Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[hkgar]

I wouldn't have given the link, but I'm a crumpy old man, used to finding things for myself.

[SkyReef]

Originally Posted by LQT

The information on the correct equivalent for LS17 tubing and connectors is laid out by tkeracer619 in posts #2 & #3 in this thread. The actual measurements of the 57320 tubing is 1/4” ID and 3/8” OD, and based on the info in post #2, that is the LS17 equivalent.

https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/it...x?itemid=25534

Thanks, LQT. Very helpful.

[sfdan]

I can confirm that is the stuff I use, works great. I used to change it every quarter but I've gotten lazy and its been 6 months with my current strip and it is still going strong.

You only need to use about a foot, so that 5' length should last you a while.

[SkyReef]

Originally Posted by sfdan

I can confirm that is the stuff I use, works great. I used to change it every quarter but I've gotten lazy and its been 6 months with my current strip and it is still going strong.

You only need to use about a foot, so that 5' length should last you a while.

Awesome. Thanks, SFDan.

[yellojello]

My pump came with two heads, and I looked for a single head screw instead of the expensive Cole Parmer set. Found this at Fastenal, except had to order it and ship to store, minimum $10 order so I got 10 of them. Have extra so I can ship to anyone that needs it.

#8-32 x 2-1/2" ASTM F837 Hex Drive Grade 18-8 Stainless Steel Socket Cap Screw
Fastenal Part No. (SKU) 0171097

The original is 2-1/4”, so it’s tad longer, but still tightens all the way barely, another 1-2mm and it would bottom out. Gonna add a stainless steel washer for extra measure. No cutting like with a threaded rod.

[Retzius]

Here is my setup guys, was able to get a good deal on a new Watson Marlow peristaltic pump. Currently, I am using 1/8"ID neoprene tubing but I am expecting some 1/4" ID neoprene tubing tomorrow. Dont want to work my pump as hard.

Here is the pic, these Watson Marlow are really sweet looking and quiet!!

[LQT]

Originally Posted by Retzius

Here is my setup guys, was able to get a good deal on a new Watson Marlow peristaltic pump. Currently, I am using 1/8"ID neoprene tubing but I am expecting some 1/4" ID neoprene tubing tomorrow. Dont want to work my pump as hard.

Here is the pic, these Watson Marlow are really sweet looking and quiet!!

Wow... those Watson Marlow 520s are really nice, adjustable down to the milliliter like the higher end digital Masterflex pumps. I have a 220 RPM Watson Marlow 505s that gives me adjustability down to the RPM, thus I use the smaller LS25 sized tubing so I can have more incremental adjustability when dialing in. I do love it though because even though my 505s is bushed, at the low RPMs required to run my CaRx, it is absolutely dead silent!

[url=https://flic.kr/p/YDqAF7]

[Breadman03]

My 505 is on the fritz. No matter what it try, the control pad won’t unlock any more. I suspect it’s got a short somewhere.

[LQT]

Yeah, I read that on the other site... no response from Watson Marlow when you tried to contact them?

[Breadman03]

They sent me a reset procedure, but no dice. I'm just going to hook up my DOS for a bit and see if I can get the WM running properly. If not, back to Fleabay.

[LQT]

Based on your experience, I’m not gonna lock my keypad.

[zachrabbit15]

Hello all, need some help selecting a pump. We bought a huge lot of equipment and there is 10-15 Cole Parmer pumps.
7543-01
7518-01
7520-25
7554-80
7550-30
7522-20

Out of the above what model would work best for feeding my calcium reactor?

Also a SC-01-01-01, older beastly looking unit.
314035_1.jpg

314033_1.jpg

312728_1.jpg

312726_1.jpg

[LQT]

Originally Posted by zachrabbit15

Hello all, need some help selecting a pump. We bought a huge lot of equipment and there is 10-15 Cole Parmer pumps.
7543-01
7518-01
7520-25
7554-80
7550-30
7522-20

Out of the above what model would work best for feeding my calcium reactor?

Also a SC-01-01-01, older beastly looking unit.
Attachment 383606

Attachment 383607

Attachment 383608

Attachment 383609

Not sure about the other models, but the 7550-30 is a keeper! It’s a brushless 10-600rpm digital drive that is perfect for calcium reactor use. Here are the specs...

https://www.coleparmer.com/i/masterf...30-vac/0755030

[sfdan]

Originally Posted by zachrabbit15

Hello all, need some help selecting a pump. We bought a huge lot of equipment and there is 10-15 Cole Parmer pumps.
7543-01
7518-01
7520-25
7554-80
7550-30
7522-20

Out of the above what model would work best for feeding my calcium reactor?

