CO2 Scrubber

nuclearheli · 10/19/2010, 03:54 PM

I have been reading so much about pH stabilization and low PH. Having some chemistry background I completely understand the effects of CO2 in a very tight house and the low resulting PH. I live in the North East so climate and seasons hamper my ability to open windows to replenish the air. The next best suggestion was to run a hose to the outside for my skimmer air inlet. Good suggestion but I needed a carbon filter on that line to eliminate the possibility of any harmful vapors from the outside getting into the tank. I thought why not just build a scrubber.

It's been about 30 years since I got my certifications for scuba diving and remembered topics on re-breathers. Very simple and effective. Granular Soda Lime in cartridges is used all the time to scrub CO2 and it's extremely efficient and effective. So I built my own intake air scrubber.

Thought I might share this. First I called AirGas. They are all over the country. I purchase a 5 gallon container of Soda Lime. The kind used to refill cartridges. Here is the label of what I received two days later:

SodaLime_1.jpg
SodaLime_2.jpg
SodaLime_3.jpg

I put some in a smaller container, much easier to handle. Granted this is enough to last probably many years but so what. I did pay $150 for it, will be sharing it with my son (also a reef tank person) and some friends.

SodaLime_4.jpg

In my case I had access to a laboratory with a ton of excessive glassware. So I used one of the glass dryer cells. First I packed the bulb with cotton, then a small amount of activated charcoal to remove any potential harmful vapors. Then I packed the rest of the dryer with the soda lime. Given the fact that it absorbs almost 45x it's weight in CO2, I figure this dryer will last quite a while.

SodaLime_5.jpg

Of course you could build anything to substitute for a dryer. A turkey baster also works great. I attached it to my protein skimmer air inlet and attached the dryer to the existing acrylic dryer on the skimmer. I could have just used that however it doesn't have a direct connection on the bottom, just a hole. I want all my skimmer air going through the dryer, not just some of it.

So far it's working perfectly. The soda lime turns color when its spent and I figure with 5 gallons of the stuff I don't have to worry about it again.

reefchemist · 10/19/2010, 05:46 PM

Ok, that's pretty cool. But it seems very simple, will it really work. What's the catch? I have the same problem but can't run a line to the outside because of where my tank is.

moondoggy4 · 10/19/2010, 05:56 PM

Welcome to Reef Central reefchemist Thanks for this thread nuclearheli, I'm surprised that they have not moved this thread to the DYI forum, I was thinking about adding one to my setup.

nuclearheli · 10/19/2010, 06:07 PM

Probably would have been a good idea. I'm new to posting. Is moving the post something I can do?

nuclearheli · 10/19/2010, 06:08 PM

reefchemist - It is simple, it is cool and it does work.

moondoggy4 · 10/19/2010, 07:16 PM

No they usually move it it is no big deal. You can also post in there also. PS can you use a ozone drier for the media they seem pretty cheap,

nuclearheli · 10/19/2010, 07:59 PM

Hum, didn't think of that but you still have to use a desiccant. Why not just skip the middle man. You don't have to go crazy with 5 gallons like I bought. Pretty cheap anyway.

Thanks

SPSpirate · 10/19/2010, 08:05 PM

I would have never have thought of that in a million years.!!..LOL! Nice work!!

hilde123 · 10/19/2010, 08:14 PM

I started a thread on a CO2 scrubber several months ago and there is still quite a bit of activity, I would start there http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1818641

jc-reef · 10/19/2010, 08:50 PM

^^^ +++++1 I found this thread above and DIY'd based on his build and it has worked amazingly with my low pH issues. My pH never drops below 8.0 anymore and I live in S.Fla with the house shut and a/c running 24/7. It used to range in the 7.6 -7.9 range....and if I had company over...fogetaboutit. It was a very easy and cost efficient build.

nuclearheli · 10/20/2010, 04:15 AM

Shoot, not so original. Didn't see the previous post. Anyway my dry scrubber with Sodalime is working excellent. Night time pH has now not fallen below 8.9 and daytime pH stays in the 8.3x range. Didn't do any technical measurements but big difference with it on the system vs. it off the system. Thanks for the other post, very excellent information.

DJREEF · 11/14/2010, 01:09 AM

8.9?!?

