Folks, if you've recently upgraded or renewed your annual club membership but it's still not active, please reach out to the BOD or a moderator. The PayPal system has a slight bug which it doesn't allow it to activate the account on it's own.
I'm leery to add chemicals as well. No chemicals are added with the CO2 scrubber. As downbeach said, only air runs through the dry soda lime, "scrubbing" the CO2 so only O2 is being drawn from the skimmer.
Don't let me talk you into though, I've never tried it. I am going to give it a shot...
I have "low" pH in my tank as well. I think I'm gonna try this http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-color-changing-medical-grade-co2-absorbent.html when the group buy comes around.
Four years ago my friend broke down his 55g FOWLR and gave me the tank, canister filter, PC lighting, etc. He told me I had to make it a SW tank. I do not have any of the original equipment or the tank that he gave me but I'm thankful that he put the condition on the gift.
Do you have any other perches in the house for the cats? My cat used to climb my computer desk and it always made me nervous because my tank is next to the desk. We bought on of those cat trees and she doesn't bother with the tank anymore.