD picture attached. I was tired adding a couple tablespoons of water to the scrubber media canister every other day. I can confirm this oxygen humidifier works at least 2 weeks in the chalky air if the Tucson desert before refilling with ro water.
After the scrubber, I added a micro airation stone and dropped it into the tank. My only complaint with this is the salt precip everywhere around my tank and top glass where the tiny bubbles pop. So today I finally took it off the micro airation stone and shoved that tube into the miniQ where the power cord comes out. I turned down the air pump to the lowest it will go and with the tiny ball valve attached after the scrubber I dialed it back to not make so many bloops, it was audible but not loud.
I think I'm going to go to PetSmart today and get a couple small live cultured rocks, 1 to crush up and put in my canister media (Oase Therm 250) and one to put in the tank to help mature it faster. This tank is almost 6 months old and I've dosed it with pink and purple coralline from BRS. I started with dead rock and non live sand. I have a UV light on the return of my canister that seems to help keep the water pristine.

 

[cookinwood]

Any updates on this? How well does this work?

I made an update, but also restarting experiment.

 

[cookinwood]

I made an update, but also restarting experiment.

I am 12 hours into the experiment and I am pulling the plug. This doesn't work. My pH dropped below 8.1 and I am not comfortable with this. I added the airstone back to the tube and dropped it in the tank like it was. I ordered a different protein skimmer/filter with an actual air intake.
https://a.co/d/7aND8DD

 

[catheryn]

So I have seen som threads about the bubble Magus MiNi Q and if it has the ability to attach a CO2 scrubber. While I was cleaning mine today I was examining it to see if it could be modified. I remember reading in a previous post there is a hole where the power cord enters, this hole is big enough to squeeze normal size air pump tubing into and there is water intake slots at the bottom of this slot. I have also read in threads is it possible to use a normal aquarium pump through a CO2 scrubber and get results... this I can confirm helps maintain pH. I was running the tube to the return side of a UV filter (this one to be exact..https://a.co/d/gOKmxlJ ) with the scrubber attached to the airline port on this it has maintained pH between 8.03-8.08 consistently for 72hours. Before I attached the scrubber, I was at 7.6 to 7.7 and after 48 hours of running, it slowly brought it above 8 and maintained it. The only downfall was the massive amounts of bubbles it was making... I did not mind this because there is bubble in the ocean! Now if the tube in the skimmer works I have yet to know. We will run it for 48 hours to see if the pH will maintain above 8. So far since installing it it dropped from 8.05-8.01. but I attached the photos to show the process. The scrubber is brs 5" mini reactor with their scrubbing media, it has been running for a week and maybe 8 pellets have changed purple, so using air from my house this media should last quite a while. I put the air control valve on to control flow. The air pump is a 6watt cheapo from amazon.

How did you connect the co2 scrubber to the uv filter? I have the same one and my ph has been dropping

So I have seen som threads about the bubble Magus MiNi Q and if it has the ability to attach a CO2 scrubber. While I was cleaning mine today I was examining it to see if it could be modified. I remember reading in a previous post there is a hole where the power cord enters, this hole is big enough to squeeze normal size air pump tubing into and there is water intake slots at the bottom of this slot. I have also read in threads is it possible to use a normal aquarium pump through a CO2 scrubber and get results... this I can confirm helps maintain pH. I was running the tube to the return side of a UV filter (this one to be exact..https://a.co/d/gOKmxlJ ) with the scrubber attached to the airline port on this it has maintained pH between 8.03-8.08 consistently for 72hours. Before I attached the scrubber, I was at 7.6 to 7.7 and after 48 hours of running, it slowly brought it above 8 and maintained it. The only downfall was the massive amounts of bubbles it was making... I did not mind this because there is bubble in the ocean! Now if the tube in the skimmer works I have yet to know. We will run it for 48 hours to see if the pH will maintain above 8. So far since installing it it dropped from 8.05-8.01. but I attached the photos to show the process. The scrubber is brs 5" mini reactor with their scrubbing media, it has been running for a week and maybe 8 pellets have changed purple, so using air from my house this media should last quite a while. I put the air control valve on to control flow. The air pump is a 6watt cheapo from amazon.

how could I add the co2 scrubber to the UV filter I have the same one. My ph dropped over night it’s at 7.5 and my skimmer hasn’t arrived yet

 

[cookinwood]

How did you connect the co2 scrubber to the uv filter? I have the same one and my ph has been dropping

how could I add the co2 scrubber to the UV filter I have the same one. My ph dropped over night it’s at 7.5 and my skimmer hasn’t arrived yet

My UV light is connected to the in on my oase 250 canister filter, not the scrubber. Here's a pic. As for adding a scrubber to UV I am not sure how to accomplish this on my setup as I run a air pump --->oxygen humidifier bottle--->CO2 scrubber--->airstone. So it is scrubbing the air from my living room because I do not have the option of running an air hose outside. My experiment is still recovering pH, took 12 hours to drop to 8.09 from 8.21 and it's been 36 hours to get it back to 8.13-8.14, I have a window open today and my ceiling fan running and the fans on top of my tank running medium, hopefully it will be back at 8.2 tomorrow.

