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10/23/2013, 07:27 AM
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#1 |
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Reefaholic
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carmel, IN
Posts: 5,135
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Recommendation on a Calcium Reactor Peristaltic Pump?
I'm looking for recommendations on a good peristaltic pump to use with my system. From reading quite a few threads and reviews, seems that the Cole Parmer Masterflex is the best choice and I'm looking for model recommendations. Right now my reactor is fed via a line that is on the intake side of the Eheim recirc pump and I've got a Danner pump feeding a "consistent" water supply. I've had issues stabilizing alk and everything else in the Calcium Reactor setup is near top of the line so know that this is the weak link in the setup. Appreciate everyone's advice!
System Details: - 600 Gallon DT - 140 Gallon Frag/Grow Out Tank - Would like to add more frag tanks in future (Possibly another 200 gallons worth) - Mixed reef and only a few months old, total water volume is ~1000 gallons Calcium Reactor Setup: - Aquarium Engineering 50 lb Reactor - Eheim 1262 recirc - 25# Co2 Tank - Electronic Carbon Doser Regulator - Pinpoint PH Controller (Ignore Milwaukee one in pic, replaced after MACNA) - Bad feed method which leads to inconsistencies! Whole Setup  CR Only 
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INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT |
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10/23/2013, 08:58 AM
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Go Spurs Go!!!
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Meadowlakes Texas
Posts: 13,357
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Cole-Parmer Brushless Digital LS Drive with a stainless easyload pump head. New they are brutally expensive but can be found on ebay for a lot less money. Look for model 77301-40 or 77301-20. If you need help finding one, PM tkeracer619, I think he can help with the search when his busy schedule will allow. He has a knack for finding them.
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Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon. |
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10/23/2013, 09:23 AM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 8,158
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Jack mentions a great one, I had the same or very similar model. You can find them used(sometimes even new) on ebay for about $350-$400 if you get lucky or are patient. That same model would cost over 2 grand new elsewhere.
I used to have the same issue with the consistency until I added one of those. Totally set and forget setup you would have then, save for changing the peristaltic tubing every 3 or 4 months...takes less than a minute with the easy load head.
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Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater |
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10/23/2013, 09:29 AM
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#4 |
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It's Dr. Goodluck Himself
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Oak Park, IL
Posts: 11,654
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I am confused. Why is a peristaltic pump needed with your calcium reactor? It should not be required at all.
My Geo reactor is fed with a Maxijet, recirc is a small Panworld, effluent rate controlled by small plastic tubing valve.
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It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :( |
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10/23/2013, 09:34 AM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 8,158
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Not absolutely needed, but the amount of precision and consistency it gives is worth it. When I had the same setup as you, I would occasionally(once was too often) get a clog in the effluent valve and it would throw my salinity out of whack for days before I would catch it. There are cheaper adjustable masterflex pumps as well, in the $100 range.
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Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater |
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10/23/2013, 09:45 AM
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#6 |
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It's Dr. Goodluck Himself
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Oak Park, IL
Posts: 11,654
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Sorry to hijack. James, I have had effluent line clogs once or twice.
What I don't get is, how does the peristaltic work with the reactor? You just connect the intake to the effluent line and then set it to the output you want? Intrigued.
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It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :( |
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10/23/2013, 12:02 PM
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#7 |
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Reefaholic
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carmel, IN
Posts: 5,135
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Thanks for all the responses guys and right along the lines of what I wanted to hear. I actually saw the one James had for sale a few months back and wish I would have saw that then. This is not something I NEED immediately but something I want to put some feelers out for and wait for the right one to pop up on the for sell forums or eBay.
@ostrow, I like the idea of a completely consistent effluent. By using the pump it's going to be as consistent as you could get with a CR setup. My CR is much the same design as yours, do you not notice fluctuations in the effluent from time to time?
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INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT |
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10/23/2013, 12:32 PM
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#8 |
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It's Dr. Goodluck Himself
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Oak Park, IL
Posts: 11,654
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Dustin, two or three times in about four years have I seen fluctuation. That C-P pump at $400-$500 used is pretty extravagant.
Guessing you could use a Bubble Magus peristaltic to achieve same result?
