co2 tips

[jred25]

SO my ph just will not stay over 8. I do Know for a fact that its due to a gass; I think co2. I tested a 5gal sample of water in the morn, the ph was 7.5 then moved it outside with an air pump till 11pm then tested it again it was 8.25. Any tips on getting this fixed?

 

[Guest]

You can either add a second media reactor so co2 will be broken down further. Place effluent by skimmer input or drip into skimmer to be bubbled out. Last drip Kalk in my opinion this is last case scenario


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[bimmerzs]

I had the same issue when using a reactor. Other than the above recommendation's, you could also upgrade to a larger reactor or switching to 2 part auto dosing to fix your problem. [smilie=smile.gif]

Cheers,

 

[ChuckLawson]

@jred25 wrote:

Another trick that's done occasionally is to feed the skimmer's air intake from outside air (using a long air hose)...

 

[jred25]

Thats the prob I dont have a cal reactor so I dont know y the co2 would be so hi

 

[melev]

Rather than testing 5g of water all day long, take a sample of the water from your tank outside in a cup and aerate it for 5 minute and retest.

Trapped CO2 in your home will affect pH levels in the tank. What is the pH at the end of the daily lighting period of the tank?

What does the surface of your tank look like? Is it rippling strongly? Or is it quietly moving? Do you have a sump and protein skimmer?

Here's my surface:

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[jred25]

I redid the test with about 20oz of tank water the ph was 7.56 b4 the test and 8.09 after about 5min the ph in the tank has a ph swing of 7.5-8.00. The tank has .5in waves on the top and an in sump reef octo 200 skimmer

 

[melev]

The ph was 7.56 at 7:53am? . Obviously it is quite low for the early morning, but 7.6 isn't a deal breaker. 8 in the evening is again within tolerance. Sounds like your aquarium needs stronger circulation rather than a simple back and forth wave moment. Can you add a powerhead pointing upwards to make the surface ripple? Try that out for a day or two and see what happens.

 

[jred25]

@ChuckLawson wrote:

Another trick that's done occasionally is to feed the skimmer's air intake from outside air (using a long air hose)..."]


Would this lower the amount of skim

 

[jred25]

@Marc wrote:

Well I run an evo 1400 in the center of the tank at the top to do just that do u think I should trade it with one of my tunzes

 

[ChuckLawson]

@jred25 wrote:

Another trick that's done occasionally is to feed the skimmer's air intake from outside air (using a long air hose)..."]


Would this lower the amount of skim"]

It probably depends a lot on how long the hose ends up being, and how well the skimmer drafts air; you'd just have to try it and see. At the very least, you'll probably have to re-adjust your skimmer to accomodate the change.

 

[jred25]

It would be around 20feet but i think ill try it when I get off work. I already have a tube ran for my ro ill just move it to the skimmer

 

[ChuckLawson]

@jred25 wrote:

As an alternative, there are CO2 scrubbers you can put on the skimmer airline (Bulk Reef Supply sells one), but that ends up being one more type of media that has to be purchased and replaced periodically.

 

[jred25]

well the tube i have is to small for my skimmer i may go get some this weekend to fit. For now i moved my evo1400 more upward.I do like the CO2 scrubbers its only $74.99 but its out of stock for now. And FYI my alk is 8 (im slowly going to raise it to 10) and cal is 520. at this time the ph is 7.9 it topped out at 8.01 around 9

 

[Guest]

@jred25 wrote:

Ca is really high I would bit dose ca till it gets lower


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[bimmerzs]

@jred25 wrote:

I agree, Ca is really high. It almost sounds like you are trying to use your reactor to increase your ca/alk levels to where you want them, instead of having it maintain your level's. Did you get your levels balanced and where you wanted them before bringing the CaRx online?

Cheers,

 

[jred25]

@bimmerzs wrote:

I agree, Ca is really high. It almost sounds like you are trying to use your reactor to increase your ca/alk levels to where you want them, instead of having it maintain your level's. Did you get your levels balanced and where you wanted them before bringing the CaRx online?

Cheers,"]

I dont use a cal reactor. But I do try to keep ca around 500 hoping it would help the ph. I have not dosed in about 3-5 weeks. I moved from insant ocean to kent salt. The kent has a ca of 500 without dosing.

 

[melev]

You don't need higher CA to get pH up. And it is really too high for most livestock. Please review this article about Water Quality to learn how Alk, Ca, and Mg all interact to maintain good pH in the aquarium: http://www.reefaddicts.com/content.php/302-Maintaining-Good-Water-Quality

 

[MarcoG]

If you need help, let me know. I'm right around the corner (figuratively speaking). I know I have a ton more corals than you do and I keep my calcium around 420. The only thing that I dose is alkalinity. I don't even measure PH anymore because I know that if my alkalinity is in line than my ph will follow.

In response to your original question I try to open some windows every now and then when it's not too hot outside to get some fresh air moving through the house. I would also recommend that you run some tubing from the skimmer air intake outdoors and see how that goes.

Let me know!

 

[jred25]

@Marc wrote:

Thanks marc thats a good read. I had been keeping cal at 470ish but I have had this prob for a long time and was tryn anything. I have known how to test for the co2 but never did bc I dont have a cal reactor then I did the test and man im mad I didnt do it sooner. Like I said I stopped adding cal but the tank is slow to use it up.