 

[weavertank]

So I have the same skimmer and of course my ph is in the crapper. If you sealed the area where the tube runs into the skimmer would that have improved or maintained the ph? I really hate to have to purchase another skimmer and I have not purchased a co2 scrubber yet I have to do something. I really prefer not to drill a hole through my house.
What did you end up using ultimately? Thank you for posting this stuff!

 

[exnisstech]

So I have the same skimmer and of course my ph is in the crapper. If you sealed the area where the tube runs into the skimmer would that have improved or maintained the ph? I really hate to have to purchase another skimmer and I have not purchased a co2 scrubber yet I have to do something. I really prefer not to drill a hole through my house.
What did you end up using ultimately? Thank you for posting this stuff!

I've never used a scrubber so can't comment. I have used a skimmer to get a pH bump on my SPS tank. Without bringing in outside air I got zero increase in pH. Running a line outside to draw fresh air gave me a good bump. 7.6 - 7.9 was my daily swing. After adding the airline it was 8.0 - 8.3 occasionally hitting 8.4.

 

[weavertank]

I am trying to figure out if I can even run a line without my herd of cats thinking it is prey and ripping the tube out and killing it. I have hydroponic towers and I have to put scat mats around them or it’s a mess come morning.
A scrubber seems like a possible answer but I might have to buy a new skimmer with a stronger pump that will still fit in the back of an IM 20 AIO. Opening a window is not an option in Florida or in my neighborhood,noisy.

 

[Tahoe61]

So I have the same skimmer and of course my ph is in the crapper. If you sealed the area where the tube runs into the skimmer would that have improved or maintained the ph? I really hate to have to purchase another skimmer and I have not purchased a co2 scrubber yet I have to do something. I really prefer not to drill a hole through my house.
What did you end up using ultimately? Thank you for posting this stuff!

I am in the same boat so I am switching out my Bubble Magus for my nano IOAOI skimmer that has a traditional air intake.
IOAOI makes a decent nano skimmer for the price.
I was so hopeful that the Bubble Magus would work, oh well.

 

[weavertank]

Let me know how it goes and which model you ended up with. I saw one on their website but it is not available and the one on Amazon,well I did not see an air intake which is my problem right now with the mini Q.

 

[Tahoe61]

Let me know how it goes and which model you ended up with. I saw one on their website but it is not available and the one on Amazon,well I did not see an air intake which is my problem right now with the mini Q.

You're right I don’t see it on Amazon any longer. There's a few cheaper drop in ones with air intake though. I am of the mind that a CO2 scrubber benefits outweighs a so so skimmers, I am probably wrong.

 

[weavertank]

I am trying to get to the bottom of my ph problem. I am actually going up to a twenty gallon more traditional tank from the cube. I am also going to test the CO2 in my house to see if that is the problem. I just didn’t want to dump 200 bucks on a skimmer plus another money dump on the scrubber because it actually is an inside air quality problem then we are going to look at ERV’s to bring in conditioned outside air into our hvac. Ugh. Kinda hoping it is not an indoor issue. So I was actually looking at the 39 dollar skimmer fromIOAOI. Is that the model you were thinking of? Maybe all my nassarius snails croaked under my rocks and I will find them when I switch over,a cheaper solution.

 

[Uncle99]

I am trying to get to the bottom of my ph problem. I am actually going up to a twenty gallon more traditional tank from the cube. I am also going to test the CO2 in my house to see if that is the problem. I just didn’t want to dump 200 bucks on a skimmer plus another money dump on the scrubber because it actually is an inside air quality problem then we are going to look at ERV’s to bring in conditioned outside air into our hvac. Ugh. Kinda hoping it is not an indoor issue. So I was actually looking at the 39 dollar skimmer fromIOAOI. Is that the model you were thinking of? Maybe all my nassarius snails croaked under my rocks and I will find them when I switch over,a cheaper solution.

PH is a value which is very hard to track even with the best equipment.

You’ll spend your life trying to control it and dump tons of money into it.

I have not measured PH in 7 years now and see no effects whatsoever.

 

[weavertank]

Well that is a beautiful tank! In the 90’s I ran a softy tank ,30 gallons,and my house was not insulated. It was easy and I had good growth of everything,coraline,corals etc. I decided to jump back in with a 15 gallon cube and I have three small fish and very little coral but very little growth. I have looked at a few different reasons and I am down to ph. I use a pen that I calibrate three ways and I am at 7.6 in the morning never pushing past 7.8. I guess I worry about the fish a bit. Since hurricane Michael we had to redo my old house and we put new windows,new insulation and sealed the floor up. It’s been nice but ,of course,now I am wondering about the CO2 angle.
I am not losing sleep as I will switch over to that more traditional horizontal 20 and maybe that will be the fix. I know the fish will enjoy the swimming room it affords them.