Dj

10/19/2010, 03:54 PM	#1
nuclearheli Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cream Ridge NJ Posts: 878	CO2 Scrubber I have been reading so much about pH stabilization and low PH. Having some chemistry background I completely understand the effects of CO2 in a very tight house and the low resulting PH. I live in the North East so climate and seasons hamper my ability to open windows to replenish the air. The next best suggestion was to run a hose to the outside for my skimmer air inlet. Good suggestion but I needed a carbon filter on that line to eliminate the possibility of any harmful vapors from the outside getting into the tank. I thought why not just build a scrubber. It's been about 30 years since I got my certifications for scuba diving and remembered topics on re-breathers. Very simple and effective. Granular Soda Lime in cartridges is used all the time to scrub CO2 and it's extremely efficient and effective. So I built my own intake air scrubber. Thought I might share this. First I called AirGas. They are all over the country. I purchase a 5 gallon container of Soda Lime. The kind used to refill cartridges. Here is the label of what I received two days later: SodaLime_1.jpg SodaLime_2.jpg SodaLime_3.jpg I put some in a smaller container, much easier to handle. Granted this is enough to last probably many years but so what. I did pay $150 for it, will be sharing it with my son (also a reef tank person) and some friends. SodaLime_4.jpg In my case I had access to a laboratory with a ton of excessive glassware. So I used one of the glass dryer cells. First I packed the bulb with cotton, then a small amount of activated charcoal to remove any potential harmful vapors. Then I packed the rest of the dryer with the soda lime. Given the fact that it absorbs almost 45x it's weight in CO2, I figure this dryer will last quite a while. SodaLime_5.jpg Of course you could build anything to substitute for a dryer. A turkey baster also works great. I attached it to my protein skimmer air inlet and attached the dryer to the existing acrylic dryer on the skimmer. I could have just used that however it doesn't have a direct connection on the bottom, just a hole. I want all my skimmer air going through the dryer, not just some of it. So far it's working perfectly. The soda lime turns color when its spent and I figure with 5 gallons of the stuff I don't have to worry about it again.

10/19/2010, 08:05 PM	#8
SPSpirate 2 PART BABY!!! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Richmond,Virginia Posts: 2,874	I would have never have thought of that in a million years.!!..LOL! Nice work!! __________________ Andy "I have never known something to appear so simple but known to be so adaptive and complex than reef building corals." Current Tank Info: 70 acrylic DD,AP701(DELTEC USA),Giesmann Bilux,2x250 20k Radium, Galaxy 250 dual ballast,closed loop on a reeflo dart 4 returns, vodka doser and 2 part

10/19/2010, 08:50 PM	#10
jc-reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Treasure Coast, Florida Posts: 969	^^^ +++++1 I found this thread above and DIY'd based on his build and it has worked amazingly with my low pH issues. My pH never drops below 8.0 anymore and I live in S.Fla with the house shut and a/c running 24/7. It used to range in the 7.6 -7.9 range....and if I had company over...fogetaboutit. It was a very easy and cost efficient build. __________________ My Little Hobby FMAS - Member Current Tank Info: 300gal DD upgraded from 90 gal Mixed Reef Powered by T5 / LED

11/14/2010, 01:09 AM	#12
DJREEF 25 & Over Club Join Date: May 2000 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 1,737	8.9?!? Dj __________________ = 8-->{I> Current Tank Info: FOWLR&SPS

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10/19/2010, 05:46 PM	#2
reefchemist Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1	Ok, that's pretty cool. But it seems very simple, will it really work. What's the catch? I have the same problem but can't run a line to the outside because of where my tank is.

10/19/2010, 05:56 PM	#3
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Welcome to Reef Central reefchemist Thanks for this thread nuclearheli, I'm surprised that they have not moved this thread to the DYI forum, I was thinking about adding one to my setup.

10/19/2010, 06:07 PM	#4
nuclearheli Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cream Ridge NJ Posts: 878	Probably would have been a good idea. I'm new to posting. Is moving the post something I can do?

10/19/2010, 06:08 PM	#5
nuclearheli Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cream Ridge NJ Posts: 878	reefchemist - It is simple, it is cool and it does work.

10/19/2010, 07:16 PM	#6
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	No they usually move it it is no big deal. You can also post in there also. PS can you use a ozone drier for the media they seem pretty cheap,

10/19/2010, 07:59 PM	#7
nuclearheli Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cream Ridge NJ Posts: 878	Hum, didn't think of that but you still have to use a desiccant. Why not just skip the middle man. You don't have to go crazy with 5 gallons like I bought. Pretty cheap anyway. Thanks

10/19/2010, 08:14 PM	#9
hilde123 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 625	I started a thread on a CO2 scrubber several months ago and there is still quite a bit of activity, I would start there http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1818641

10/20/2010, 04:15 AM	#11
nuclearheli Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cream Ridge NJ Posts: 878	Shoot, not so original. Didn't see the previous post. Anyway my dry scrubber with Sodalime is working excellent. Night time pH has now not fallen below 8.9 and daytime pH stays in the 8.3x range. Didn't do any technical measurements but big difference with it on the system vs. it off the system. Thanks for the other post, very excellent information.