Electronic ball valve for CO² scrubber

[shakey]

It should cut one side off on the off position. it should shut the other side off in the on position. I'd see if there is some kind of adjustment on it. It may be stuck in between or assembled wrong. I got mine in and installed. Mine is working.

 

[Davisc1293]

I think i head of one other person receiving theirs that mustve been assembled wrong as he was having your same problemm. one line should allways be open nomater the position.

 

[shakey]

It should cut one side off on the off position. it should shut the other side off in the on position. I'd see if there is some kind of adjustment on it. It may be stuck in between or assembled wrong. I got mine in and installed. Mine is working.

Sorry duplicate post.

 

[shakey]

I got mine installed about 10:30 yesterday morning. It is definitely working. I hope it can take me all the way to 8.3.

 

[Mbritt]

It should close the left or right side. I just got mine in to. It’s working correctly. I hooked skimmer pump to bottom of T I hooked Co2 scrubber to left side which is open when valve is off. I hooked room air to right side of T. When valve turns on it cuts left side off but opens right side. You may have a bad valve.

That was how it seemed like it should work lol. Im going to return mine today and see if i can get one that actually works.

 

[Mbritt]

It should close the left or right side. I just got mine in to. It’s working correctly. I hooked skimmer pump to bottom of T I hooked Co2 scrubber to left side which is open when valve is off. I hooked room air to right side of T. When valve turns on it cuts left side off but opens right side. You may have a bad valve.

I returned it and have another on the way. This is like any plumbing project. It should be straight forward but you always end up going to the hardware at least 3 times lol

 

[Mbritt]

I got mine installed about 10:30 yesterday morning. It is definitely working. I hope it can take me all the way to 8.3.

mine keeps me consistently in the 8.2 range. Currently i just added programming to turn off the skimmer around 8.28. This is typically only a issue in the day. At night the skimmer pretty much stays running. I think you will easily get to 8.3, just give it some time. Also seems to vary based on how much moisture / water is in the reactor chamber.

 

[DeputyDog95]

Read the thread, lots of great info, but I still have a couple of questions.


Is everyone still happy with this particular electronic 3-way ball valve from Amazon?




Seems like it makes more sense than running two separate valves and having to turn one off and then the other on, to switch between scrubbed and regular air.


I'm going to use the double jumbo media cannisters from BRS which have 3/8" fittings. Is there an advantage to using the 1/2" ball valve over the 3/8" ball valve? If you go with the 1/2", you're just going to have to use reducer fittings anyway.

 

[shakey]

I read somewhere that you need the 1/2 inch. The reason I think was the 3/8 valve inside restricts flow and when it switches over if air is restricted more than coming from CO2 scrubber it will cause your skimmer to not function correctly. It’s been a year since I installed mine and it works absolutely perfect. I did have to add a valve after the auto ball valve to adjust air intake to match air intake from CO2 scrubber side. I simply dialed my skimmer in and then made the auto bypass switch over and adjusted air flow so the skimmer functioned the same through CO2 scrubber and when on bypass.

 

[WallyTime7]

Have a 3 way on mine and love it

 

[shakey]

My average is 8.27. I have it cut off at 8.3. I think that is pretty good.

 

[WallyTime7]

My average is 8.27. I have it cut off at 8.3. I think that is pretty good.

Depends where your tank is. Ie) mine is in the basement. I ranged from 7.6-7.8. Very insulated house. Bad circulation.
my scrubber gets me to 8-8.15. To me,
That’s big.
So it’s relative of how high you were to where you go.

 

[shakey]

Depends where your tank is. Ie) mine is in the basement. I ranged from 7.6-7.8. Very insulated house. Bad circulation.
my scrubber gets me to 8-8.15. To me,
That’s big.
So it’s relative of how high you were to where you go.

That’s 100% correct. I have a basement fishroom newer well insulated house too. Dosing Soda Ash or some other high PH solution will probably bring it all the way up if you are or start dosing 2 part.

