View Full Version : Running skimmer airline outside to increase pH for basement sumps
xtrstangx
10/28/2006, 11:37 AM
Hopefully someone can answer my question.
My tank is dropping pretty low at night (7.63, recently calibrated).. so I'm going to start off with running an airline outside for my skimmer. I'm also working on adding a fuge in the next 2 weeks.
What type and what size tubing should I run for my air line? Am I fine with the 3/8" ID vinyl tubing? It will have about 20-30' of suction. I have an ASM G-4X.
I could go larger but that would make it harder to run and also run into bugs/etc getting sucked in?
sharky_steve
10/28/2006, 11:56 AM
I've thought about doing that as well. I live in a small apartment with probably low O2, and thus also low pH. Only problem is the extra length of the air line might make it difficult for your smimmer to draw enough air. Might need to find out a way to add a pump in-line for additional air pressure.
xtrstangx
10/28/2006, 11:59 AM
Yeah, thats what I was worried about. I think to some extent the air will balance its self pressure-wise, but I think thats really dependant on the diameter of the tube.
Anyone done this before?
anthworks
10/28/2006, 12:13 PM
I have done it. I ran 1/4" tubing to the beckett injector on my MRC 2. The run I used was around 35'. It seemed to raise the PH but not in a dramatic way. My tank is a 150. The skimmer performance was decreased. I found that running Kalk with the Calcium Reactor helped keep the PH up as well or better.
xtrstangx
10/28/2006, 12:17 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8432845#post8432845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anthworks
I have done it. I ran 1/4" tubing to the beckett injector on my MRC 2. The run I used was around 35'. It seemed to raise the PH but not in a dramatic way. My tank is a 150. The skimmer performance was decreased. I found that running Kalk with the Calcium Reactor helped keep the PH up as well or better.
I threw some kalk in the ATO already so that should raise it up a bit.
It sounds like your airflow decreased a bit if your performance dropped. I'm thinking if I run 1/2" ID, it'll be fine... I can always make a silencer for it.
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.