- Sku: IC-CO-50
- Vendor: IceCap
IceCap CO2 Scrubber
Indoor air carries far more carbon dioxide than outdoor air, and your protein skimmer pulls that room air straight into its venturi. The CO2 dissolves, forms carbonic acid and drags your pH down, which is why a lot of reef tanks sit low and dip further overnight. The IceCap CO2 Scrubber goes between the room and the skimmer: air is drawn up through a column of soda lime pellets that bind the CO2, so the skimmer gets scrubbed air instead. CoralVue says it helps hold a steadier baseline around an 8.3 target and smooths out the nightly drop. Refills are easy with IceCap Color Changing CO2 Absorbent Media.
How It Works
- Up-flow design. Air enters at the base and travels up through the whole media column, which keeps contact time high.
- Runs off your skimmer. No pump of its own. CoralVue says you install it on just about any aquarium with a protein skimmer by connecting the skimmer's air intake to the output side of the scrubber. Its dealer notes add that you bypass or remove the skimmer's stock silencer cup.
- Color changing media. Fresh soda lime is pink. CoralVue says the media is exhausted when it changes from pink to white, so you can see when it is time to refill rather than guessing.
- Hangs on the sump. A molded acrylic bracket with nylon thumbscrews clamps to rimmed or rimless sump glass up to 1 inch thick.
- Push-connect plumbing. 3/8 inch push-connect fittings with included airline tubing and two elbows.
Choose Your Size
| Model | Small | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | IC-CO-50 | IC-CO-100 | IC-CO-200 |
| Body size | 4 in | 4 in | 5 in |
| Media capacity | About 0.5 kg (1.1 lb) | About 1 kg (2.2 lb) | About 2 kg (4.4 lb) |
| Footprint | 4.5 x 4.5 in | 4.5 x 4.5 in | 5.2 x 5.2 in |
| Height | 6.5 in | 9.5 in | 11.5 in |
| Starter media | Not listed by CoralVue | 1 kg box included | 1 kg box included |
Pick the size by how often you want to refill, not by tank size. A bigger canister holds more soda lime, so it runs longer between changes. The small is built for nano tanks and tight sump compartments.
What's in the Box
- CO2 scrubber canister with built-in mounting bracket
- Flexible heavy-wall airline tubing
- Two 3/8 inch push-connect elbow fittings
- Two non-marring nylon thumbscrews
- Medium and large also ship with a 1 kg box of IceCap color-changing CO2 absorbent starter media
Specifications
| Brand | IceCap, distributed by CoralVue |
| Media | Loose soda lime pellets, pink when fresh and white when spent |
| Body | Heavy wall clear acrylic tube |
| Fittings | 3/8 inch push-connect |
| Mounting | Hang-on bracket, fits sump glass up to 1 in thick |
| Requires | A protein skimmer to pull air through it |
| Warranty | 1 year, per CoralVue |
| UPCs | Small 6972809520840, medium 6972809520857, large 6972809520864 |
Pair It With
- IceCap Color Changing CO2 Absorbent Media, the 1 kg refill for this scrubber.
- Fritz Wide Range pH Test Kit so you can see what your pH actually does before and after.
- Browse our saltwater supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a protein skimmer?
Yes. The scrubber has no pump of its own. It works by having your skimmer pull its intake air through the canister.
How long does a fill of media last?
CoralVue does not publish a figure, and it depends on your room's CO2 level, your skimmer's air draw and how much media the canister holds. The media starts pink and is spent once it has turned white, so it tells you when to change it, and a larger canister goes longer between refills.
Does it come with media?
CoralVue lists a 1 kg starter box with the medium and large. Its dealer spec sheet does not list one for the small, so plan on a bag of refill media with that size.
Will this fix a low pH on its own?
It removes one common cause, the CO2 in the air your skimmer breathes. Alkalinity, stocking and gas exchange all affect pH too, so test before and after rather than assuming.
Have a question?
IceCap CO2 Scrubber
