Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread - Page 111

Ucantwin · 02/27/2018, 11:55 PM

Hello everyone. I'm in the market for a used Masterflex pump. I'm new to using a peristaltic pump so I find it hard to recognize a good deal. Anyone have or know of a good deal on a pump?

hkgar · 02/28/2018, 03:06 PM

THere are plenty of references to the pumps that are best for reactors in this thread. Determine what you want and search around in Ebay for selling history to determine what is a good deal. What was a good deal 5 years ago has change a lot.

gdemos · 02/28/2018, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Let me take a look tomorrow but I think you're head is fine. Some pump drives require what is called a "long shaft" pump head but I don't have any personal experience with them. If it was working fine before something funky is going on.

any luck uncovering info on "long shaft pump head"? it sounds like this (or somehow getting a bushing on the flywheel shaft would help.
-Greg

Ucantwin · 02/28/2018, 06:49 PM

Is the masterflex 7520-40 a good pump?

hkgar · 03/01/2018, 02:39 PM

Masterflex are great pumps. Is the 7520-40 a good pump? Does it do what you want in terms of flow? It is not brushless, if that is important to you.

jh2pizza · 03/04/2018, 08:46 AM

This setup maintains consistency dead on. I have it set where my CA reactor is flatlines at 6.57ph.

Im running a GEO 624, Aquarium Plants regulator and a Masterflex on 250G system.

Its not keeping up. So am I better off increasing the flow rate a little or lowering my reactors PH? My tank PH hovers around 8. Dips a little at night.

I am just starting to switch the tank over to SPS.

eric23 · 03/04/2018, 08:58 AM

Anyone seen these ? I emailed coralvue and they said they placed and order and should be available by april ? It's made to feed calcium reactors and run 24/7 and has an adjustable flow rate. I've seen some videos looks like it might be good especially at 250.00

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

tkeracer619 · 03/04/2018, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jh2pizza

This setup maintains consistency dead on. I have it set where my CA reactor is flatlines at 6.57ph.

Im running a GEO 624, Aquarium Plants regulator and a Masterflex on 250G system.

Its not keeping up. So am I better off increasing the flow rate a little or lowering my reactors PH? My tank PH hovers around 8. Dips a little at night.

I am just starting to switch the tank over to SPS.

You can adjust the PH lower.

You can also adjust both the effluent and gas delivery which will maintain the current ph. Often I will increase effluent flow 10% and also increase either gas pressure or bubbles per second by 10% as well. If the PH is where you want it then this is what I do, if you want ph a little lower then just increase the gas flow a little.

tkeracer619 · 03/04/2018, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric23

Anyone seen these ? I emailed coralvue and they said they placed and order and should be available by april ? It's made to feed calcium reactors and run 24/7 and has an adjustable flow rate. I've seen some videos looks like it might be good especially at 250.00

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I know several companies are working on some continuous duty peristaltic pumps. I do hope they have taken into account that we need ball bearings in the motors and not brass bushings like most stepper motors come with. Also, hopefully they were able to keep the noise down, steppers are notoriously noisy.

Edit, looks like they did. Seems relatively quiet!

After watching a bunch of vids, they are always running fast, I wonder what the lowest speed is. I assume it's low but there is a slight language barrier. Hopefully this is a workable solution! Maybe I can convince BigBlueTang to order one for his reactor so I can get some hands on with it

Bpb · 03/04/2018, 11:18 AM

Anybody have word on when Geo will release theirs? I’ve heard rumblings and they confirmed it to a friend of mine who spoke with them at a trade show but no info on their website, forums, and they won’t answer my emails about it. I’ve loved my masterflex, but it looks like it is from the Vietnam war era, and is noisy as all get out. I really don’t have 2 grand to drop on a new brushless model but I want to keep this same level of consistent effluent

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

jh2pizza · 03/04/2018, 11:20 AM

[QUOTE]Anybody have word on when Geo will release theirs? /QUOTE]

Not sure. I have not heard from Sedar forever. Didn't know he was working on it.

jh2pizza · 03/04/2018, 11:22 AM

Would one effect the overall PH of the main tank any more than the other? Running a higher PH in the reactor with higher flow rate versus maintaining the flow rate but lowering the PH?

Quote:

You can adjust the PH lower.

