Just got pH probe and ...

[Boomer]

All sounds good bkly

 

[NaH2O]

bklynmet - did you try running an outside air to the tank yet? Just curious if it made a difference.

 

[DonW]

bklynmet - did you try running an outside air to the tank yet? Just curious if it made a difference.

Ive been fighting co2 issues for the past few years, nothing worked. The airline for the skimmer did nothing to help. I just added a 1/2 barb fitting to my drain pipe and connected a BIG airpump that sits outside. It runs only at night but has worked great. PH swing is now gone. I may code it into the controller, if I run it 24/7 the PH will climb to high during the day.

Don

 

[pfish]

Don : Thats very interesting, could you explain what type of air pump and which drain you conected it to? I assume you meen the skimmer drain?
Thanks.

 

[DonW]

Don : Thats very interesting, could you explain what type of air pump and which drain you conected it to? I assume you meen the skimmer drain?
Thanks.

I'm using a outdoor Whitewater TL40 rated at 1.8cfm plumbed into the 1.5"overflow drain crossover pipe. I installed a barb and elbow so the air flows the direction of the water to eliminate noise.

Don

 

[Boomer]

Another great idea from you Don

 

[DonW]

Another great idea from you Don

Thanks, sure beats the kalkwasser. One thing I'd have to warn folks about is temp. Its not very cold here and this much air will drive temp down, so you need to make sure the heating system is working well.

Don

 

[Slickdonkey]

Hey, that's a good idea. So you tee off the drain to your sump, put a barb fitting, and just blast air in there?

 

[DonW]

Hey, that's a good idea. So you tee off the drain to your sump, put a barb fitting, and just blast air in there?

Yup pretty much all there is to it. I would suggest a elbow inside the pipe directing the flow with the direction of the water. Otherwise with a pump this size there is ALOT of noise, the elbow makes it silent. Dont forget a check valve you dont want wter in the pump if its lower than the drain pipe. These are not just cheap little aquarium pumps they push alot of air and can handle alot of depth.

Don

 

[Slickdonkey]

I would suggest a elbow inside the pipe directing the flow with the direction of the water. Otherwise with a pump this size there is ALOT of noise, the elbow makes it silent.

I'm having trouble picturing this in my head...?

 

[DonW]

I'm having trouble picturing this in my head...?

Cut a hole big enough for a 3/4 unseal. Stuff a 1/2 pvc elbow in the uniseal so that only a little stub is sticking out. Attatch the hose to that stub.

Make more sense?

Don

 

[pfish]

Sorry I don't know what a uniseal is ? this sounds like the solution to my problems. Can you post some pictures of this set up?
Thanks

 

[Boomer]

This is what Don means

 

[DonW]

Thanks Boomer. Pfish, If your going to do this, just make sure you get that elbow in there. Although it cures the noise issues it also keeps the air from erroding the drain pipe.

Don

 

[bmtpfgh]

Thanks for the pic,Boomer.
So,you use a 3/4" Uniseal with 1/2" pipe?

 

[DonW]

Thanks for the pic,Boomer.
So,you use a 3/4" Uniseal with 1/2" pipe?

Ya because a 1/2" pvc female slip elbow is 3/4 od. Really what ever you want will work. It just needs to be 1/2 for the pump I use and they just bigger from there.

Don

 

[bmtpfgh]

Thanks for the clarification,Don.I had just ordered some Uniseals for another project,and was a little worried I had ordered the wrong sizes!

 

[Slickdonkey]

Don, what about just pumping the air into the sump with some vinyl tubing from the air pump? My sump is under the house so I don't think noise would be a big issue.

 

[DonW]

Don, what about just pumping the air into the sump with some vinyl tubing from the air pump? My sump is under the house so I don't think noise would be a big issue.

We are talking alot of air, these are not little aquarium pumps probably going to make a mess. I would also think the effect would be different due to surface area.

Don

 

[pfish]

Don: What if you pumped into the skimmer air intake? I have a hose pumped into the skimmer air intake from outside the house which is fed with a computer fan. I have noticed less pH swing put still not optimal. I think maybe The air pump you are using may do the trick.
What do you think?