CO2 Scrubber condensation traps

[FernBluffReef]

Morning,

I used a spare RO canister to make a C02 scrubber similar to BRS Universal CO2 scrubber.

It wasted the media in 4 days so decided to make it re-circulating which then soaked the media in a few days rendering a similar media lifespan.

So, I added second empty RO canister in front of the media as a condensate trap which made no difference / didn't trap much at all

I then added an empty cartridge to the empty canister to try and force the air to travel thru the empty cartridge (stay longer so the water could condensate) and that started to trap a lot of the moisture. Filled up with ~1-2 Tbsb after 4-5 days and started to gurgle hence I emptied - happy - still quite a bit of condensation in the media canister though but I know it needs to be moist but not wet.

My skimmer then started to stall after ~7-8 days, media wet/rock hard and had to be trashed. This has happened three times so far with the max out of the media of ~8 days before its ruined from moisture not from being completely spent.

I see other traps online and they don't seem to be much different than what I've done with an empty canister.

Wondering is this roughly what should be expected or are there better ways to trap the moisture?

PH w/o CO2 scrubber 7.8 in the morning. PH w/ CO2 scrubber has been as high as 8.4 in the morning depending on if it's on or has switched off


Thanks

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I forget the guys name but he sells nice 3d printed reef stuff designed specifically for co2 scrubbers. I got the moisture trap (thanks to the member here that saw my setup and warned me). Someone help me here with the guys website.

Anyway- like you i was going through media every week before i recirculated. Did it and it was a game changer. Ph doesn’t go below 8.2 and touches 8.5 occasionally at peak. This is with a basement tank. I change media every 6 weeks.

 

[FUNGI]

I forget the guys name but he sells nice 3d printed reef stuff designed specifically for co2 scrubbers. I got the moisture trap (thanks to the member here that saw my setup and warned me). Someone help me here with the guys website.

Anyway- like you i was going through media every week before i recirculated. Did it and it was a game changer. Ph doesn’t go below 8.2 and touches 8.5 occasionally at peak. This is with a basement tank. I change media every 6 weeks.

I think its Fish Of Hex or Hex Of Fish.....something like that

EDIT: Is this teh guy?

Skimmer Scrubber Attachment

fishofhex.com

 

[FernBluffReef]

I forget the guys name but he sells nice 3d printed reef stuff designed specifically for co2 scrubbers. I got the moisture trap (thanks to the member here that saw my setup and warned me). Someone help me here with the guys website.

Anyway- like you i was going through media every week before i recirculated. Did it and it was a game changer. Ph doesn’t go below 8.2 and touches 8.5 occasionally at peak. This is with a basement tank. I change media every 6 weeks.

I saw his, but it doesn't look all that different than the empty RO cartridge I currently have inline? Is there a valve or something similar to increase the trap rate? Looks like just in and out like my current cartridge. Only asking to try and determine if ordering one would offer improvement.

If you're getting 6 weeks out of media in a basement, I'd hope I'd get more than max 8 days :).

I have seen recommendations that the scrubber be mounted higher than the skimmer and trap which I can't do here, its sitting about the same height of both in the cabinet but the hose does to higher and then back down - but at least its not lower. I've also seen some comments around dry vs. wet skimming. I have a RedSea skimmer and it seems to wetskim only or not at all. Skimmate container fills up up about every ~2 weeks which isn't too bad so not really wet.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I think its Fish Of Hex or Hex Of Fish.....something like that

EDIT: Is this teh guy?

Skimmer Scrubber Attachment

fishofhex.com

yes! thank you

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I saw his, but it doesn't look all that different than the empty RO cartridge I currently have inline? Is there a valve or something similar to increase the trap rate? Looks like just in and out like my current cartridge. Only asking to try and determine if ordering one would offer improvement.

If you're getting 6 weeks out of media in a basement, I'd hope I'd get more than max 8 days :).

