Smoking and aquarium

[danny zubot]

This is a really interesting topic.
Has anyone put your hand in your tank after having a smoke? Did you see the reaction of your corals? Remember that an aquarium is in one form or another a big lung that is always absorbing O2, skimmer or no skimmer. We all know that second hand smoke contains elevated levels of CO2 and CO which are absorbed by othe lungs and definatley aquariums. Elevated CO2 will cause your Ph to drop overtime, though I'm not sure how long.

There's not much you can do about protecting the surface of the water against toxins short of sealing the tank and venting it outside. But as far as skimmers go, build a carbon bong for the air intake and that should help.

[cvrle1]

Hey Danny, thanks for the info, only one question though, how do you make a carbon bong???? hahaha

[danny zubot]

I knew someone would ask that.
Using a jar with a lid, fill it with water and put carbon in the water.
Using airline tubing, feed the line from the air pump (or free air) down through one hole in the lid of the jar to the bottom of the water.
Then feed the airline that goes to your skimmer into another hole in the lid, above the water.
This makes all of the air that enters the skimmer go through the water in the jar. The carbon filters the water and cleans inpurities out of it. Same concept as a bong, only for a much better use. (debatable)