Outside air for skimmer - What is your setup?

[Euphylliaphyle]

I'm thinking about going outdoors for my skimmer air to get a pH boost, plus it just seems like outdoor air would be better for living things generally.
My skimmer is about 20' from the nearest exterior wall (brick).
I can go 8' to the attic, but air quality there is only assumed to be better. And it gets blazing hot up there on summer days. I would be concerned with particulate (fiber glass!, dust) on exceptionally windy days or when stuff gets moved around up there.
I can go 5' down into my encapsulated crawl space, but I have a natural gas furnace there, so O2 probably is not the best in winter.
For those using outside air, what is your system like? Entry screening? Water intrusion protection? Filtration? Heating? Cooling? Aux pump?
Thank you!

 

[FishTacos2]

My tank is on an exterior wall so I don’t have the distance issue you have.
I have a 1” hole in the wall with a junction box on the outside with a lid on that. Through that hole I have the skimmer air hose and the 1/4” lines for the ATO. I also have a junction box on the inside of the house with a face plate intended for HDMi cables so it looks clean.

I would think about going up to the attic and then out to the exterior. It would be long run so not sure how the resistance to airflow would be…

 

[FishTacos2]

 

[Uncle99]

I'm thinking about going outdoors for my skimmer air to get a pH boost, plus it just seems like outdoor air would be better for living things generally.
My skimmer is about 20' from the nearest exterior wall (brick).
I can go 8' to the attic, but air quality there is only assumed to be better. And it gets blazing hot up there on summer days. I would be concerned with particulate (fiber glass!, dust) on exceptionally windy days or when stuff gets moved around up there.
I can go 5' down into my encapsulated crawl space, but I have a natural gas furnace there, so O2 probably is not the best in winter.
For those using outside air, what is your system like? Entry screening? Water intrusion protection? Filtration? Heating? Cooling? Aux pump?
Thank you!

That’s along way, for little gain.
Ever considered some CO2 media in a reactor?
That will give you a noticeable boost.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

My tank is on an exterior wall so I don’t have the distance issue you have.
I have a 1” hole in the wall with a junction box on the outside with a lid on that. Through that hole I have the skimmer air hose and the 1/4” lines for the ATO. I also have a junction box on the inside of the house with a face plate intended for HDMi cables so it looks clean.

I would think about going up to the attic and then out to the exterior. It would be long run so not sure how the resistance to airflow would be…

Thank you. I think the long run in the attic would give the airline too much high temp contact time. I was thinking just poking through the ceiling between studs and behind drywall.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

That’s along way, for little gain.
Ever considered some CO2 media in a reactor?
That will give you a noticeable boost.

Thanks. My pH isn't dangerously low. It's usually about 8.0, so I never seriously considered a reactor.

 

[FishTacos2]

I also use a DIY co2 scrubber that you could consider

Cheap and easy

POWERTEC Clear PVC Pipe 2-1/2" x... Amazon product

jojofuny 2.5 Inch PVC Pipe End... Amazon product

American Health Service Soda Lime... Amazon product

I drilled the end cap on one end with many small holes and the other end with a 1/2” push connect fitting to attach to the intake hose

I mounted it with the rodi unit RO clamps from BRS

 

[FishTacos2]

I also use a DIY co2 scrubber that you could consider

Cheap and easy

POWERTEC Clear PVC Pipe 2-1/2" x... Amazon product

jojofuny 2.5 Inch PVC Pipe End... Amazon product

American Health Service Soda Lime... Amazon product

I drilled the end cap on one end with many small holes and the other end with a 1/2” push connect fitting to attach to the intake hose

I mounted it with the rodi unit RO clamps from BRS

Sorry those were Amazon links that didn’t work.

 

[Uncle99]

Thanks. My pH isn't dangerously low. It's usually about 8.0, so I never seriously considered a reactor.

8.0 is just fine. I’d leave it alone.
A scrub might pull 8.3.
And the media doesn’t last forever.