Aquaforest AF Air Scrubber
Reduce CO₂ & Support Stable pH in Reef Aquariums
Maintain more stable pH levels in your reef aquarium with the Aquaforest AF Air Scrubber, a purpose-designed CO₂ filtration reactor that works with absorbing media to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide entering your aquarium through your protein skimmer.
Reef aquariums rely on stable water chemistry, and fluctuations in indoor CO₂ levels can have a direct effect on aquarium pH. Everyday activities such as breathing, cooking and keeping windows closed can increase the concentration of CO₂ in indoor air. When a protein skimmer draws this air into the aquarium system, increased CO₂ can contribute to lower pH and affect carbonate chemistry.
The effect can be particularly noticeable at night and during colder months when rooms are less ventilated.
The Aquaforest AF Air Scrubber helps address this by filtering CO₂-rich air before it reaches the skimmer. When used correctly with suitable CO₂-absorbing media, it can help support more consistent pH levels and reduce fluctuations between day and night.
Key Features
- Designed to reduce CO₂ entering the aquarium
- Helps support and stabilise aquarium pH
- Can help reduce day/night pH fluctuations
- Supports more consistent reef aquarium water chemistry
- May help prevent sudden changes in dKH
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2.3 litre reactor capacity
- Innovative design helps improve the efficiency and lifespan of CO₂-absorbing media
- Compatible with protein skimmers using a 10 mm / ⅜″ hose
- Easy to assemble, disassemble and service
- Can be positioned inside or outside the aquarium cabinet
- High-quality white and transparent acrylic construction
- Smart-Twist closure for quick access to the media chamber
- Transparent design allows easy visual monitoring of media colour change
Benefits
Reduces CO₂ in Skimmer Air
The AF Air Scrubber is designed to filter CO₂-rich air before it is drawn into your protein skimmer. Reducing the amount of CO₂ entering the system can help support a higher and more stable aquarium pH.
Supports More Stable pH
Aquarium pH naturally changes throughout the day. According to Aquaforest's testing, the AF Air Scrubber can raise pH by approximately 0.2–0.4 and support stabilisation within a range of approximately 8.0–8.4, depending on aquarium conditions.
Helps Manage Day & Night Fluctuations
Photosynthesis during the lighting period can help consume CO₂, while pH may fall at night as biological oxygen demand increases. Removing CO₂ from the air supplied to the skimmer can help reduce these fluctuations.
Helps Maintain Consistent Reef Chemistry
Lower CO₂ levels can support more stable pH and carbonate chemistry, helping reef keepers maintain more consistent aquarium conditions.
Improved Media Efficiency
The reactor features a specially designed base containing three cut-to-size sponges. These sponges can be moistened with RO water to humidify the incoming air and improve the performance and lifespan of the CO₂-absorbing media.
Aquaforest laboratory testing indicates that keeping these sponges moist can significantly extend media life, helping make the system more economical to operate.
Innovative Airflow Design
The AF Air Scrubber is designed to move CO₂-rich air through the reactor from bottom to top.
Air first passes through the moist sponge layer before being channelled through the media. A specially designed internal grid helps maximise contact between the air and CO₂-absorbing media.
The media is protected between special dust-absorbing sponges positioned at the top and bottom of the reactor.
A flap and seal system helps maintain the intended airflow direction, ensuring air is drawn efficiently through the CO₂-absorbing media before reaching the protein skimmer.
Easy Media Monitoring
The colour-changing CO₂-absorbing media is consumed gradually from the bottom towards the top, making it easy to see how much media remains active.
The media should be replaced before the colour has completely changed.
If exhausted media is left inside the reactor for too long, it may change colour again, but this does not mean that it has regained its CO₂-absorbing effectiveness.
How to Use
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Prepare the reactor: Assemble the AF Air Scrubber and ensure all components are correctly positioned.
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Add suitable media: Fill the reactor with compatible CO₂-absorbing media, such as Aquaforest AF Air Scrubber Media.
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Keep the base sponges moist: Remove the reactor base and soak the three internal sponges with RO water. The sponges should remain moist during operation.
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Secure the reactor: Close the reactor using the Smart-Twist system.
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Connect to your skimmer: Use the 10 mm / ⅜″ hose connection to connect the reactor to the air intake of your protein skimmer.
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Start operation: Allow the skimmer to draw air through the AF Air Scrubber.
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Monitor the media: Observe the colour change of the media through the transparent reactor body.
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Replace media when required: Replace the media before it becomes completely exhausted.
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Maintain the sponges: If the base sponges become dry, remove the base, soak them in RO water and reinstall it.
For best results, Aquaforest recommends using the AF Air Scrubber together with Aquaforest AF Air Scrubber Media.
Recommended Media
For optimal CO₂ removal performance, use:
- Aquaforest AF Air Scrubber Media
The reactor can also be used with Carbon alongside AF Air Scrubber Media where appropriate.
pH Testing Recommendation
Aquarium pH follows a natural daily rhythm, so measurements should always be taken at the same time of day when comparing readings.
This provides a more meaningful comparison and helps you accurately monitor changes in your aquarium's pH over time.
Product Specifications
What's Included
- Aquaforest AF Air Scrubber reactor
- Internal media-support components
- Moisture sponges
- 10 mm / ⅜″ hose connection
Important: Media Not Included
The AF Air Scrubber does not include a CO₂-absorbing media cartridge.
For operation, a suitable CO₂-absorbing medium must be purchased separately. Aquaforest recommends using AF Air Scrubber Media for optimal performance.
Important Information
- Keep the three base sponges moist with RO water for optimal media performance.
- Monitor the media colour and replace it before it is completely exhausted.
- Exhausted media may change colour again if left in the reactor, but it is no longer effective at removing CO₂.
- When replacing used media, wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated area.
- pH measurements should be performed at the same time of day for accurate comparisons.
- Ensure all hose connections are secure before operation.
- The reactor is designed to be connected to a protein skimmer using a 10 mm / ⅜″ hose.
Product Details
Brand: Aquaforest
Product: AF Air Scrubber
Type: CO₂ Scrubber Reactor
Capacity: 2.3 litres
Hose Connection: 10 mm / ⅜″
Main Function: CO₂ reduction and pH support
Recommended Media: Aquaforest AF Air Scrubber Media
Installation: Inside or outside cabinet
Dimensions: 35.5 cm + 3.5 cm connectors × 15.5 cm
Media Included: No
Support a More Stable Reef Aquarium
The Aquaforest AF Air Scrubber provides an effective way to reduce CO₂ in the air supplied to your protein skimmer and support more stable reef aquarium pH.
Its 2.3-litre capacity, moisture-assisted media design, efficient bottom-to-top airflow and easy-to-monitor colour-changing media make it a practical solution for reef keepers looking to manage CO₂-related pH fluctuations.
For best performance, pair the AF Air Scrubber with Aquaforest AF Air Scrubber Media and keep the internal moisture sponges damp with RO water.
