Joe31415
Valuable Member
A week or two ago I added a CO2 scrubber (after doing the inside/outside test). My pH jumped rather quickly from the mid to high 7s to the low to mid 8s. Naturally, I added a PH controller and valve to peg the ph at 8.3. For the first few days it worked flawlessly. However, I'm now finding the pH struggling to stay above 8.1. Even changing out the media didn't make a difference.
My first thought, which I'm still open to, is replacing the skimmer to something that will draw in more air. But I'm not sure that's needed, especially since my skimmer seems perfectly adequate otherwise. This is a 40g tank with a 20g sump, so I figure there's about 50g of water in it. The skimmer is a Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT.
However, I'm wondering if the problem is actually the water in the bottom of the scrubber evaporating so quickly. You can't fit much in there and it tends to be gone within 24 hours.
In any case, I've found it's pretty convenient that I can add water my pouring into the scrubber's intake and letting it dribble down to the bottom instead of unscrewing the canister.
That got me thinking. I'm wondering if I'd be better off getting a cheap/slow dosing pump. I'm thinking just a few drops every few hours should keep it nice and topped off. I'd may have to find a way to get it to power down when air isn't being drawn through it so it doesn't flood the media. But I think a relay should be able to handle that just fine.
Any thoughts on that? Any other ideas to keep the water level maintained? Is it even worth the hassle?
I originally thought about having the incoming air go through a DIY bubble chamber (think about how a bong works, same idea). But I was a bit worried about the back pressure and a lot more worried about the noise, but beyond that, I think it would work.
My first thought, which I'm still open to, is replacing the skimmer to something that will draw in more air. But I'm not sure that's needed, especially since my skimmer seems perfectly adequate otherwise. This is a 40g tank with a 20g sump, so I figure there's about 50g of water in it. The skimmer is a Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT.
However, I'm wondering if the problem is actually the water in the bottom of the scrubber evaporating so quickly. You can't fit much in there and it tends to be gone within 24 hours.
In any case, I've found it's pretty convenient that I can add water my pouring into the scrubber's intake and letting it dribble down to the bottom instead of unscrewing the canister.
That got me thinking. I'm wondering if I'd be better off getting a cheap/slow dosing pump. I'm thinking just a few drops every few hours should keep it nice and topped off. I'd may have to find a way to get it to power down when air isn't being drawn through it so it doesn't flood the media. But I think a relay should be able to handle that just fine.
Any thoughts on that? Any other ideas to keep the water level maintained? Is it even worth the hassle?
I originally thought about having the incoming air go through a DIY bubble chamber (think about how a bong works, same idea). But I was a bit worried about the back pressure and a lot more worried about the noise, but beyond that, I think it would work.
