Raising Reef Tank pH! Double Coral Growth! But Not If You Make These CO2 Scrubber Mistakes!

[@vascojardim6703]

+1 for a Neptune PO4/NO3 auto tester

[@christopherdebari1166]

One thing ive noticed is that you can start to see the media color change but as it gets lower, the purple is harder to tell that you have exhausted. Luckily, my milwaukee tells me when its time for a change. PH meter is needed if you are scrubbing.

[@jasepoag8930]

Instead of a solenoid, I use a 3-way motorized ball valve. It stores a enough power in a capacitor to close itself when power is cut, so it only used electricity while it's opening instead of keeping a magnetic coil going and getting hot. The path of the airflow is also a lot bigger than other solenoids I've used.

[@bdanz5851]

Any info on where you got it and which particular valve? Thx.

[@jasepoag8930]

@@bdanz5851 Ebay. I think it was half inch threaded. It's brass, but water isn't passing through it, so it shouldn't matter. They seem to be pretty much unobtanium in anything else.

[@TonyDamazio]

I bought that Ice Cap C02 scrubber and the media never changed colors. I don't know why but I just figured that I had no c02 in the room. So I just eventually unhooked it. I had it set up to the skimmer silencer to the c02 scrubber

[@EHenryscuba]

Neptune! BRS! Common guys! Let’s make this 3/8” control solenoid!

[@adambahe9309]

I want a Trident but for nitrate and phosphate. Can we ask for that too? Also, I would like a “low flow” flow meter to track how much calcium reactor effluent I dose. Something that can measure down to 1ml/min.

[@christopherdebari1166]

and +1 for recirculating BUT WITH GREAT CAUTION. Fail safe's are NEEDED. I picked up a float switch that will shut off skimmer if it starts to overflow. 60 bucks.

[@MikeGervasi]

The funny thing is the canister is shaded the same as the color changing media. So it's really hard to tell. Mine looked off white but when I dumped it out it was violet.

[@cedricrobinson9539]

Another mistake is connecting the skimmer to the wrong end of the IceCap or other CO2 media. The IceCap in particular is confusing on the direction of the airflow.

[@Theaquaplex]

Hey, is there a video out there with the ICE-Cap hook-up version and the solenoid? I am looking to set my Nano up that way

[@bodebrandt454]

Exactly, I’m searching for any video I can find on which side I hook up the tubing to, the left side or the right??? No videos at all that answer this question

[@cedricrobinson9539]

@@bodebrandt454 It doesn’t matter. It’s doesn’t do anything for me at all. I ended up getting two small power heads, putting them at the top of my take and pointing them up, breaking the surface. Now my PH stays around 8.3. Plus now I can open my windows because it’s not 100 degrees outside.

[@fuffoon]

I put a CO2 scrubber on yesterday with 8.0 ph. Today the PH is 8.2. I have never seen 8.2 in my house. I only have a CO2 pen but I am monitoring every couple of hours. If it goes over 8.3 I will sort out a controller too. Years I have been looking at my tank's biology and all along its nothing but atmospheric CO2 causing the low PH. I listened to a lot of hydrodramatics to get to the right solution. Kalkwasser was not very effective at raising the Ph in spite of an open top and 10 liter per day evaporation rate and its much more work to maintain that system than it is to spend 5 seconds plugging in the scrubber. Its been on my system for 24 hours now and I am completely sold on its value.

[@Sedona_FD3S]

I would love to watch a how to setup up a co2 scrubber with the ph meter/controller.

[@bdanz5851]

Hey you guys didn't provide a link or any specific information about which Mcmaster solenoid you used....their site has a bunch of them....not sure which one of them to get, not to mention they're pricey so I don't want to spend more for a model I didn't need. Thx.

[@ou812reefing]

Thanks I understand C02 a lot more 👍

[@kennmac4914]

Would an option be to use an air pump? Say, air pump to co2 scrubber to sump tank. Just put the hose in the water. In the video you mentioned buying a solenoid and wiring it into a timer or a controller. Or just turning the skimmer on and off. The first sounds a bit complicated for the average person. For me, I’m a tech, so simple enough. The second, them skimmer pumps are pretty expensive. Turning them off and on will kill the life expectancy, and also that my not be an option for some. An air pump is dirt cheap, what $10-15 bucks? An Alexa plug is about $10, and most people have a few sitting in a drawer not being used. Do you think that would work? Monitor the tank every few hours for a few days to a week. When the PH drop have the air pump come on. Just an idea outside the box.

