gbroadbridge
2500 Club Member
lol. That's everyone here
It takes a few days for my scrubber to make a measurable change, pH creeps up about 0.3-0.4 over a week or so. Could take longer with a large water volume or an inefficient skimmer.
How long for CO2 scrubber to start making a difference
- Thread starter crazyfishmom
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lol. That's everyone here
It takes a few days for my scrubber to make a measurable change, pH creeps up about 0.3-0.4 over a week or so. Could take longer with a large water volume or an inefficient skimmer.
Yay! There may be hope yet!lol. That's everyone here
It takes a few days for my scrubber to make a measurable change, pH creeps up about 0.3-0.4 over a week or so. Could take longer with a large water volume or an inefficient skimmer.
I just put my scrubber online on the 4th of January about 1/2 way through my light cycle. By the end of the day I had already made progress. This has been my result. If the media lasts long enough, I will be running this full time.
Those 8.1's required an open window in the winter :/. That 8.36 was with a closed window.
Those 8.1's required an open window in the winter :/. That 8.36 was with a closed window.
drblank1
Active Member
Immediately for me. I use a valve that controls the air input source to my skimmer. When the pH goes below 8.29, the valve opens and air source come through the scrubber. When the pH goes above 8.31, the valve closes and ambient room air is used. My pH is dialed in right around 8.3. I have a 1 gallon waste reservoir for my skimmer. When it gets full, the skimmer turns off and I see a drop in pH. This happened last night. As you see from the graph below, as soon as I got the skimmer going, my pH immediately rose. Took about 30 minutes to go from 8.22 to 8.3. And my tank lights have yet to come on.
What valves are you using? I started to design something similar, but I got stuck on what type of valve to use. Most solenoid valves for air either need pressure to operate or are not rated for continuous duty - meaning if the actuator is given power to open or close (depending if it's normally open or closed) they are only rated for a short time of being powered.Immediately for me. I use a valve that controls the air input source to my skimmer. When the pH goes below 8.29, the valve opens and air source come through the scrubber. When the pH goes above 8.31, the valve closes and ambient room air is used. My pH is dialed in right around 8.3. I have a 1 gallon waste reservoir for my skimmer. When it gets full, the skimmer turns off and I see a drop in pH. This happened last night. As you see from the graph below, as soon as I got the skimmer going, my pH immediately rose. Took about 30 minutes to go from 8.22 to 8.3. And my tank lights have yet to come on.
This led me down the path of a diverter instead which I haven't been able to find. I actually started to design one in Fusion 360 - but haven't had the time necessary to fully design and model one... yet.
ptrick21186
Active Member
Check out McMaster-Carr. They should have something on their website
Thanks, yeah - I was there looking around. Continuous duty rated are like $300 each.. I love McMaster-Carr because I can import a good majority of their items into fusion when I'm designing something.
This is #goals for me. That would be amazing. What is your system volume if you don’t mind me asking and what size CO2 scrubber do you use?Immediately for me. I use a valve that controls the air input source to my skimmer. When the pH goes below 8.29, the valve opens and air source come through the scrubber. When the pH goes above 8.31, the valve closes and ambient room air is used. My pH is dialed in right around 8.3. I have a 1 gallon waste reservoir for my skimmer. When it gets full, the skimmer turns off and I see a drop in pH. This happened last night. As you see from the graph below, as soon as I got the skimmer going, my pH immediately rose. Took about 30 minutes to go from 8.22 to 8.3. And my tank lights have yet to come on.
drblank1
Active Member
I use 1 motorized ball valve. The valve only uses measurable power when changing states and then milliamps to stay open/closed. No heat generated. No back pressure needed to operate.
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I use a 12vdc power supply to power the solenoid.
Here is a diagram of my setup. You can see that the airline from the scrubber to the skimmer is always available but its a much longer run to the skimmer than the unscrubbed air. So when the valve is open, the skimmer draws ALMOST all unscrubbed air. But when closed, draws only scrubbed air. This way, I only needed one valve and simplified the setup.
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drblank1
Active Member
I have approx. 100 gallon system. My skimmer is an old Euro Reef 8-2. Probably oversized for my system. I've tried some of the newer skimmers supposedly "right-sized" for my system but they were like toys compared to the Euro Reef. This thing draws a BUNCH of air and a ton of skimmate. And its built like a tank. They don't make them like this any more. Old school rocks!!!
I use a standard 10 inch clear cannister filter with refillable cartridge. Its nice to see the media turning purple.
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Thanks for sharing!I have approx. 100 gallon system. My skimmer is an old Euro Reef 8-2. Probably oversized for my system. I've tried some of the newer skimmers supposedly "right-sized" for my system but they were like toys compared to the Euro Reef. This thing draws a BUNCH of air and a ton of skimmate. And its built like a tank. They don't make them like this any more. Old school rocks!!!
I use a standard 10 inch clear cannister filter with refillable cartridge. Its nice to see the media turning purple.
I think I’m finally starting to see a difference; my cartridge and container look a ton like yours. I’ve been wondering whether my skimmer is just not pulling as much air as it should. I might connect it directly to my Venturi if I don’t see a shift in the next few days. Moving slowly so I don’t stress out my system.
drblank1
Active Member
I'm sure you have it installed correctly but make sure the cartidge is not installed upside down. The gasket goes on top. I initially installed the cartridge gasket down for a few months.
Couldn't figure out why it took so long for the pH to react. And my DI resin for the most part didn't turn purple. Once I realized my mistake, pH increased to 8.3 within an hour.
This is great, thanks. Though it's looking like my media lasted a week.... cost to value might not quite be there to bother trying this.I use 1 motorized ball valve. The valve only uses measurable power when changing states and then milliamps to stay open/closed. No heat generated. No back pressure needed to operate.
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I use a 12vdc power supply to power the solenoid.
Here is a diagram of my setup. You can see that the airline from the scrubber to the skimmer is always available but its a much longer run to the skimmer than the unscrubbed air. So when the valve is open, the skimmer draws ALMOST all unscrubbed air. But when closed, draws only scrubbed air. This way, I only needed one valve and simplified the setup.
drblank1
Active Member
I buy the 3 liter bucket of Two Little Fishes CDX resin on Amazon ($57 and free shipping). I haven't changed it in about month. And the cannister is only 1/2 full.
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Interesting…. Not sure whether I did or not so I will check. Thank you!I'm sure you have it installed correctly but make sure the cartidge is not installed upside down. The gasket goes on top. I initially installed the cartridge gasket down for a few months.
spsick
Valuable Member
I use these plugged direct into my EB8. I have 2 tee’d so during the day I pull fresh air and during lights off I pull through the scrubber. I use the jumbo dual BRS scrubber and a canister lasts me a month in a non-recirculating setup so not too bad.
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