 

[shakey]

That’s 100% correct. I have a basement fishroom newer well insulated house too. Dosing Soda Ash or some other high PH solution will probably bring it all the way up if you are or start dosing 2 part.

I started dosing sodium hydroxide it is what got me there. It’s not for everyone though.

 

[DeputyDog95]

So I'm at a loss on how to plumb this thing in... I'm terrible at plumbing.

I ordered the 1/2" 3-way electronic ball valve referenced here.

I ordered the BRS double jumbo reactors: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/duo-...D=7866&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products

I ordered the Reef Octopus skimmer 6" skimmer lid: https://www.coralvue.com/reef-octopus-co2-scrubber-skimmer-lid

I'm running the Reef Octopus Regal 150SSS DC Skimmer: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/rega...D=6447&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products

I ordered the Neptune bare 24v cable.


What other fittings, adapters, and hoses do I need to make this work?

 

[shakey]

So I'm at a loss on how to plumb this thing in... I'm terrible at plumbing.

I ordered the 1/2" 3-way electronic ball valve referenced here.

I ordered the BRS double jumbo reactors: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/duo-...D=7866&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products

I ordered the Reef Octopus skimmer 6" skimmer lid: https://www.coralvue.com/reef-octopus-co2-scrubber-skimmer-lid

I'm running the Reef Octopus Regal 150SSS DC Skimmer: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/rega...D=6447&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products

I ordered the Neptune bare 24v cable.


What other fittings, adapters, and hoses do I need to make this work?

You will need a few feet of skimmer line 3/8 I think. You will need 3 1/2 inch to 3/8 push connector fittings. It would be good to have a 3/8 ball valve with a 3/8 push fitting to adjust airflow on your bypass side.

 

[shakey]

So I'm at a loss on how to plumb this thing in... I'm terrible at plumbing.

I ordered the 1/2" 3-way electronic ball valve referenced here.

I ordered the BRS double jumbo reactors: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/duo-...D=7866&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products

I ordered the Reef Octopus skimmer 6" skimmer lid: https://www.coralvue.com/reef-octopus-co2-scrubber-skimmer-lid

I'm running the Reef Octopus Regal 150SSS DC Skimmer: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/rega...D=6447&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products

I ordered the Neptune bare 24v cable.


What other fittings, adapters, and hoses do I need to make this work?

You also should make a loop with your air line to CO2 scrubber like in this pic if you can. I ran the line straight to it at first and it sucked skimmer poo into CO2 reactor. I then made a high point in hose so it couldn’t suck it all way up and into reactor. This had worked well.

 

[shakey]

So I'm at a loss on how to plumb this thing in... I'm terrible at plumbing.

I ordered the 1/2" 3-way electronic ball valve referenced here.

I ordered the BRS double jumbo reactors: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/duo-...D=7866&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products

I ordered the Reef Octopus skimmer 6" skimmer lid: https://www.coralvue.com/reef-octopus-co2-scrubber-skimmer-lid

I'm running the Reef Octopus Regal 150SSS DC Skimmer: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/rega...D=6447&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products

I ordered the Neptune bare 24v cable.


What other fittings, adapters, and hoses do I need to make this work?

Here is the 3/8 ball valve on bypass side. I didn’t have it at first but without it skimmer would go crazy because it was getting more air

when not sucking through reactor.

 

[shakey]

You will need a few feet of skimmer line 3/8 I think. You will need 3 1/2 inch to 3/8 push connector fittings. It would be good to have a 3/8 ball valve with a 3/8 push fitting to adjust airflow on your bypass side.

Edit. I think the 3/8 ball valve I have had barbed fitting. No need for 3/8 push fitting for it if you get the barbed one. Sorry

 

[DeputyDog95]

You will need a few feet of skimmer line 3/8 I think. You will need 3 1/2 inch to 3/8 push connector fittings. It would be good to have a 3/8 ball valve with a 3/8 push fitting to adjust airflow on your bypass side.

As far as to plug into the electronic ball valve itself, would you need three 1/2 inch male fittings with barbed 3/8th's on the other end?