Icecap vs BRS CO2 Scrubber

[reefingwithnemo]

1) My pH is currently at 7.8 and I have a 125 gallon tank. I plan to add corals to my tanks in 2 weeks from my coral QT with a pH of 8. Is it necessary to bring up the pH. Opening the windows isn’t really an option for me as I live in area that’s hot and wouldn’t want outdoor bugs to come in to my home.

2) I’m interested in investing in a CO2 scrubber and am considering the Icecap large and BRS jumbo for my 125 gallon tank. Which of these would be the best investment?

3) How do I control the CO2 scrubber so that I don’t increase pH above a threshold, for example 8.2 pH.

4) Do I just need to connect the CO2 scrubber to a protein skimmer? Or is there anything else I need to consider when installing it.

 

[reefingwithnemo]

#reefsqaud

 

[tbrown]

Do you run any controllers? Neptune or Hydros controlled outlets can be turned on and off based on readings from pH probes (or a number of other things). The CO2 scrubbers are, from what I've seen, generally passive allowing air to pass through the media. You could potentially use a solenoid that opens at 8.1 to allow air through the scrubber and closes at 8.2 and a second by pass solenoid that operates the opposite.

It might be overkill and there's potentially an easier, better way to do it.

 

[reefingwithnemo]

Do you run any controllers? Neptune or Hydros controlled outlets can be turned on and off based on readings from pH probes (or a number of other things). The CO2 scrubbers are, from what I've seen, generally passive allowing air to pass through the media. You could potentially use a solenoid that opens at 8.1 to allow air through the scrubber and closes at 8.2 and a second by pass solenoid that operates the opposite.

It might be overkill and there's potentially an easier, better way to do it.

I don’t own any controllers yet. I plan to get the Hydros XP8 soon.

Thank you!

 

[tbrown]

I don’t own any controllers yet. I plan to get the Hydros XP8 soon.

Thank you!

I love my XP8. They're not cheap though.

Do you monitor your pH manually or is it on a pH monitor like a Milwaukee that tracks it? I'm curious if your pH is higher at certain times of the day and lower at others?

 

[reefingwithnemo]

I love my XP8. They're not cheap though.

Do you monitor your pH manually or is it on a pH monitor like a Milwaukee that tracks it? I'm curious if your pH is higher at certain times of the day and lower at others?

I‘ve saved up some points on SaltwaterAquarium.com overtime and can get $100 off my order. I’m just waiting for them to restock

Right now I’ve been doing it manually using the API test kit. I’ve tested 9am/12pm/5pm and it’s always hovered around 7.8-7.9 pH. Haven’t noticed a drastic change only when I do water changes. It always gives my pH a boost for the first 2 days and it reads at 8.2 pH.

I have a lot of surface agitation and have the Reef Octo 150 INT Regal protein skimmer, but my pH is still low. Which is odd because my pH in my 20 gallon coral QT is 8 pH. I’m assuming it’s because of all the bacteria I have in my main DT. Hopefully as my tank matures, my pH will naturally go up. I’ve read that it’s normal for pH to read on the lower end, 7.8, in a brand new system. I think stability is what matters more initially.

 

[tbrown]

Just curious again, what's your alkalinity? Sometimes if you boost the alk some it can help keep the pH more stable, then when you get the pH where you want it it'll be easier to keep it there.

 

[reefingwithnemo]

Just curious again, what's your alkalinity? Sometimes if you boost the alk some it can help keep the pH more stable, then when you get the pH where you want it it'll be easier to keep it there.

My Alkalinity is at 5.9 dKH. I was planning on getting the Brightwell Aquatics Alkalin8.3-P which would boost up both my Alkalinty and pH. But I’m worried about balancing both increasing Alk and not overshooting pH.

 

[tbrown]

Yeah, that's pretty low. You can use soda ash to bring it up to around 8 dKh. That would also help the pH.