Also a SC-01-01-01, older beastly looking unit.
Attachment 383606

Attachment 383607

Attachment 383608

Attachment 383609

Honestly speaking, turn them all on and just pick the one that works, is quiet and is adjustable. Run it at the highest RPM for a few minutes to test it out.

But hopefully this is helpful:

7543-01: This is a fixed 1 RPM, useful as a dosing pump maybe but not adjustable so no good at feeding a calcium reactor

7518-01: Assuming you meant 7518-10, this is the head I use on one of my pumps. Good workable head but there are better ones. If you meant 7518-01 I have no idea what that is.

7520-25: 6-600 RPM which is good, probably has brushes so it will not be super quiet

7554-80: 7-200 RPM, probably has brushes so it will not be super quiet

7550-30: 10-600 RPM, brushless, great choice

7522-20: .1-600 RPM, super fancy screen, brushless, very great choice

[zachrabbit15]

Thanks that does help a lot, they will be going in the garage fishroom so noise is not a huge issue. Price wise Im looking at between $25-$150 each from what me and the boss decided. He has a couple 210s and didn't even think about using them on his tanks untill I brought it up. Might pic up several of the fixed rate and use them for doing

We also picked up a bunch of Corning PC-210 stirrers and a Ika RO5PS1. I claimed the Ika, it has 5 stirring positions in one unit. Anyone ever use these for keeping dosing chemicals in solution better?

[sfdan]

The brushless units are both quieter and theoretically last longer because there are no brushes to clean/replace. If you didn't have a pump and were getting one on ebay, I'd suggest taking advantage of the fact that noise isn't an issue and save a bunch of money buying a standard (non-brushless) 6-600RPM pump. But since you already have the fancy brushless ones at a good price, you should certainly use them.

Also to slightly revise my above post, I think the fixed RPM pumps are *potentially* useful as dosing pumps, but there are better options. First of all, the masterflex pumps are all super bulky, and the fact they are rated for continuous duty is irrelevant because dosing pumps don't need to run 24/7; a standard aquarium dosing pump might be a better choice just because they are so much smaller and more convenient to work with. Second, you can get standard masterflex 1-100 or 6-600 RPM adjustable pumps for pretty cheap, which completely supersedes the functionality of a fixed RPM pump for not much more money/space.

[scuzy]

Fixed rpm be good for auto water change


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[LQT]

Wow, I just looked up the specs on the 7522-20. That’s one helluva nice pump!

[scuzy]

I picked up a brand new 7522-20 will use my 7523-80 with the dual channel head for water change and use three new 7522-20 for the carx


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[slief]

Originally Posted by scuzy

I picked up a brand new 7522-20 will use my 7523-80 with the dual channel head for water change and use three new 7522-20 for the carx


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Nice! The 7522-20 is the newer version of the 7523-80. They are virtually identical if not the same with an updated model number. I have the 7523-80 myself for my calcium reactor and love that pump.

[scuzy]

Was hoping the led would have option to auto turn off


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by yellojello

My pump came with two heads, and I looked for a single head screw instead of the expensive Cole Parmer set. Found this at Fastenal, except had to order it and ship to store, minimum $10 order so I got 10 of them. Have extra so I can ship to anyone that needs it.

#8-32 x 2-1/2" ASTM F837 Hex Drive Grade 18-8 Stainless Steel Socket Cap Screw
Fastenal Part No. (SKU) 0171097

The original is 2-1/4”, so it’s tad longer, but still tightens all the way barely, another 1-2mm and it would bottom out. Gonna add a stainless steel washer for extra measure. No cutting like with a threaded rod.

That's a great way to go!

[tkeracer619]

I scored a lot of good masterflex stuff over the last week, which was good timing as I need a slight refresh on some things. Two brushless 100rpm consoles (7523-90), two stainless adjustable occlusion easy load 2s, and 3 7017-21 heads. All new or barely used... grand total of $600 . You guys must have been asleep for me to snag those!

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by scuzy

I picked up a brand new 7522-20 will use my 7523-80 with the dual channel head for water change and use three new 7522-20 for the carx


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Sweet!

[Joshsmit56001]

I know this is a Masterflex thread but I just scored a Millipore xx 80 000 00 with head for $52 shipped. To me they look very similar to the Masterflex. 6-600 rpm and use same heads. Thoughts? I’m hoping this was a good deal for my calcium reactor setup. Might just need a better easy load head.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk