Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[scuzy]

So my masterflex came in anyone have a video or diagram on how to load the tube on the easy load 77201-60 head.?

[tkeracer619]

Toss the tube in, latch it down, and use the retainers to grab the tube without clamping down too tight. I usually leave about 1" of tubing sticking out of each end.

Once I get a good length I tend to cut a bunch of segments to length just to make it easier the next few go arounds.

You can adjust the occlusion (pinch) on that head so you want to back it off, operate the pump, and put your finger on the output adjusting the occlusion until you get a large amount of pressure. You can use a pressure gauge but it isn't really necessary.

[swk]

There are manuals for everything on the cp website. Just google the heads serial number and a link should be given to you.

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by scuzy

So my masterflex came in anyone have a video or diagram on how to load the tube on the easy load 77201-60 head.?

Here is a link to the description of that head on the www.coleparmer.com web site. Scroll down the page and at (near) the bottom is a video showing how to load.

http://www.coleparmer.com/Product/Ma...hTerm=77201-60

[zachts]

Originally Posted by swk

Pretty sure I'll be able to remove it pretty easily. Just ****ed at myself. Have new john guest pieces arriving the 9th so it should only keep me out of the loop for a couple days at most. Better set the damn litermeters back up....ugh


Edit - was able to cleanly remove the busted off piece with a pair of scissors. God bless plastic lol

for future reference don't use teflon tape. Use rector seal#5 or similar plastic safe soft set sealing compounds, and only turn it 1/4 to 1/2 turn past hand tight otherwise..............well, you know.......

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by zachts

otherwise..............well, you know.......

See post 1272 for reference

[zachts]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

See post 1272 for reference

.....or that.....

[scuzy]

anyone try a 7550-20 masterflex ?

[hkgar]

Should be fine.

http://www.coleparmer.com/Product/Ma...chTerm=7550-20

[scuzy]

Got mine going now having masterflex pump into the vertex reactor.

[tkeracer619]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing the pictures

Chain that bottle to something so it cannot fall over into the tank. If the lines to and from the sump aren't secured you want to make sure they cannot come out of the sump. You can also remove the needle valve, don't need/want it anymore, you have buttons to push now instead of knobs to turn

Can you take a pic of the main chamber so we can see what is going on at the very top between the screen and the lid?

[swk]

Well, I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with this setup. I think my corals like it too as demand has been increasing like crazy since I dialed the system in and leveled everything out. Good stuff and thanks for this thread and everyone who participated. I hope I can pass it on in the future

[tkeracer619]

You're welcome! Stability seems to be key and I have yet to cross paths with a more stable or reliable setup. It has been a pleasure sharing this setup, as the lunch lady at my university always said... Sharing is caring! I couldn't have maintained this thread without the help others have put into it, the participation has been greatly appreciated, and the collective input is beyond valuable !

[swk]

Ha! You know, I was so impressed and got such smoking deals on everything I went ahead and treated myself to a brand new geo 612 straight from George himself. This way I'll have the used one as a spare, or a frag system down the road. The reactor itself is really the cheapest part of this whole setup lol

[tkeracer619]

Awesome!

[swk]

I'll post pics when it gets here, but George was nice enough to customize the lid for me to include a purging valve. He just went ahead and did this as he knew I was running with a cp feed pump. He said that often they're not strong enough to purge excess air on their own. This should solve that completely. I'm impressed to say the least.

[Krazie4Acans]

Has anyone tried running this setup with an Apex DOS instead of the Masterflex pump? It's a very precise pump and is capable of running 24/7. Just curious if someone has already done the research or if I need to pave the way?

[slief]

Originally Posted by Krazie4Acans

Has anyone tried running this setup with an Apex DOS instead of the Masterflex pump? It's a very precise pump and is capable of running 24/7. Just curious if someone has already done the research or if I need to pave the way?

I own a Dos and a Cole Parmer and the Dos would not be the ideal pump for this application. It's not really designed to be run 24/7 but more importantly, the Dos only has 3 different motor speeds compared to the Cole Parmer that can be adjusted almost infinitely. With the Dos you wouldn't be able to get precise enough flow control to slow it down to the rate you would need for the CaRx. You really need a pump like the masterflex that pumps non stop and can be adjusted down to the milliliter per second. Like I said, the Dos has 3 motor speeds which doesn't give you enough control over the flow for this application. It's great for dosing a tank at preset amounts on and off throughout the day but not for running at a very slow constant flow rate 24/7.

[Krazie4Acans]

Thanks. I was thinking more of a scenario where the DOS controlled by the apex and the input of the pH probe. So it would be less of a constant feed setup and more of a pH controlled on demand setup? I think I better do some more research still.

[slief]

Originally Posted by Krazie4Acans

Thanks. I was thinking more of a scenario where the DOS controlled by the apex and the input of the pH probe. So it would be less of a constant feed setup and more of a pH controlled on demand setup? I think I better do some more research still.

The problem is that without a consistent slow flow, the effluent line would clog. Plus it would be very difficult to maintain a consistent pH level in the reactor with intermittent flow. It would also be difficult to maintain and or adjust your Ca and Alk levels in the tank without the consistent flow through the reactor. Having a consistent & constant flow through the reactor allows you to easily adjust the levels in the reactor. Between minute flow rate adjustments and a constant pH level inside the reactor that can be easily adjusted up or down depending on the Co2 rate, you can easily control the levels in the display. If your flow through the reactor is intermittent, than thing become much more difficult to adjust. At that point, you would be better off feeding the reactor from a manifold or from a maxijet pump and using a valve to control the effluent rate. Besides, for the cost of a Dos, you can find a decent used Cole Parmer and reap the benefits of having a pump that is ideally suited for our use.

[scuzy]

So technically i can remove the needle nose valve but is there harm if i left it in?

[slief]

Originally Posted by scuzy

So technically i can remove the needle nose valve but is there harm if i left it in?

Remove it. No need to restrict the effluent line and risk clogs. The Masterflex will control the flow now.

[scuzy]

ok i'll pop that guy off. Thanks for the help.

[ianrwesley]

Don't know if this is ok to post... Please remove if it's not. Figure this may help someone out though...

I have a pump for sale on ebay that would work great for a calcium reactor setup. It's a digital masterflex unit.

Ebay item number: 221831231778

Thanks,
Ian

[tkeracer619]

I don't see why it would be a problem. It's not like you are hiding that you are the seller and you meet any criteria RC has, plus... you aren't selling it on here

Nice pump