I have been battling, or planning the battle against low ph for some time. I stumbled on a solution the other day and another r2r user is interested in the idea and suggested that I post what I am in the process of doing, that others in my scenario may benefit from it.
The answer is always the same, “Run your skimmers Venturi line outside”. Anyone who uses a Mame, reef glass, or clone (diy or commercial) knows you can’t just run your air line out the window. There is no air line on the intake of an air pump.
My Solution? Install an airline.
I used fittings and hose from work. You won’t have to use industrial grade food safe fittings and tubing, none of this will be in your tank.
Air tight food container with gasket sealed lid
Half inch ID tubing
Aquarium airline
Gun safe desiccant pack, rechargeable(x2)
Velcro
In-line QD coupling
In-line QD bulkhead
Pneumatic muffler
clear RTV (silicone I or II would be a better choice)
With the pump inside the container, and everything sealed with silicone, the line can be run out of the window. This will draw only fresh outdoor air to feed your skimmer with.
I have been putting off installing this because my IM 14 is nowhere near a window. While I have half of the water out during weds water change I plan on moving the tank across the room and parking it beside a window.
I have been tracking my ph and it’s low, really low; 7.6 -7.9. It’s really the only spec I’m not happy with. But, I’m not going to chase it with chemical buffers or vinegar. I guess I would call this a holistic approach.
Will update after I move everything and have a week of PH data to share.
PS, if anybody here knows where to find 60 year old countertop laminates (other than WilsonArt) let me know.
The answer is always the same, “Run your skimmers Venturi line outside”. Anyone who uses a Mame, reef glass, or clone (diy or commercial) knows you can’t just run your air line out the window. There is no air line on the intake of an air pump.
My Solution? Install an airline.
I used fittings and hose from work. You won’t have to use industrial grade food safe fittings and tubing, none of this will be in your tank.
Air tight food container with gasket sealed lid
Half inch ID tubing
Aquarium airline
Gun safe desiccant pack, rechargeable(x2)
Velcro
In-line QD coupling
In-line QD bulkhead
Pneumatic muffler
clear RTV (silicone I or II would be a better choice)
With the pump inside the container, and everything sealed with silicone, the line can be run out of the window. This will draw only fresh outdoor air to feed your skimmer with.
I have been putting off installing this because my IM 14 is nowhere near a window. While I have half of the water out during weds water change I plan on moving the tank across the room and parking it beside a window.
I have been tracking my ph and it’s low, really low; 7.6 -7.9. It’s really the only spec I’m not happy with. But, I’m not going to chase it with chemical buffers or vinegar. I guess I would call this a holistic approach.
Will update after I move everything and have a week of PH data to share.
PS, if anybody here knows where to find 60 year old countertop laminates (other than WilsonArt) let me know.