Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[hkgar]

Does the calk harden and therefore make it difficult to remove the head? Or, does it stay soft?

[tkeracer619]

It stays soft. It's a paste that is so thick it acts like a rope. Cut it with a razor blade and use nitrile gloves when handling it. The stuff is extremely tacky, its essentially a very thick tar material.

If you have ever pulled apart a car door and had to peel back the plastic layer, this is the same stuff they use to put that plastic on. I keep mine in a freezer bag in my tool box, you find all sorts of stupid uses for it. It's one of those things that you didn't know you needed until you use it once. It and 3M Super 33+ electrical tape are part of my required tool box stashes.

[Boa1277]

Needs to be a STICKY

[Chrisrush]

Got my Masterflex in the mail today and I fired it up with the tubing to make sure it work. It is pleasently quite at a normal RPM but does get a bit loud at 4 l/min. Not sure I'll ever need that fast of a flow through my CARX but good to know.

One thing I did notice is that the tubing included is huge (3/8"). A friend suggested that I put some 1/4" silicone tubing inside the larger tube and run that through the reactor. The issue that I have is that the short run of larger tubing is getting pulled through the pump head. Is there a way to fix this? I don't know if I have the head set up incorrectly.

Here are the details and a few pics.

MASTERFLEX - I/P # 7592-90 DIGITAL MODULAR DRIVE CONTROLLER
20 - 260 RPM'S - 90 VDC OUTPUT

~ MASTERFLEX - I/P / 90 VDC PUMP DRIVE / 0.2 HP
MODEL # 7592-40 / 20 - 260 RPM'S
INPUT VOLTAGE - 90 VDC

~ MASTERFLEX - I/P - EASYLOAD - PERISALTIC PUMP HEAD
MASTERFLEX ITEM # 7529-10

~ MASTERFLEX - 3/8" CLEAR TUBING - 14' SECTION
MASTERFLEX ITEM # 6408-73

[Chrisrush]

[Reefvet]

If the pump is pulling the tubing through it it's too tight.

Here's a good source for appropriate tubing.

I did a search on that pump and it's been discontinued so long there isn't much information available on it. Maybe someone else here can help you determine the correct size tubing. Assuming what you have isn't it.

[zachts]

Just give master flex a call, they are extremely helpful, even with their old and discontinued stuff. They will email you the owners manual.

From the web site: "This head accepts I/P 26, I/P 73, and I/P 82 size tubing."

Same outer diameters but different inner diameter as I recall to increase or decrease pumping rates. I/P 26 gives you a 1/4" inner diameter.

[Chrisrush]

Originally Posted by Reefvet

If the pump is pulling the tubing through it it's too tight.

Here's a good source for appropriate tubing.

I did a search on that pump and it's been discontinued so long there isn't much information available on it. Maybe someone else here can help you determine the correct size tubing. Assuming what you have isn't it.

I believe this is tygon tubing i/p 73 which is the 3/8" masterflex tubing. I'll call masterflex and see what they say.

[Chrisrush]

Originally Posted by zachts

Just give master flex a call, they are extremely helpful, even with their old and discontinued stuff. They will email you the owners manual.

From the web site: "This head accepts I/P 26, I/P 73, and I/P 82 size tubing."

Same outer diameters but different inner diameter as I recall to increase or decrease pumping rates. I/P 26 gives you a 1/4" inner diameter.

Thanks. I'll call them this morning and get it working right.

Chris

[zachts]

Originally Posted by Chrisrush

I believe this is tygon tubing i/p 73 which is the 3/8" masterflex tubing. I'll call masterflex and see what they say.

FYI, norprene is the best and most durable for saltwater use.

[MarcWeaver]

Thanks all for the info. I researched and followed the guide and for under $300 I assembled this unit. I got a brand new easy-load 2 stainless head on ebay for $100.

[Chrisrush]

Nice Marc. How did you hook up the ca rx tubing to the pump tubing?

