Odd observation - skimmer performance worse after adding outside air line...???

[davidinga]

I was having low pH issues on my 210gal and so I decided to try the suggested run your skimmer air line through the wall and pull fresh outside air. Well this actually worked very well and my pH climbed to a healthy 8.0-8.2.

So anyway after getting my pH issue successfully fixed it seems my skimmer performance has dropped off. I used to always get a nice thick dark wet and dry skim before the change and now all I seem to get is the thin light pea colored skim.

I am using a SRO3000int skimmer and before the air line change I was running air through the silencer with both little black caps removed. Notice the little vertical cylinder with two smaller tubes coming out - that's the silencer for those of you not familiar with SRO skimmers.

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So what I did was run a largertube over the top of the main air line tube that goes to the skimmer pump and I ran that outside where it pulls fresh air. The tube I ran from the skimmer air line tube to the outside air was less than 3 ft long.So I would have to think that the skimmer is now able to pull more air now than before, plus its fresher air.

So any thoughts on why my skimmer performance would decrease?

Difference in air temperature being pulled in maybe? The inside air was 76F and the outside air has been in the mid 80's lately with heavy humidity here in GA.


Thanks

 

[wildernets]

I did the same thing with mine. I ran the tubes to a T at the original intake though. I did have to make some minimal adjustments to dial it back in but it works great now. I also ran the outside end into a screened intake.

 

[dr_ fish]

You may have a few things working against you.

First, a larger diameter is going to lower air velocity inside the tube and you may have gone too large and the air is essentially stalled. Secondly, the longer the tube the more difficult it is going to be for the pump to pull in air. Imagine trying to breath through a garden hose thats 30ft long...you cant.

 

[davidinga]

Dr. Fish;892232 wrote: You may have a few things working against you.

First, a larger diameter is going to lower air velocity inside the tube and you may have gone too large and the air is essentially stalled. Secondly, the longer the tube the more difficult it is going to be for the pump to pull in air. Imagine trying to breath through a garden hose thats 30ft long...you cant.

I don't know the exact size of the larger airline tubing I used but it was super hard to get over the existing line so it is only very moderately larger than the original. I could try to find the same size line as the original and run it outside for a comparison of performance I guess...

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Question- what are you seeing to imply is "*UNDER* performing"? Change in skimmate coloration? Or something else?

 

[davidinga]

jmaneyapanda;892251 wrote: Question- what are you seeing to imply is "*UNDER* performing"? Change in skimmate coloration? Or something else?

Right, visually it is not as dark and thinner collection on the cup than before the change. It is still creating an equal head of foam as far as I can tell but what it is finally pulling out looks less impressive all around.

 

[darrrenjmartin]

I call bulsheyet .. What I can't believe is that did any thing. Kidding
If it is the same amount of foam.. It's seems any ambient air that can raise the ph of salt water is going to have to bleach skimmate.
I'm still having issues with this. But the claim appears evidence based.
You must have pure jesus country air, I would be afraid to pump i75/i20 exchange air in my tank ....eeeeeegaaaaadd man.
I'll get back to you w

 

[joseayes]

I have seen some sort of reactors designed for skimmers, well, any kind of reactor with that media will work fine, and the purpose of the is to keep the ph high due to clean air introduced to the skimmer ( that's what they claim) I have seem them on twoguysfilters@ I can't recall them correctly, sorry, I bet you already knew about them ???

 

[darrrenjmartin]

Without a internet search..
CO2 levels.....
CO2 is higher indoors, creating acids........Acid rain..........
Man..... somebody open a window...
See my house to the left. Its an excellent upgrade wouldn't you say. It called "vertical thru view modern extreme."
I'm such a caddy fello.

 

[davidinga]

joseayes;892276 wrote: I have seen some sort of reactors designed for skimmers, well, any kind of reactor with that media will work fine, and the purpose of the is to keep the ph high due to clean air introduced to the skimmer ( that's what they claim) I have seem them on twoguysfilters@ I can't recall them correctly, sorry, I bet you already knew about them ???

Yeah guys use soda lime and make a filter out of say a 2 liter bottle with it so the air going into the skimmer has co2 removed via the soda lime. Works great for raising pH but it costs money forever...

 

[darrrenjmartin]

Without a internet search..
CO2 levels.....
CO2 is higher indoors, creating acids........Acid rain..........
Man..... somebody open a window..
.Whatcha burning in there, this isn't Co or seattle. Farmanimals? heavy panting? I could on but I'll save some for others
Please elaborate, we insist!!!!!
One solution.....See my house to the left. Its an excellent upgrade wouldn't you say. It called "vertical thru view modern extreme."
I'm such a catty fello.

 

[ksicard]

The larger diameter tubing is causing less air pull, so you're now injecting less air into the skimmer than before. I would e-mail RO and just ask them what diameter tubing they use.

 

[dr_ fish]

darrrenjmartin;892292 wrote: Without a internet search..
CO2 levels.....
CO2 is higher indoors, creating acids........Acid rain..........
Man..... somebody open a window..
.Whatcha burning in there, this isn't Co or seattle. Farmanimals? heavy panting? I could on but I'll save some for others
Please elaborate, we insist!!!!!
One solution.....See my house to the left. Its an excellent upgrade wouldn't you say. It called "vertical thru view modern extreme."
I'm such a catty fello.

?????
Usually when I hear something like this I am talking to a schizophrenic patient.

Edit:

ksicard;892293 wrote: The larger diameter tubing is causing less air pull, so you're now injecting less air into the skimmer than before. I would e-mail RO and just ask them what diameter tubing they use.

All RO skimmers use 5/16" ID tubing

 

[darrrenjmartin]

Somebody light a match

 

[darrrenjmartin]

What is schizo is enabling my friend to think what his tank is breathing is important than what he and his family is breathing.

Listen, in all seriousness. Please vent your house not your tank. Use your tank as the litmus.
If its not good enough for your tank it's not good enough for you.
Love
Marty

 

[saltbubbles]

Wouldn't just venting your house be a temporary solution?

 

[davidinga]

darrrenjmartin;892312 wrote: What is schizo is enabling my friend to think what his tank is breathing is important than what he and his family is breathing.

Listen, in all seriousness. Please vent your house not your tank. Use your tank as the litmus.
If its not good enough for your tank it's not good enough for you.
Love
Marty

Our house is new and tight so we have co2 build up.

Opening a window or venting doesn't seem like a real permanent solution. Opening a window in the summer and winter is just idiotic when running the ac/furnace.

The additional air line I ran through the wall for the skimmer has brought a real true solution to my low pH issue; why would I change that and go back to opening a window (another chore - I have plenty of those already)?

 

[jmaneyapanda]

DavidinGA;892255 wrote: Right, visually it is not as dark and thinner collection on the cup than before the change. It is still creating an equal head of foam as far as I can tell but what it is finally pulling out looks less impressive all around.

Youve changed the air input to the skimmer. Better or worse, it's changed. And skimming IS going to change with that. Believe it or not, its "harder" to pull through a long tube. Try with a drink and a short and long straw. You'll see.

FWIW, the fresh air venting and pH chase game seems a reoccurant, yet unecessary thing. What was your pH before and after? Unless you were sub 7.6, I think you're chasing numbers. JMHO.

 

[rdnelson]

jmaneyapanda;892472 wrote:

FWIW, the fresh air venting and pH chase game seems a reoccurant, yet unecessary thing. What was your pH before and after? Unless you were sub 7.6, I think you're chasing numbers. JMHO.

From the little I have learned in 2 years, I would agree completely with this. Stability in your numbers is much better than hitting a target number as long as it isn't too far out of line.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk -

 

[darrrenjmartin]

IAQ indoor air quality. HVAC is supposed it incorporate fresh air intake.........it's a remiss builder issue.


http://publications.usa.gov/epublications/indoorair-hazards/main.htm">http://publications.usa.gov/epublications/indoorair-hazards/main.htm</a>

Your probably a smart. Your building this perfect eco system for stupid fish , yet .... at least do an Internet search, this isn't good. builders construct houses tight for energy eff, yet ther is no law to take indoor air quality in consideration .
It is not like you need a fan in the window. Are you running a CO2 reactor?
There are very energy eff inexpensive techniques.
Plants!!!!!

I have done this before, for New home warranty. The houses were so tight and dry that the trim work was shrinking and causing gaps.

The effort to plumb fresh air for your skimmer is exactly the approach for your home.
A 3 inch shop vac vacuum hose looking / dryer vent stuff and bulk head fitting to the supply line or side panel of your air handler before the fan. A small inline insulated board filter box. You can have a box custom made for 100 at a sheet metal shop. The smallest hvac filter I ever found was 10x10.
Run as hose outside. Stick resturant grade extra course stainless steel Brillo in the end.
peace
Marty