You can also adjust both the effluent and gas delivery which will maintain the current ph. Often I will increase effluent flow 10% and also increase either gas pressure or bubbles per second by 10% as well. If the PH is where you want it then this is what I do, if you want ph a little lower then just increase the gas flow a little.

michael.lemke · 03/04/2018, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

I know several companies are working on some continuous duty peristaltic pumps. I do hope they have taken into account that we need ball bearings in the motors and not brass bushings like most stepper motors come with. Also, hopefully they were able to keep the noise down, steppers are notoriously noisy.

Edit, looks like they did. Seems relatively quiet!

After watching a bunch of vids, they are always running fast, I wonder what the lowest speed is. I assume it's low but there is a slight language barrier. Hopefully this is a workable solution! Maybe I can convince BigBlueTang to order one for his reactor so I can get some hands on with it

I sent BRS an e mail asking about it as well. They vary one product from the same company already. Maybe they’ll buy one to test out and decide to carry them or not based on the findings. I’m tired of my loud masterflex but love the consistency. I don’t want to drop 750 on a used pump to get brushless.

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tkeracer619 · 03/04/2018, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jh2pizza

Would one effect the overall PH of the main tank any more than the other? Running a higher PH in the reactor with higher flow rate versus maintaining the flow rate but lowering the PH?

Nope, it's all the same. What effects the PH of your tank is the total amount of gas added to the tank. Either way, it's the same.

You can increase effectiveness and reduced ph output by adding a second media chamber.

tkeracer619 · 03/04/2018, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael.lemke

I’m tired of my loud masterflex but love the consistency. I don’t want to drop 750 on a used pump to get brushless.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Several companies have contacted me regarding this stuff. I know a few out there are working to solve the issue of a reliable continuous duty peristaltic that doesn't break the bank. To make the product with a decent profit margin it either is going to cost a fair amount or suffer in various places.

Hopefully we can get a reliable option soon. There are a LOT of people out there who I have helped source pumps and many on this thread deserve a lot of credit for helping others out! The setup is awesome, I'm proud of the effort the community has put forward to keep it going and help out their fellow reefers!

Kain · 03/12/2018, 02:40 PM

How do you guys keep the tubing in place? I just picked up a 7523-80 and when running it with the pharmamed tubing noticed that it moves in the direction that I set (CW). I'm using about 12" of LS17 equivalent tubing.

slief · 03/12/2018, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kain

How do you guys keep the tubing in place? I just picked up a 7523-80 and when running it with the pharmamed tubing noticed that it moves in the direction that I set (CW). I'm using about 12" of LS17 equivalent tubing.

Your head should be designed for LS17 tubing. Not all are. There are some tabs on each side of the head where the tubing goes in and out that you adjust to pinch the tubing in place by sliding them down. They are referred to as occlusion.

tkeracer619 · 03/12/2018, 08:29 PM

If it is an easyload head use the tabs. If it is a standard load then I typically zip the two tubing sides together.

As slief pointed out the head must be designed for the right type of tubing.

Kain · 03/12/2018, 08:37 PM

Thanks fellas. I did what Slief said and it’s working great. I should’ve gotten a masterflex sooner.

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tkeracer619 · 03/12/2018, 08:51 PM

Awesome! They're great aren't they

Kain · 03/12/2018, 08:59 PM

So far so good. The pH in my carx has been stable. I’ll be happy when I’m on my next business trip and I don’t see the graph just shooting up and down.

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tkeracer619 · 03/12/2018, 09:01 PM

I used to work 10 days out of state, 4 home, 10 away, 4 home for about 2 years. It was critical that I had stable and reliable equipment. Part of that drove this whole setup.

Kain · 03/12/2018, 09:19 PM

Exactly. I thought I could do the stream method but after about a week the stream would lessen. I travel at least a week a month, sometimes more, so this was necessary. It’s not cheap, but considering how much we dump in to this hobby, what’s another $400 to $1000.

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zip70 · 03/12/2018, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kain

How do you guys keep the tubing in place? I just picked up a 7523-80 and when running it with the pharmamed tubing noticed that it moves in the direction that I set (CW). I'm using about 12" of LS17 equivalent tubing.

How much did you pay for that pump? if you don't mind. Thanks

Kain · 03/12/2018, 11:24 PM

I paid $460 including shipping. The one I have is only 100 rpm.