[@BRStv]

We'll have to try this out. We've not tried a CO2 scrubber attached to an air pump before - just attached to the protein skimmer.

[@isaiah24.5]

I made a HHO generator and discharged the Hydrogen outside in a high wind area and the pure O2 I plumb into my air intake with a ball valve to adjust the amount of pure O2 going into the protein skimmer... Ph ~ 8.3/8.4.... 😉

[@inventoryking]

What is the Solenoid model number at McMaster Carr?

[@BRStv]

The one the that we've traditionally used is labeled "Q213318-1351B"

[@TheDesertraptor]

My skimmer has 1/4 in tubing and changing will mean modifying the skimmer. It seems if it's working why change it? If putting larger dia tubing means needing a solenoid to limit operation. It's already limited. Since adding diy scrubber my CO2 is now back over 8

[@darrylchase3688]

I dose kalkwasser and use up the CO2. My pH is in the 8.2-8.3 range, even with a well sealed house.

[@angels_myname]

gosh darn it I bought my scrubber from BRS last Tuesday!!!

[@christopherdebari1166]

Can someone also tell me why the APEX is the only automation gig? There should be at least 3-5 companies that do the same things or more. I don't understand it.

[@nickcortese990]

If your running a recirculating system. No need for water at the bottom as the intake has plenty of humidity from type of skimmer.

[@Nicole-vg2qz]

I’ve been asking for that valve since before they came out with the trident….rep at the booth didn’t say the were working on it.

[@vascojardim6703]

NEPTUNE please make the 3/8 solenoid valve 🙏🙏🙏🙏. Been searching for this for a long time! In my use case I would simply use it on a timer to run it during the night time!

[@burningmime432]

McMaster-Carr (mentioned in the video) sells it. But it's very expensive ($80US). Also I read that it can run very hot at 24V, so you need to find a way to step down its voltage to where it will run at like 14V or something; just enough to keep it open. Sounds like a DIY project.

[@754welive5]

I have my tank in my garage ph in there is amazing

[@marcosherrera675]

I have to run my co2 scrubber 24-7 . My.ph barely gets to 8 . It dips to 7.8 at night with the c02 scrubber. Im kinda disappointed in it. Maybe if I had a refugium along with it it would work better but I run biopellets in a reactor. I am running it recirculating so it's not sucking room air. I was also thinking maybe my skimmer doesn't suck enough air. It's a eshopps 125 . On a 65 gallon mixed reef

[@bravoman80]

3 way Solenoid valve works grate

[@crypt2grave358]

Can we get link to the 3/8 valve from McMaster? I am manually adjusting a valve now. Open all the way after I change, then slowly close as media is spent. I tried the recirc trick and it was to much suction close to the skim foam even with a safety sponge to pop foam.

[@Xinil]

Did you ever find the link to the 3/8 value? It looks like it 'could' be this: www.mcmaster.com/solenoids/compact-solenoid-on-off-valves-with-push-to-connect-fittings/ But wow at $82.

[@Xinil]

Actually, watch this video, they show you what to buy back in 2016! kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2LMimCMr5hgjJY

[@crypt2grave358]

That's the one I found. I was hoping I was wrong and there was a cheaper alternative. Maybe with this new merger, Neptune will offer a more economical alternative. They had talked about that in one of their earlier vids.

[@ASBsweet]

Could the distance from the co2 scrubber to the protein skimmer be a mistake? What is too long? If you had an aio tank, could you put a scrubber in the cabinet and run the line up to the skimmer or does the scrubber need to be situated right next to the skimmer?

[@BRStv]

It all depends on how powerful the skimmer pump is and the diameter of the tubing. If you're going to be using a long run, we'd suggest increasing the tubing size to reduce resistance.

[@patterdalezipsuzilil]

Just made one only use 300ml for 8f tank volume its lasted a week gonna be an exspensive exsperiment disconect it at night to let it drop like my tank would do anyway

[@patterdalezipsuzilil]

Cost me 13 pounds but found the company that makes it Medicare 5000 ml for 17 pounds they supply hospitals not gonna be exspensive after all

[@patterdalezipsuzilil]

Well 9 months on got 2 rodi canisters now 400ml in each chamber 8.2 over night 8.4 in day dkh 10.5 boom corals exsploded

[@masonj19]

But what if your using ozone and want a co2 scrubber on the intake of the generator? Aren't most of them the standard airline tubing size. Would that choke the skimmer.