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It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :( |
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10/23/2013, 12:54 PM
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#9 | |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 8,158
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Quote:
With the typical setup, you are relying on a tiny valve, which results in a tiny hole, to control what comes out. A continuous duty pump means you take that point of failure right out of the equation, it would be very rare for one to clog. The Bubble Magus are not rated for steady use, only dosing here and there. You can still find other variable speed Masterflex pumps on ebay, in the 100-200 range. The one Jack mentioned above, which I had, is the best. It was digital drive, dead silent....and I could adjust by revolutions, from 1-600. They last forever as well, being made for lab use. It just gives you that much more precision which makes it less frustrating to dial in and also adds more reliability. I had at first thought of it as splurging on the setup, but I would not run another calcium reactor without one 
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Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater |
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10/23/2013, 12:55 PM
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#10 |
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Go Spurs Go!!!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Meadowlakes Texas
Posts: 13,357
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Dosing pumps are not capable of continuous duty and will burn up. The Cole Parmer are built for constant on use, it is just the best way to go. There are a few other peristaltic Pro's that can handle it, but none have the quality of the CP ones.
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Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon. |
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10/23/2013, 04:41 PM
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#11 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: los angeles
Posts: 1,836
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Does the pressure out of the reactor and into the peristaltic pump cause issues long term?
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10/24/2013, 06:08 AM
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#12 |
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Reefaholic
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carmel, IN
Posts: 5,135
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The only "dosing pump" I'd consider is the LiterMeter pumps which I use for top off/automatic water changes. I have the BM T01 for dosing but those heads are junk in comparison and would not last running that often.
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INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT |
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10/24/2013, 06:09 AM
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#13 | |
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Reefaholic
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carmel, IN
Posts: 5,135
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Quote:
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INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT |
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10/24/2013, 07:02 AM
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#14 |
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Moved On
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 81
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Absolutely the way to go for the serious CaRx user
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10/24/2013, 09:08 AM
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#15 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 3,561
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I have the geo 618 and think I'm going to try it with just a plain ol' maxi jet and see how my results are. This is an interesting idea that I had not yet thought of or been aware of.
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120 gallon mixed reef |
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10/24/2013, 09:21 AM
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#16 | |
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It's Dr. Goodluck Himself
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Oak Park, IL
Posts: 11,654
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Quote:
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It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :( |
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10/24/2013, 09:34 AM
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#17 | |
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Reefaholic
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carmel, IN
Posts: 5,135
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Quote:
__________________
INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT |
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10/24/2013, 01:04 PM
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#18 |
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Moved On
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 81
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No, you pull the effluent from/thru the CaRx ...
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10/24/2013, 08:35 PM
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#19 | |
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Reefaholic
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carmel, IN
Posts: 5,135
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Quote:
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INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT |
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10/25/2013, 02:15 AM
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#20 |
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Moved On
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 81
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Yes, I have had experience with this. You take the effluent tube from the CaRx and attach it into the intake tube/side of the dosing pump; output end/tube goes into the system.
Rather simple concept ... Do you still need a picture, since you have not had any experience with this Last edited by afishionado; 10/25/2013 at 02:33 AM. |
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10/25/2013, 02:33 AM
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#21 |
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Moved On
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 81
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Not trying to be a dick, but I rather despise when people have the attitude that their entitled to pics or it doesn't exist around here, subsequently attempting to call out those who in reality they could learn a few things from. Without the use of pictures.
I don't feel the need to post show off pictures of every success/material thing I acquire, unlike some of these donkeys. If you truly don't get it, Dustin, and would truly be best served with a pic, for some reason, Ill shoot you a PRIVATE mssg with a pic of my setup > Schuran JetStream II w/ LitermeterIII dosing effluent Last edited by afishionado; 10/25/2013 at 02:53 AM. |
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10/25/2013, 08:19 AM
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#22 |
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(macro)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 2,238
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you can push or pull with the cole parmer, IME, it doesn't really matter.
I used a mj for about 10yrs on my geo reactor. it worked, but the needle valve needed to be fiddled with constantly. It got to be part of my daily routine, check skimmer, top off, effluent dripper. with the peristalic, I just set the dial, and I KNOW that the effluent is 100% consistent day in and day out. no fiddling ever. Is it really worth several hundred dollars? Not really, but if you really want to spend some money you can justify it. I did.
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Time is the most valuable thing you have... spend it wisely Current Tank Info: 60x26x24 AGE 3 sided starphire |
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10/25/2013, 08:19 AM
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#23 | |
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It's Dr. Goodluck Himself
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Oak Park, IL
Posts: 11,654
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Quote:
__________________
It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :( |
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10/25/2013, 08:22 AM
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#24 |
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(macro)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 2,238
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yeah, apparently you dont have to try, its natural
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Time is the most valuable thing you have... spend it wisely Current Tank Info: 60x26x24 AGE 3 sided starphire |
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10/25/2013, 08:46 AM
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#25 |
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It's Dr. Goodluck Himself
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Oak Park, IL
Posts: 11,654
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Mc-cro how often do you have to check/replace the tubing on that pump? IME masterflex tubing needed replacement every two to three months. It's why I ditched 2-part for CR in first place...
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It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :( |
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