Pulling Outside Air with a Tetra Air Pump?

[madlos123]

I have a 90 gallon tank with a 40 gallon breeder sump.
Tank is in the basement.

I have a Bubble Magus Curve 7.
The airline intake is connected to a 1/2" pvc pipe that runs about 35 foot and sucks air from outdoors.

I have a handheld Pinpoint PH monitor.
Before I tested my PH I calibrated the monitor.
I dunked the unopened 4 & 10 Ph calibration packet in my 77*F tank and calibrated/adjusted the monitor.
PH runs about 8.0 - 8.2

I am also using Avast Kalkwasser Reactor at night.
DKH runs about 9 - 10

Plan:
I have a Tetra Whisper Airpump (60)
I have modified it that I have attached a 1/2 Barb Fitting at the top.
I have also used Teflon Paste on the fitting and base to prevent air leaks.
It will be sucking air outside.
The air stone will be in the sump, behind the filter sock section where there's a lot of flow.
This also might prevent salt creep as its a sealed chamber.

Yes I still need to measure the co2 in the room and outdoors but I don't have a co2 meter device.
I still need to do the tank water in a cup test but dang its freezing outside. That water in a cup might be frozen by the time I test the PH lol.

So my question is:
Will this increase the PH or am I crazy for overthinking?

Yes I can see u people out there ;Hilarious ;Hilarious ;Hilarious

Here's what I modified but not connected yet.

 

[T-J]

Adding outside air to the tank will likely help raise pH, that is if your pH is being depressed by the amount of CO2 in the air in the room that the tank is in. This is why people run lines from the skimmer intake outside their home.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If the pH is 8.2 and the alk is 9 dKH, any aeration with outdoor air is unlikely to make a noticeable effect. When the pH is 8.0 , then it might bring that number up a little (perhaps not easily detectable), and it may help keep O2 up at night.

I see no harm in it, but you may not detect a benefit.

 

[madlos123]

Heres the result.
I test at 6 pm. Light is on from 4 pm to 10 pm. Kalkwasser is on from 12 am to 6 am.
Refugium light is on 10 pm to 8 am.

Before the air pump.
Ph during the mid day is around 8.0
Knob on the skimmer MAX

After airpump:
Ph during the mid day been staying at 8.1 - 8.14
knob on the skimmer 2
So it reduced the air by half on the skimmer since its plumbed on the same pipe. But it still working fine.

I haven't tested after kalkwasser dose yet.

Heres some photo on how I plumed it. This is the cheapest and fastest way without drilling more holes in the wall.

Side airline is skimmer while the barb pointing upwards is thr airpump.

 

[madlos123]

Just tested at 7 am
Ph runs at 8.2

Never got higher than that

I need to test at the end of the kalkwasser dosing cycle if it goes higher than 8.2. At 6:01 am.

PS:. From my first post i meant 7 and 10 calibration packet lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Those pH values certainly seem fine.

 

[madlos123]

Those pH values certainly seem fine.

Yeah im satisfied of what i got. I am also just doing a record here too so that anyone in the future can see this post

 

[Dom]

You've done a lot of nice work! Was it worth all the trouble?

If you think room air is the issue, crack a window and turn on a small circulating fan for the same result.

 

[madlos123]

You've done a lot of nice work! Was it worth all the trouble?

If you think room air is the issue, crack a window and turn on a small circulating fan for the same result.

Thank you
Yes its all worth it. Before pulling air from outside my Ph actually ran between 7.8 to 7.9 never or hardly hits 8

Im not adding a co2 reactor and spend more money monthly ha!

I like to keep it simple

I could also do that when the weather gets a little warmer. As of now its snowing and its very cold so probably not ideal at the time.

PS:. The pvc tubing im using is actually 3/4" pvc pipe that sucks air from outside.
Then it connects to a reducer from 2" pvc pipe so that i can put some polyester in the tube. The size increase is to increase airflow. This is also makes the polyester/carbon to be placed and removed. I got a drain cap on the end.

Nothing is glued. Just dry fit. Maybe i can put some ptfe paste to prevent water/air leak.

 

[Dom]

And of course, the value of what you've learned can't be dismissed. I like it.

 

[madlos123]

It looks like I hit 8.27 - 8.26 Ph
Though i have to keep 35 ppt salinity
Having 10.5 dkh
Nitrates at 5 - 20 ppm depending on how much i feed
Tested 15 min after the end of dosing kalkwasser @1115 am

Display light still off
Scrubber light turned off at 10 am

My ph during the day has been between 8.1 - 8.17 ph
Last week even with 4 people in the room my ph stayed at 8.1 ph

I dont have any air exchanger or co2 scrubber.

 

[Spicy Reef]

I recently put my air pump outside and just run the airline into the house. I have an air driven skimmer getting air from outside helps. I like the Idea of adding polyester/carbon, going to have a go.
THANKS!

 

[DavidinGA]

I have a 90 gallon tank with a 40 gallon breeder sump.
Tank is in the basement.

I have a Bubble Magus Curve 7.
The airline intake is connected to a 1/2" pvc pipe that runs about 35 foot and sucks air from outdoors.

I have a handheld Pinpoint PH monitor.
Before I tested my PH I calibrated the monitor.
I dunked the unopened 4 & 10 Ph calibration packet in my 77*F tank and calibrated/adjusted the monitor.
PH runs about 8.0 - 8.2

I am also using Avast Kalkwasser Reactor at night.
DKH runs about 9 - 10

Plan:
I have a Tetra Whisper Airpump (60)
I have modified it that I have attached a 1/2 Barb Fitting at the top.
I have also used Teflon Paste on the fitting and base to prevent air leaks.
It will be sucking air outside.
The air stone will be in the sump, behind the filter sock section where there's a lot of flow.
This also might prevent salt creep as its a sealed chamber.

Yes I still need to measure the co2 in the room and outdoors but I don't have a co2 meter device.
I still need to do the tank water in a cup test but dang its freezing outside. That water in a cup might be frozen by the time I test the PH lol.

So my question is:
Will this increase the PH or am I crazy for overthinking?

Yes I can see u people out there ;Hilarious ;Hilarious ;Hilarious

Here's what I modified but not connected yet.

Do you have any more detailed info on how to modify the pump and make the new air inlet piece? I have some regular air pumps laying around and didn't know if I should try to modify one or just buy one of those EcoPlus ECOair 1 Commercial Grade Air Pump that has the inlet/outlets already there.

Also, are you still using this setup now?

 

[madlos123]

Yes im still using this.
Depending on your model of your airpump if you have enough clearance for the thread of your plastic fitting. The bigger the better for more air draw. I used the whisper as they are practically silent.
If you use one of the commercial grade airpump just be prepared of the noise/heat.

My tip is just use a smaller drill bit to make the hole for the thread So that you can make it bigger if needed for a snug fit. Its harder to fit a thread into bigger hole without being loose.

Also seal everything else like the old air intake/ usually covered in cotton for filter.
Use silicone for anything exposed on the outside while using ptfe paste on the inside seal.