[@BRStv]

Usually there is a second port for ozone on a skimmer. At least, ozone ready skimmers should have this. From there, hook up the CO2 scrubber to the main air intake to the skimmer and you'll be good to go

[@masonj19]

@@BRStv thanks for the reply my skimmer isn't technically ozone ready it's the red sea rsk 600. Which has the silencer and two little ports which jusr suck air on but airline tubing fits on to it. Im using the tmc ozone generator which is taking up one of the intake port thingy ma bobs on the silencer so I suppose I could 2 way split from the ozone generator one going to the generator the other to the second little port on the skimmer.

[@karennation3580]

I was thinking of buying a cheap one you have but this is sounding complicated for a woman reefer! LOL. I am not high tech in the slightest! Do I have to have a ph controller, solenoid valve and all that other stuff?

[@kevinrampelt7817]

Would you still use a CO2 scrubber and kalkwasser? If kalkwasser also raises the pH, wouldnt the combination of these two be too much?

[@Krispykashew]

Kalk IMO is used for alkalinity and calcium. PH is secondary for me.

[@benjy468]

I do both on my tank to no ill effects. Just monitor your pH to make sure it doesnt go too high.

[@BRStv]

It depends on the system's pH, but if you're running kalkwasser, a CO2 scrubber is usually not needed.

[@zsxking]

I ran both, cause why not? pH impact from kalk is not that much. But if it can help reduce the need for CO2 scrubber media, that is a save for me.

[@zsxking]

Mistake #21, not buying the 5 gallon bucket of CO2 scrubbing media to save half the media cost.

[@saltydad3]

I tried the recirculating but the condensation that collected in the hose and scrubber chamber hurt the performance of the media.

[@tylerthomas5304]

Just made the mistake of buying it for full price, hopefully that doesn't effect my Ph

[@CalebChapman12]

3/8 three way valve please!

[@derekm3625]

Hello BRS, Is it possible to run Ozone and a co2 scrubber? Correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't each one typically go to the protein skimmer air input? If injecting ozone, what would the additional benefit of Co2 be? Is one better than the other? Can both be done successfully?

[@BRStv]

You'd need a skimmer with two inputs on the venturi. Some skimmers will be listed as "ozone ready" and have that extra port for the ozone line. They can be used at the same time if you so choose.

[@okelliesfarm]

They have a device that shuts off your skimmer just like a auto top off celiniod that would shut off the skimmer .

[@leeverink32]

um yes this is nice and all but what if you got nomore room for groth

[@lielm7608]

Can you not just use a neptune solenoid valve with increasing/decreasing from 1/4 to 3/8 so that you can dyi a connection to the scrubber?

[@BRStv]

Restricting down to 1/4" will hurt the performance of the skimmer quite a bit

[@rppvt]

The next thing will be to add an O2 concentrator to the skimmer to mimic the O2 levels in tropical oceans.

[@juanhurtado954]

where do i buy airline t splitter?

[@TheVapSter]

My ph gets up to 8.56. At which point should I start to be concerned about ph being to high? Thx

[@mattbrocklehurst7980]

Same question... have a tank in a bedroom that when the skimmer is on all the time ph is 8.6+ on a hanna ph colorimeter

[@BRStv]

Usually 8.6 is where we start to get a bit concerned. That said, it's hard to say how high of a pH is TOO high. Usually we see low pH causing coral heath problems, but not so much in pH above 8.3. We're sure there is some point of diminishing returns, however.

[@TheVapSter]

@@BRStv thanks so much for the reply. 8.55 is my high with 8.40 being my low. I my high mark gets to or past 8.6 I will start looking into doing something about it.

[@kaboobie]

if you own a kiln or have access to one you can probably regenerate the media.

[@PatrickJewellTheGreat]

How much does it cost to run a kiln verses buying new media?

[@kaboobie]

@@PatrickJewellTheGreat no idea just putting it out there that a kiln could do the trick I'm sure some people into pottery or other kiln fired things or maybe have access in some way to use one could effectively regenerate the media through it's use. I'm not suggesting that it would be cost effective for the average reefer to get one as that would run atleast 1k just to purchase it.

[@Ryan-no5bf]

Can a co2 scrubber be implemented somehow in an aio with no protein skimmer?

[@AquaSplendor]

Hmm, that would be kalkwasser supplement (dosing) instead, unless someone else has an idea?

[@PatrickJewellTheGreat]

You could get an air pump that draws in air from the CO2 scrubber and add an air stone into the back chamber. You can also add an air stone driven protein skimmer for small AIO’s. I have a protein skimmer on a JBJ28 gal. So don’t be afraid to add one.

[@AquaSplendor]

@@PatrickJewellTheGreat Without a skimmer, you're pulling air with CO2 in the tank which will just reduce the pH. If you put the Co2 media into a container and do this it will serve no purpose other than simply fill the absorbent media Co2 with Co2. The problem with Skimmer is their air exchange rate is really good, which drags down the pH because it contains CO2. So this is where the CO2 media scrubber and recirculating technic come into play and cancel that negative effect.

[@PatrickJewellTheGreat]

@@AquaSplendor I see your point, but even with a non-recirculating design, by removing CO2 (let’s hypothetically say it’s half of what normally) and injecting air that’s lower than CO2 surrounding, the effect is that only the CO2 from the animals in the tank is the issue. The algae and corals will remove some of that CO2. I know recirculating and non, has been debated. I am about to add one on my tank and see if there is a difference.

[@BRStv]

A skimmer really is the best choice if you want to utilize a CO2 scrubber. If your tank has alkalinity and calcium demand, using kalkwasser to help maintain calcium and alkalinity is a great way to go. It has the side benefit of boosting pH! 🙂

[@strat1960s]

I am drawing air from outside the house though hoses to the skimmers on my two tanks. My PH for both tanks is in the 8.20s. Would there really be any benefit of running a CO2 scrubber on both tanks?

[@taylorburch7761]

No

[@BRStv]

With a pH of 8.2 and change, the cost of the scrubber and media would not be worth it to most reefers.

[@strat1960s]

@@BRStv I was thinking the same thing. I do already have the canister and media. I may put it on my 50g which is a coral/fish qt tank to see how it works

[@richardwalker3784]

What was yr ph before drawing air from outside of house?

[@pennyfirestone]

Of course you have a sale one week after I purchased one 😔

[@AquaSplendor]

What about one day? lol I talked with a customer service representant and got my tiny discount yay :)

[@ballendesigns]

First mistake for me was purchasing the co2 scrubber. Did nothing

[@skillz_311]

LOL!!!

[@ariesruswandi]

compare with inject ozone gas pls

[@coyte30]

Recirculating the same air is also going to reduce the amount of oxygen you will get into the water through the skimmer. It’s a double edged sword

[@BRStv]

With the amount of surface agitation that the average reef tank has, there shouldn't be an oxygen issue in a vast majority of reef tanks. Even if you were to completely remove the skimmer from the system.

[@deanfielding4411]

So we just need a few trillion tons of the stuff so we can scrub the CO2 out of the oceans to save the reefs!

[@joe0813]

mistake number 1. Wasting my money on one of these in the first place. This thing did absolutely nothing for my tank. Never budged the PH up even a single point

[@t.regnerus301]

Opening a window just a crack year round helped my ph and it doesn't cost a thing.

[@joe0813]

@@t.regnerus301 that's what I do too. My wife gets mad because I'm "heating the outside"

[@brentbondura7339]

@@joe0813 She's not aloud to use that phrase.. that's a "dad" phrase! LOL

[@fishlife1013]

Man that anthias looks like its eye is about to explode that a fluke on his eye or something hope he is doing better now

[@BRStv]

Doing much better today!

[@fishlife1013]

Thats great to hear I love anthias so much haven't had the money to buy some especially those blotchy anthias you have

[@russelmuldowney8736]

There has to be a better way

[@AquaSplendor]

Stop breathing. Just not recommended.

[@t.regnerus301]

Open a window or have a heat recovery ventilation on your hvac.

[@ethierwc]

Lols to incorrectly writing CO^2 throughout the slides. Also it's a bit of a gimmick here to say the skimmer is always performing more gas exchange vs water surface gas exchange. This is dependent on surface area of the surface, whether or not your tank is covered, how turbulent the flow is of the water surface, vs. the air consumption rate of the skimmer. Suggest doing a couple quick calculations here before spending money on calcium hydroxide media.

[@deanfielding4411]

True, but read up on some of the research done by Dr Helen Czerski and you’d be amazed at the power of bubbles!