[MarcWeaver]

Using the guide posted by tkeracer619 in post number 3.

[Chrisrush]

Got it. Thanks.

[gdemos]

Mark or anyone: trying to find the "auto start" programming feature for my 7550-60. Anyone have? This has the unit restart after power outage at same flow rate

[vietnam]

Great thread!

[cthedaytrader]

Sorry for the long delay in responding been hectic lately. I do think this is the best way to run a reactor, the stability and ease it brings is fantastic.

Here is a pic of my APEX monitoring the PH in my reactor its so easy to dial in too and adjust, even the big spikes are from water changes lol.

[IMG][/IMG]

Originally Posted by gdemos

Looks great day trader!

Thanks! It is awesome I love these things lol

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Awesome! Glad you found some great pumps. You really should take the cover off the 7575 and polish the snot out of it . It's not often you find a stainless cased drive.

Reefer comes over for a frag and sees it. "What kind of pump is that?"
You respond "Don't worry about it man, you can't get one."

lol thanks, great thread and info, I couldn't resist bidding on the stainless steel one when I saw it, I was surpised I wont it lol, and even more surpised of how it looked brand new when I got it lol

Originally Posted by Boa1277

What did you get the stainless unit for those things are big bucks direct from Masterflex!

I got it for a steal, way cheaper than I expected I had already gotten won my first unit when I was bidding on this one, but I didnt think I would win this one. But, the seller had no feedback on EBay, and it didnt end up coming with the second half of the power cord, the listing only had one pic and didnt have it turned on in the pic so I took a risk in buying it but it paid off lol Im getting ready to use it to run a kalk reactor at night. I cant bring myself to sell it lol

[moondoggy4]

Ebay question I have seen a much of different models with prices all over the place, they state buy it for or can you just put in a offer lower than than the" buy it price"

Is a 7524-10 a good model?

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by moondoggy4

Ebay question I have seen a much of different models with prices all over the place, they state buy it for or can you just put in a offer lower than than the" buy it price"

Is a 7524-10 a good model?

I have the 7524-00 that I use for top off. I have had no problems with it and I am sure it will work quite well with a ca reactor. It set to deliver about 200 ml/minute and is controlled by my Apex so only turns on late at night. Because of the high revs it it very noisy at 200 ml/minute.


I have a 7520-50 for my reactor.

[moondoggy4]

^^^^ I think, I will be running mine about 30 to 50 ml/min so that should cut down on the noise.

[gregr]

Been searching Ebay for a suitable unit and my head is spinning... but at variable speed so that's good. Think I found something acceptable, in good condition and at a decent price but would greatly appreciate it if someone could confirm that this will do the trick. Thanks!

[hkgar]

It depends on your systems demands. The pump I have does 0 to 200 (not sure 200 is right but is at least that) rpm and I deliver 15 ml/minute with 3 revs of the pump. You need to figure out your systems demand for ALK. The pump you are looking at has a minimum of 20 rpm. With an l-17 tubing that could be at aroound 105 ml/min.

[hkgar]

Sorry, I just read further on the description and it has a max flow rate 0f 14 ML/minute, because of the tube size the pump supports 13 and 14

[gregr]

That is a great help- thanks! My tank is a heavily stocked 150 so I'd be close to running wide open with not much room to grow. Back to watching Ebay. Unfortunately a lot of the pumps for sale don't list the specs and aren't being made any more at CP so it's tricky.

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by gregr

That is a great help- thanks! My tank is a heavily stocked 150 so I'd be close to running wide open with not much room to grow. Back to watching Ebay. Unfortunately a lot of the pumps for sale don't list the specs and aren't being made any more at CP so it's tricky.

When I was looking for my pumps and had questions about ANY model, their CS was very helpful even with the knowledge I would not be buying from them. The just want happy owners, regardless of where you get your pump. Give them a call even on discontinued pump.