Skimmer PH bump

120reefkeeper · May 18, 2016

That's awesome ! Great documented results!

seastar · May 19, 2016

Argh... In full disclosure I woke up to this this morning... @120reefkeeper are you seeing any drops at all? I think my tank is just chewing through Alk and I am still setting up the times doses for it.

120reefkeeper · May 19, 2016

That's not a bad drop. 8.2 down to let's say 8.0.... That's very common. I was getting a much larger swing. If you see in my previous comment that I don't dose anything yet. I have no corals at all.

Also a side note. I do not dose anything yet. No kalkwasser no nothing. So these readings are strictly pure PH bump due to running this new tubing to the outside.

seastar · May 19, 2016

120reefkeeper said:
That's not a bad drop. 8.2 down to let's say 8.0.... That's very common. I was getting a much larger swing. If you see in my previous comment that I don't dose anything yet. I have no corals at all.

I just really wish my swing was 8.3-8.1

120reefkeeper · May 19, 2016

Yes everyone gets a PH drop . The goal was to help flatten it out some and increase my overall PH. I have succeeded in doing so.

120reefkeeper · May 19, 2016

You've probably heard it before but I'll say it again. Don't try to chase your PH. We can do a few things here and there to improve it but if you start chasing it you'll be disappointed. Your overall PH is we'll within acceptable parameters. [emoji16]

fragit · May 19, 2016

I've been following this thread from the beginning. And, I've been doing some thinking as I'm building my system. Heck I don't have my tank yet, so all I've been doing is thinking well and building. PH and Alk are closely related, just as ALK and Ca are closely related. If you dose Alk when your experiencing those drops in PH how will your PH be effected. Would that help to stabilize those PH swings even more?

120reefkeeper · May 19, 2016

fragit said:
I've been following this thread from the beginning. And, I've been doing some thinking as I'm building my system. Heck I don't have my tank yet, so all I've been doing is thinking well and building. PH and Alk are closely related, just as ALK and Ca are closely related. If you dose Alk when your experiencing those drops in PH how will your PH be effected. Would that help to stabilize those PH swings even more?

Yes your on the right track. Many people dose alk at night when PH typically drops. Also running a refugium with a reverse light cycle from the DT seems to help also.

fragit · May 19, 2016

Yeah, I'm all about running a fuge on the reverse light cycle. I've always done that. My past systems were quite a bit smaller than my new system will be. So I've been brain storming with ideas of how to handle stuff like PH swings etc. I am going to have a 40 breeder macro tank connected to the system. We will see how that manages PH. Are you guys running refugiums?

120reefkeeper · May 19, 2016

fragit said:
Yeah, I'm all about running a fuge on the reverse light cycle. I've always done that. My past systems were quite a bit smaller than my new system will be. So I've been brain storming with ideas of how to handle stuff like PH swings etc. I am going to have a 40 breeder macro tank connected to the system. We will see how that manages PH. Are you guys running refugiums?

Yes I have a fuge and it does help... My setup is still fairly new and things are just starting to settle. I started this tank up on March 3. Cycled with liverock etc... I only have 2 fish right now a CUC and no coral yet. Looking to add another fish in a few days. I wait about a month between additions.

My build thread.

Getting ready... 120 re-fire!
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Getting-ready...-120-re-fire!.233775/

seastar · Jan 24, 2017

I just revisited this thread after not seeing it for a while and while I'm in the process of setting up a new tank, I was able to keep my previous one that was posted here at a very stable 8.20. No draw backs what so ever, I would highly recommend this approach to anyone that can get away with drilling a hole in the house.

Pmauro55 · Jul 22, 2019

120reefkeeper said:
Oh I definitely agree . In my last home it was not nearly as tight or as insulated so I never saw those big differences between a closed up home and windows open. I just got done buying the parts and pieces so later today will be the install.

Something you may not have thought about is if you run tubing to the outside is how to keep the bugs out, how do you protect the intake from spiders and other creepy crawlers.

Reefer Reboot · Jul 22, 2019

Here's an easy idea. Sprinkler system filters. Cheap on Amazon. Keeps rain, dirt and bugs out.

Pmauro55 · Jul 22, 2019

That’s what I’m talking about

Scubabum · Jul 22, 2019

Reefer Reboot said:
Here's an easy idea. Sprinkler system filters. Cheap on Amazon. Keeps rain, dirt and bugs out.

Great idea. I have been running my skimmer line outside for many years. 2 days ago, I noticed my skimmer not operating properly only to find a bee had made it's way into the airline tube. Need to come up with some kind of filter.

120reefkeeper · Jul 22, 2019

Pmauro55 said:
Something you may not have thought about is if you run tubing to the outside is how to keep the bugs out, how do you protect the intake from spiders and other creepy crawlers.

Actually I had . I attached the tube outside to a fitting . Inside the fitting I made a filter out of floss and also put some carbon inside of it. Worked perfectly.