Connecting co2 scrubber to Bubble King skimmer

[Spar]

I have a BK SM 200 RD3 skimmer and am trying to connect a co2 scrubber to it. I have my RD3 pump speed set to 28 for reference.

I don't feel any suction on the input line, making me think that no air is actually being sucked through it. My pH actually has gone slightly down, not up, since I connected it 24 hours ago. I know that it is long enough to see the impact for sure, but I'd have at minimum expected it not to decrease.

Should I consider connecting an airpump to it? Any other advice?

Edit: also, my tank is a 450g, probably 400g total volume. is a co2 scrubber really going to make a dent in increasing pH in this size in your opinions?

 

[EmdeReef]

Not familiar with the skimmer but a CO2 scrubber should help any volume as long as the primary cause of low ph is caused by indoor CO2.

You do need to make sure there’s enough moisture for the media to work. People either add a few spoons to the bottom of the container every few days, connect the air intake to the skimmer Etc.

 

[Chad3407]

Are you sure the media container is in the right direction. Gasket should be on top. I made that mistake once

 

[LiveWire]

Like @EmdeReef stated a scrubber will only bring the PH up if the cause is high C02 in the air. You should feel a suction from the skimmer with nothing attached to it so after you connect it to the scrubber if there is no suction I would check direction like @Chad3407 stated and make sure you don't have too much media in the scrubber. You want to make sure that the skimmer is pulling through the media for it to work properly. You don't want to push air into the skimmer as they are not designed that way and it will find it will effect the performance.

 

[Spar]

Like @EmdeReef stated a scrubber will only bring the PH up if the cause is high C02 in the air. You should feel a suction from the skimmer with nothing attached to it so after you connect it to the scrubber if there is no suction I would check direction like @Chad3407 stated and make sure you don't have too much media in the scrubber. You want to make sure that the skimmer is pulling through the media for it to work properly. You don't want to push air into the skimmer as they are not designed that way and it will find it will effect the performance.

I am using the BRS Jumbo Reactor (single container). How much media should I put in there before it becomes restrictive?

As for direction, I have the "In" side running to the collection cup, and the "Out" side running to the skimmer air intake.

I will test when I get home if I even feel suction without it connected to the scrubber.

 

[Chad3407]

I am using the BRS Jumbo Reactor (single container). How much media should I put in there before it becomes restrictive?

As for direction, I have the "In" side running to the collection cup, and the "Out" side running to the skimmer air intake.

I will test when I get home if I even feel suction without it connected to the scrubber.

I'm not familiar with that reactor but does it have an internal canister that holds the media

 

[Spar]

I'm not familiar with that reactor but does it have an internal canister that holds the media

Yes, see link here: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-jumbo-ozone-air-dryer.html

I changed the connections to be 1/2" barb , but otherwise is the same.

 

[reeftivo]

I have a BK SM 200 RD3 skimmer and am trying to connect a co2 scrubber to it. I have my RD3 pump speed set to 28 for reference.

I don't feel any suction on the input line, making me think that no air is actually being sucked through it. My pH actually has gone slightly down, not up, since I connected it 24 hours ago. I know that it is long enough to see the impact for sure, but I'd have at minimum expected it not to decrease.

Should I consider connecting an airpump to it? Any other advice?

Edit: also, my tank is a 450g, probably 400g total volume. is a co2 scrubber really going to make a dent in increasing pH in this size in your opinions?

maybe a dumb question but you are bypassing the silencer and running the CO2Rx right off the intake venturi, YES?

 

[Spar]

maybe a dumb question but you are bypassing the silencer and running the CO2Rx right off the intake venturi, YES?

Yes, directly from the scrubber to the intake venturi. I forgot to use that word in prior responses.

 

[road_runner]

I have it connected to the ozone port on the pump head.

 

[Chad3407]

If you pull the hose from the reactor is it pulling air. If so something is going on in the reactor. See if you can blow through the input side and feel air on the output side.

 

[reeftivo]

Yes, directly from the scrubber to the intake venturi. I forgot to use that word in prior responses.

wierd! you should be getting air pulled through then.
i have a dual BRS reactor with one 10" chamber for the limestone and use a BRS shorty chamber on the other side half full of DI water. my air pulls from the shorty chamber with water, through the media to my Akula skimmer. I have minimal air intake noise with the canisters connected and when i pull them to add water or change media it's loud.

Something on yours is out of wack for sure.

Chad3407 's suggestion would be the best first step to see if there's a blockage somewhere

 

[Spar]

there is noise when I remove the tube from the chamber, and a very light suction feel. when I connect it back to the chamber the noise stops and no suction. so it seems there is likely a blockage. perhaps I jammed it too tight like on a DI container. I will spend some time this weekend figuring it out.

good idea on the 2nd chamber with DI water. I really don't like mine sticking in the skimmer cup.

 

[reeftivo]

there is noise when I remove the tube from the chamber, and a very light suction feel. when I connect it back to the chamber the noise stops and no suction. so it seems there is likely a blockage. perhaps I jammed it too tight like on a DI container. I will spend some time this weekend figuring it out.

good idea on the 2nd chamber with DI water. I really don't like mine sticking in the skimmer cup.

good luck!

i would think that if you had it connected and there was a blockage of air to the skimmer, you would have minimal bubbles in the skimmer body and the internal water level of the skimmer would rise.

are you experiencing that when you connect the CO2Rx?

 

[Spar]

good luck!

i would think that if you had it connected and there was a blockage of air to the skimmer, you would have minimal bubbles in the skimmer body and the internal water level of the skimmer would rise.

are you experiencing that when you connect the CO2Rx?

I don't really notice any change in bubbles whether the venturi is open or closed. the skimmer is also drawing air from the silencer though (where I change the water level in the skimmer from).

 

[reeftivo]

so you have a dual nipple intake venturi (1 for air and 1 for ozone) and you're running the Rx off the ozone port? Or are your T'ing it off the the airline to the silencer?

 

[reeftivo]

either may be your problem. an CO2Rx reactor may very slightly restrict air flow from the skimmer and if you have either hooked up that way, the air may be taking the path of least resistance (mostly pulled through silencer).

 

[reeftivo]

i would try bypassing the silencer (disconnect it) and just run full air through the CO2Rx

 

[road_runner]

i would try bypassing the silencer (disconnect it) and just run full air through the CO2Rx

That will eat through the media so fast and will take too much air through the media than what's needed...I did that before.
Also you run in the risk of messing with the skimmer air to water mixing ratio which might impact skimmer performance.
Finally a risk will be if the co2 clogged for any reason the skimmer will overflow

 

[Spar]

That will eat through the media so fast and will take too much air through the media than what's needed...I did that before.
Also you run in the risk of messing with the skimmer air to water mixing ratio which might impact skimmer performance.
Finally a risk will be if the co2 clogged for any reason the skimmer will overflow

I have been emailing with a BK rep today and he mentioned what you are saying (i.e. messing with the air to water ratio).

As for the overflow risk, I have a leak sensor on the waste collector cap that will turn off the skimmer if/when it overflows. worth its weight in gold!