CO2 scrubber connection

[Anirban]

I want to connect a CO2 scrubber to my system but can not use the skimmer line. So does anyone have a suggestion how and where else can I connect this?

 

[Ann_A]

Is there a specific issue that's preventing you from using the skimmer air intake line?

 

[Anirban]

Ha ha, I use a very primitive counter current Lee protein skimmer and I dont think we can connect CO2 scrubber to that.:confused:

 

[Ann_A]

A quick google search seems to show skimmers that have airstones in the bottom of them. If yours has an airstone connected to an air pump you could put the CO2 scrubber inline between the air pump and the skimmer.

 

[Anirban]

Yes you are right. It has an airstone connected to an air pump.I thought of that but may be I missed a point.Using CO2 scrubber we take out dissolved CO2 from the water but if we attached it in between the airstone and pump then it will take out CO2 from intake air but the amount of dissolved CO2 will still be the same or may be a little decreased. So how does a CO2 scrubber generally work? Does it reduce CO2 amount in intake air or it absorbs dissolved CO2 from the water???Confused..:confused:

 

[Ann_A]

The point of the CO2 scrubber is to remove CO2 from the air that is being pumped into your water. By reducing the amount of CO2 being pumped into the water you will decrease the overall CO2 content of the water.

 

[Anirban]

Ok it does make sense.....but this will effect the skimmer performance a bit right?

 

[Ann_A]

I don't know what others have observed but I haven't found the skimmer performance to change much. The skimmer works by binding organic waste to tiny air bubbles that are flowing through the water column. I could be wrong but I don't think that slightly decreasing the CO2 content in those air bubbles greatly changes the skimmer's ability to bind those compounds.