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02/28/2018, 03:06 PM	#2752
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	THere are plenty of references to the pumps that are best for reactors in this thread. Determine what you want and search around in Ebay for selling history to determine what is a good deal. What was a good deal 5 years ago has change a lot. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

02/28/2018, 06:49 PM	#2754
Ucantwin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: some where Posts: 559	Is the masterflex 7520-40 a good pump? Last edited by Ucantwin; 02/28/2018 at 08:50 PM.

03/01/2018, 02:39 PM	#2755
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Masterflex are great pumps. Is the 7520-40 a good pump? Does it do what you want in terms of flow? It is not brushless, if that is important to you. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

03/04/2018, 08:46 AM	#2756
jh2pizza Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: zanesville, ohio Posts: 3,439	This setup maintains consistency dead on. I have it set where my CA reactor is flatlines at 6.57ph. Im running a GEO 624, Aquarium Plants regulator and a Masterflex on 250G system. Its not keeping up. So am I better off increasing the flow rate a little or lowering my reactors PH? My tank PH hovers around 8. Dips a little at night. I am just starting to switch the tank over to SPS. __________________ Joe and Jeni Friends don't give Friends kenya trees! Current Tank Info: Oceanic 180 in wall, 100 sump, Geo Kalk Reactor, Tunze 9415 skimmer, Geo Media Reactors, Geo 624 CA Reactor

03/04/2018, 11:20 AM	#2761
jh2pizza Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: zanesville, ohio Posts: 3,439	[QUOTE]Anybody have word on when Geo will release theirs? /QUOTE] Not sure. I have not heard from Sedar forever. Didn't know he was working on it. __________________ Joe and Jeni Friends don't give Friends kenya trees! Current Tank Info: Oceanic 180 in wall, 100 sump, Geo Kalk Reactor, Tunze 9415 skimmer, Geo Media Reactors, Geo 624 CA Reactor

02/27/2018, 11:55 PM	#2751
Ucantwin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: some where Posts: 559	Hello everyone. I'm in the market for a used Masterflex pump. I'm new to using a peristaltic pump so I find it hard to recognize a good deal. Anyone have or know of a good deal on a pump?

03/04/2018, 08:58 AM	#2757
eric23 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 10	Anyone seen these ? I emailed coralvue and they said they placed and order and should be available by april ? It's made to feed calcium reactors and run 24/7 and has an adjustable flow rate. I've seen some videos looks like it might be good especially at 250.00 Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

03/04/2018, 11:18 AM	#2760
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Anybody have word on when Geo will release theirs? I’ve heard rumblings and they confirmed it to a friend of mine who spoke with them at a trade show but no info on their website, forums, and they won’t answer my emails about it. I’ve loved my masterflex, but it looks like it is from the Vietnam war era, and is noisy as all get out. I really don’t have 2 grand to drop on a new brushless model but I want to keep this same level of consistent effluent Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

03/12/2018, 02:40 PM	#2766
Kain Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fontana, CA Posts: 372	How do you guys keep the tubing in place? I just picked up a 7523-80 and when running it with the pharmamed tubing noticed that it moves in the direction that I set (CW). I'm using about 12" of LS17 equivalent tubing.

03/12/2018, 08:29 PM	#2768
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	If it is an easyload head use the tabs. If it is a standard load then I typically zip the two tubing sides together. As slief pointed out the head must be designed for the right type of tubing. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/12/2018, 08:37 PM	#2769
Kain Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fontana, CA Posts: 372	Thanks fellas. I did what Slief said and it’s working great. I should’ve gotten a masterflex sooner. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/12/2018, 08:51 PM	#2770
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Awesome! They're great aren't they __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/12/2018, 08:59 PM	#2771
Kain Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fontana, CA Posts: 372	So far so good. The pH in my carx has been stable. I’ll be happy when I’m on my next business trip and I don’t see the graph just shooting up and down. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/12/2018, 09:01 PM	#2772
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	I used to work 10 days out of state, 4 home, 10 away, 4 home for about 2 years. It was critical that I had stable and reliable equipment. Part of that drove this whole setup. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/12/2018, 09:19 PM	#2773
Kain Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fontana, CA Posts: 372	Exactly. I thought I could do the stream method but after about a week the stream would lessen. I travel at least a week a month, sometimes more, so this was necessary. It’s not cheap, but considering how much we dump in to this hobby, what’s another $400 to $1000. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/12/2018, 11:24 PM	#2775
Kain Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fontana, CA Posts: 372	I paid $460 including shipping. The one I have is only 100 rpm. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk