Reef Octopus has launched a Universal CO2 Scrubber called the C2T-90. At 90mm/3.5” wide and 435mm/17” tall the cylindrical reactor is built to take CO2 absorbing media and can fit into the air inlet of any protein skimmer, but it has some interesting advances too. Instead of having both the inlet and outlet at the top of the reactor, air enters the bottom of the unit, freeing up space at the top for a Y connector with two separate control valves. If using it in the conventional way shut one valve, leave the other one open or connect to a hose and the scrubber will absorb CO2 passing through the media which would otherwise be injected into a protein skimmer via the venturi. Lower the amount of CO2 entering a saltwater system and you should see a positive benefit to the pH level, and we welcome the much wider acceptance and conversations people are having now about pH. The downside with conventional scrubbers however is the cost of replacing the media, which can be substantial with powerful skimmers and high atmospheric CO2.
Reef Octopus has addressed this issue however by also designing a cover for Octo skimmer cups called the C2C. Instead of having the standard venting holes this reengineered skimmer cup cover blanks off the holes, channelling vented air down a hose tail which then connects back to the inlet of the CO2 scrubber. The result is recirculated air which can effectively be scrubbed of all CO2 while being much more cost-effective with the media. The Y connector then comes into play for users to tweak just how much air they want to recirculate versus new air coming in, and a pH monitor would come in handy to see just how much of a difference that adjustment makes on a tank’s pH levels. CO2-absorbing media can also benefit from moisture content in the air which runs through it so again, air that has been through a skimmer will certainly provide that.
Octo has six CO2 Scrubber top covers from 120-300mm/5-12″ in diameter to cover pretty much all its models. The only thing it doesn’t supply is the media itself. Even without the media, they’ve just invented a novel way of recirculating a percentage of skimmed air. The cost of replacement CO2 media has put us off this form of pH enhancement before, but once you invest in the scrubber and the lid, Octo has just made CO2 scrubbing media costs much lower.
Prices are to be confirmed.
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