I have seen recommendations that the scrubber be mounted higher than the skimmer and trap which I can't do here, its sitting about the same height of both in the cabinet but the hose does to higher and then back down - but at least its not lower. I've also seen some comments around dry vs. wet skimming. I have a RedSea skimmer and it seems to wetskim only or not at all. Skimmate container fills up up about every ~2 weeks which isn't too bad so not really wet.

nope- nothing fancy at all no check valves or anything slowing down or speeding up moisture. Just traps the excess moisture that inevitably comes from recirculating. Yes, mount the scrubber nice and high above skimming. Seal your holes of lid with silicone and skim on the drier side unless you have a shut off valve or float switch inside skimmer cup.

You can send fishofhex your skimmer lid and they will make a custom one with a barb, but you can easily do this yourself with the right barb ordered off amazon fitted into one the the skimmer lid holes.

 

[Rolliad]

I struggle with my scrubber condensation too. Here is what I've learned thus far:

Condensation container needs to be below the output of the recirculator output (I use the above mentioned FishOfHex one). It also needs to be at least 1/2 of the volume of the skimmer cup. Smaller than that and I have to empty it daily.

CO2 scrubber needs to be above both the skimmer output AND the condensation container. Make sure that there are no kinks in the tubing and that there are no low points in the hosing as well. Make it as smooth of a transition as possible from the scrubber to the condensation container with no low points in the hosing between the two or you'll get condensation in the line and gurgling.

W/o a re-circulator I get ~3-4 days out of my media. Running one I get 2-3 weeks. I use soda lime that I buy in bulk as it's a much better deal.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I saw his, but it doesn't look all that different than the empty RO cartridge I currently have inline? Is there a valve or something similar to increase the trap rate? Looks like just in and out like my current cartridge. Only asking to try and determine if ordering one would offer improvement.

If you're getting 6 weeks out of media in a basement, I'd hope I'd get more than max 8 days :).

I have seen recommendations that the scrubber be mounted higher than the skimmer and trap which I can't do here, its sitting about the same height of both in the cabinet but the hose does to higher and then back down - but at least its not lower. I've also seen some comments around dry vs. wet skimming. I have a RedSea skimmer and it seems to wetskim only or not at all. Skimmate container fills up up about every ~2 weeks which isn't too bad so not really wet.

definitely recommend a higher quality skimmer if you are doing this or else you can have a catastrophic mess of media skimmate inside your tank. Or, make sure your skimmer can’t overflow with a float switch or valve that will shut off the skimmer. Reef octopus comes to mind. They even make lids that have a barb pre fitted for recirculating

 

[FernBluffReef]

nope- nothing fancy at all no check valves or anything slowing down or speeding up moisture. Just traps the excess moisture that inevitably comes from recirculating. Yes, mount the scrubber nice and high above skimming. Seal your holes of lid with silicone and skim on the drier side unless you have a shut off valve or float switch inside skimmer cup.

You can send fishofhex your skimmer lid and they will make a custom one with a barb, but you can easily do this yourself with the right barb ordered off amazon fitted into one the the skimmer lid holes.

Thanks. I’ll see if I can get the scrubber any higher

 

[FUNGI]

FWIW.....
I had an extra Oil Catch Can that I used for my system....just saying....

 

[FernBluffReef]

I moved the CO2 scrubber from its design/test location in the dry side of the cabinet and into the sump section of the cabinet. When doing so, I mounted the scrubber as high as I could which is about 1” higher than the top of the skimmer cup. Problem solved. Media has lasted 16 days so far….awesome.

Zero condensation being trapped anymore, while before it accumulated really fast and even then destroyed the media due to moisture. Amazing how raising a bit makes such a big difference. I imagine the dry section of the cabinet may have been a slightly different temp encouraging condensation and the longer piping runs may have also.

When the media needs replacement, I’m now leaning towards filling both canisters with media as it doesn’t appear I need a condensation trap anymore. That way even less frequent maintenance would be needed.

Thanks everyone for your encouragement to raise the condensation trap and media canister.