I can peg my pH at 8.3 but it costs $2/ day. Is this worth it?

[Tim617]

Will this setup work to implement rock stable pH, in lieu of a skimmer?

Koi Pond Aeration Kit - Fish Farm Supply Co.

Koi Pond Aeration pumps These air pumps are a powerful and reliable option for ponds up to 4 ft deep.

www.fishfarmsupply.ca

 

[fryman]

Will this setup work to implement rock stable pH, in lieu of a skimmer?

Koi Pond Aeration Kit - Fish Farm Supply Co.

Koi Pond Aeration pumps These air pumps are a powerful and reliable option for ponds up to 4 ft deep.

www.fishfarmsupply.ca

That looks to be a 25 (or 50) watt pump and medium-sized airstone. I'd expect hooking this up to a CO2 scrubber would have similar performance to a low-end skimmer. I wouldn't expect it to be enough to peg pH at 8.3 unless you have a small tank.

My setup was considerably more beefy. I used an
Active Aqua Air Pump (Model AAPA110L), 112 W, 110 L/min and two Pentair "Sweetwater" Fine Pore Diffusers - 1/4" OD, PE, 9" x 1.5"

My pump is old (and loud) but I think a newer similar spec pump should run about $100-$200 (depending on type), and the diffusers are $27 each.

 

[blaxsun]

I voted $0. We've already been hit with electrical utility and other price increases recently, so unless you're running it for the express purpose of growing corals - I don't think it's worth the investment or ongoing cost.

 

[oreolk]

I am in the HRV/ERV camp. It fixes the issue, high indoor CO2, and makes it easy and cost effective to get to 8.3 (if that is what you desire). Frankly every house should have one.

HVAC co is coming next week to install mine. Tired of bandaids, outside line to skimmer, co2 scrubber, etc. Fix the problem at the source.

 

[wattson]

BTw-which CO2 media are you using? I am now hunting for a cheaper brand than BRS. Two little fishes I find to be quite expensive but unclear if it is worth it..

Go to a welding supply place and they have it in 5 gallon bucket

 

[GARRIGA]

HVAC co is coming next week to install mine. Tired of bandaids, outside line to skimmer, co2 scrubber, etc. Fix the problem at the source.

Plus most importantly. The family benefits

 

[fryman]

So as an update I did get a CO2 meter and the air in the room overnight did get as high as 1000ppm. The issue was easily addressed via windows/fan and now I range about 500 ppm in this room. This helped a little with tank pH but did not get anywhere near 8.3.

So I tested a couple more options. Moving the air pump outside (CO2 outside always measures 400ppm) results in the tank hovering at about 8.2 all the time. This means at night it drops down only to about 8.15 with no scrubber but during the day this heavy aeration seems to actually prevent the tank from going above 8.2. So I added back in the recirculating skimmer/CO2 scrubber and run the air pump only at night, which results in 8.2 at night and 8.3 in daytime. Not quite as good as using the air pump in recircating mode with soda lime reactor but pretty good and the media lasts twice as long. I've been running this way awhile.

 

[mdb_talon]

That sounds like a nice tight range. Keep us updated if you notice any change in growth rates?

 

[Reefahholic]

I think it’s worth it for the 1st 2 yrs of a tanks life. After that who cares, the corals are already colonies.

That’s $1,460 for the 1st two years.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

That’s the same price as my ERV which also comes with the added benefit of breathing clean Fresh air And comes with a 10 year warranty

 

[wattson]

That’s the same price as my ERV which also comes with the added benefit of breathing clean Fresh air And comes with a 10 year warranty

can you send a link the ERV model you have ?

 

[((FORDTECH))]

can you send a link the ERV model you have ?

Check post 24 in this thread

 

[Treefer32]

I dose baked baking soda and calcium chloride. My PH at night falls to 8.1 and during the day hits anywhere from 8.24 to 8.34 depending how many people are in the home. When I'm gone on vacation for a few days, the ph will sometimes hit 8.4. I know an Air exchanger would help for me. But, that's a $2,000 cost (probably more with inflation). It would help all of us a lot. I know. But, so far, I'm maintaining PH with Baked Baking soda and skimmer on 24 /7.

 

[Cory]

Ime most of the co2 causing low ph in my tank enters through the overflow box. Covering the overflow box with a lid (not air tight) and pumping outside air into it solved this problem of 7.8 at night. Now its 8.05 at the lowest and 8.4 highest dosing limewater at night after lights out.