CO2 Scrubbers

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

I want to add a CO2 scrubber onto the intake of my protein skimmer and i was wondering about the importance of using a PH controller. If I don’t use one, will i have a major risk of raising my PH too high?

 

[tzabor10]

They aren’t THAT effective. It raises my ph 0.1 to 0.5. I’d highly recommend Hanna PH pocket unit.

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

I have a PH probe on my Apex so i know my PH, which runs on avg 7.8 between night and day. So if you are saying is right, i should not have an issue. I wonder then why BRS talked them up so much. Strictly trying to make sales?

 

[tzabor10]

I have a PH probe on my Apex so i know my PH, which runs on avg 7.8 between night and day. So if you are saying is right, i should not have an issue. I wonder then why BRS talked them up so much. Strictly trying to make sales?

They are the same company. I have a trident and a pH probe. Don’t really trust either. Hanna is much more reliable for me.

 

[mcarroll]

I wonder then why BRS talked them up so much. Strictly trying to make sales?

You know the answer, why make us say it? ;)

7.8 avg is pretty decent already, BTW. What's the morning low? (ie before lights-on)

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

Wow, i installed a scrubber yesterday and for the first time ever, my PH didn’t drop below 8. My PH usually drops to 7.7 at night. I’m excited to see if this impacts my corals

 

[Jamie814]

Since pH is going to naturally rise during lighting period and fall during night a scrubber is best ran at night and off during day, this will stabilize your pH more along with reverse photo period if you run a refugium. I built a automatic co2 scrubber control with 2 U.S. Solid 1/2 in UPVC Motorized Ball Valves one NO one NC so that my apex automatically switches between the scrubber and room air based on the tanks pH. I've been able to keep my Ph much more stable this way.

 

[Jamie814]

Wow, i installed a scrubber yesterday and for the first time ever, my PH didn’t drop below 8. My PH usually drops to 7.7 at night. I’m excited to see if this impacts my corals

You'll most likely see a larger uptake of ALK with a higher pH as well!

 

[Rocks reef]

Wow, i installed a scrubber yesterday and for the first time ever, my PH didn’t drop below 8. My PH usually drops to 7.7 at night. I’m excited to see if this impacts my corals

What skimmer are you using?
What CO2 scrubber are you using?

 

[hatfielj]

I want to add a CO2 scrubber onto the intake of my protein skimmer and i was wondering about the importance of using a PH controller. If I don’t use one, will i have a major risk of raising my PH too high?

If you were previously getting 7.7 as your nighttime low, you will DEFINITELY see a positive impact on your corals after raising your pH!

I use a scrubber with no sort of pH control...I only monitor it with a Milwaukee pH meter/monitor. It's unlikely that a scrubber will raise your pH too high. The only time that may happen is if you're recirculating it (drawing air from the top of the skimmer). Even then, a pH as high as 8.6 doesn't hurt anything IME.

I run my scrubber drawing outside air. Before I first set it up I was getting 7.9-8.1 as my normal pH range. After I added it, I would see 8.1-8.3. I would change the media if I saw it drop down to 8.0.

Lately, for whatever reason, my pH has stabilized in the 8.4 - 8.6 range (I should recalibrate my pH probe to make sure that this is correct). Still running it with outside air. I only change the media when I start seeing the pH dip down to 8.3. Regardless, my corals are very happy right now and growing, so I don't plan on changing a thing.

I should also note that I run a refugium on a reverse light schedule, though I just removed most of the macro algae to help raise my nitrates.

 

[djkms]

Combination of CO2 scrubber and sodium hydroxide for alk. Ph probe calibrated regularly and tested against Hanna PH checker.

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

Wow, i installed a scrubber yesterday and for the first time ever, my PH didn’t drop below 8. My PH usually drops to 7.7 at night. I’m excited to see if this impacts my corals

What skimmer are you using?
What CO2 scrubber are you using?

I have the reef octopus 110s and the co2 scrubber is the BRS universal. I am thinking of adding the skimmer lid that lets you pull your air from the skimmer. I hear it saves a lot of media use.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Wow, i installed a scrubber yesterday and for the first time ever, my PH didn’t drop below 8. My PH usually drops to 7.7 at night. I’m excited to see if this impacts my corals

they work great but the media goes really fast. It’s not a bad idea to know your ph if you have one. Best bet is to buy Jorvet soda lime in the 5g bucket size and that should last you awhile.
I used to recirculate but I’ve had reef OG’s (Chemists) here tell me they don’t recommend that.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

also- it’s also spring now. Open some windows in the home and you get free ph boosts.

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

also- it’s also spring now. Open some windows in the home and you get free ph boosts.

I wish! It’s 43° outside. Soon though, or so I hope!

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

Wow, i installed a scrubber yesterday and for the first time ever, my PH didn’t drop below 8. My PH usually drops to 7.7 at night. I’m excited to see if this impacts my corals

You'll most likely see a larger uptake of ALK with a higher pH as well!

Good to know, i’ll be sure to test it a bit more often!