Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[vietnam]

Originally Posted by gdemos

I'd lower gas but I am keeping Rx pH at 6.45-6.55 to melt media. I am stable in parameters so rather not adjust too much. Now wondering if that's too low of a pH. Take a look at the pump now this is only after one month. One would say I'm melting too much but aragonite In chamber remains coarse (no paste there). Also see one of the washers on the impeller is broke down and impeller is scuffed. Guys think I'm running too much gas? 6.5 really too low? Or is something else causing problem? Media was rinsed pretty well for starters. -Greg

Looks like the impeller needs replacement. Maybe the pump body if the inside is rough like the impeller. 6.5 isn't too low, but that's according to your output rate. A lot of variables to look at that can change things.

Finally got the pH in the CaRx to stabilize at 6.45-6.55 with the mild swings at night and the Apex isn't shutting off the carbondoser regulator. Effluent coming out at 26.9dKH which is a bit on the high side, tank alkalinity tested at 8.9dKH (target goal 8.6dKH). In my case, dialing down the Co2 will bring up the pH and down the dKH in the CaRx will get the tank alkalinity in line and stabilize it. Fluid output of the effluent is at 30ml per min, this is without the Masterflex pump as I'm still reconsidering if I want to run the digital unit (loud) or the smaller non-digital pump I got.

[tkeracer619]

Yikes. I don't think the ph is too low but that is concerning. I would give CV a shout and see if they will take care of you.

[gdemos]

CV expressing new impeller. Their initial response said I am running more gas than the system can process and need to lower gas volume. I think the long run I have from co2 tank to Rx perhaps plays a part. Either way I suspect this impeller has been faulty for a while. Regardless the amount of aroginite mud in the impeller chamber is alarming. Thoughts? Bad impeller lead to mud collection? Traditionally I'd say gas is pulverizing substrate too fast but again Rx pH is 6.45-6.55

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by gdemos

I'd lower gas but I am keeping Rx pH at 6.45-6.55 to melt media. I am stable in parameters so rather not adjust too much. Now wondering if that's too low of a pH. -Greg

You might want to check the ALK of your effluent when determining what the reactor PH should be. The effluent dKh should be between about 25- 45 dKH. At 6.6 ph my effluent is about 7.5 dKH. Every reactors efficiency will be different.

I have come to think that maintaining the effluent dKh is what the real goal of this system should be.

I would be interested in tkeracers thoughts on this.

[gdemos]

19.8 dKh effluent currently

[hkgar]

Just a wild thought, but you said the line run from CO2 tank to reactor is lengthy? How far?

Possibly the line pressure is not sufficient to get the bubble to the reactor until there are a bunch of bubbles kind of coming together and all introduced at once, so you get bursts rather than a constant smooth flow of bubbles. What is you bubble rate and the low side PSI of the tank?

[gdemos]

Fairly accurate to say the gas at the reactor is not consistent run is maybe 12'. Then again it's not consistent on my larger reactor at half the run length.

I don't have the electronic solenoid I think most folks are running here. Mine has a constant pressure regulated by precision screw. Think I linked the reg I have earlier on this thread.

[jimmy n]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

That noise is probably typical of a brushed unit. Not an issue if noise isn't a concern. You could try changing the brushes but everyone of them i've heard has it or some variant of it. The brushed unit I have sounds like a freight train... it's seen 3 lifetimes of abuse. Works like a champ

Just noticed... You should put a chain on that bottle!

Why a chain on the bottle?

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by jimmy n

Why a chain on the bottle?

He doesn't mean put a chain on the bottle but to use a chain on the wall and around the bottle so it doesn't inadvertently fall over causing the valve to snap off and then it takes off like a rocket. Because my area for the tank is so confined it is highly unlikely that it would tip over. More likely when I take it out to get at the reactor, then I usually lay it on its side.

[gregr]

Graph showing pH of effluent and display for the last 5 days:

I didn't make any adjustments to the CO2 or CP pump in that time

[sean2sean]

tried to join the club but just lost the bid on ebay.... =(

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by gregr

Graph showing pH of effluent and display for the last 5 days:

I didn't make any adjustments to the CO2 or CP pump in that time

Nice!

Originally Posted by sean2sean

tried to join the club but just lost the bid on ebay.... =(

We'll let you join one of these days

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by gdemos

CV expressing new impeller. Regardless the amount of aroginite mud in the impeller chamber is alarming. Thoughts? Bad impeller lead to mud collection? Traditionally I'd say gas is pulverizing substrate too fast but again Rx pH is 6.45-6.55

Nice! If the impeller was bad or the pump was generating excess heat it is possible it is precipitating inside the hot area. Some pumps like the Red Dragon have a tube that runs cool water from the volute into the back of the motor block and into the magnet area to keep it cool.

Also, in regards to the long gas run from the regulator you can make your run shorter by placing a high quality welding hose between the regulator and the black box. Any welding supply shop can make it for you.

[rtolz]

Originally Posted by sean2sean

tried to join the club but just lost the bid on ebay.... =(

Shucks. I just won an auction (#151388541754) on Ebay for a Masterflex digital drive with head. Same day that you say you lost your bid.

As they say, all's fair in love and reefkeeping.

For stuff I really want, I use a sniping program and bid what I'm really willing to pay for the item, not just a bargain amount. That usually works to get me a bargain, or at most what I'm willing to pay, and I'll never pay more than I think it's worth to me.

[gregr]

What's a normal range for effluent pH during a day? How much does it really matter if it fluctuates .1 or .2 pH units? How much is too much? These are my deep questions for the day

[watsonj]

For what its worth I have been running a kamoer KSP-F01 for three weeks and it is great control is fantastic, quiet and the pump was reasonable $260.
http://youtu.be/KIW9ikYA6_4

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by gregr

What's a normal range for effluent pH during a day? How much does it really matter if it fluctuates .1 or .2 pH units? How much is too much? These are my deep questions for the day

As long as alk is maintained it doesn't matter (within reason). Huge shifts would show something isn't working correctly but minor shifts come and go as the tank ph changes and are afaiac are insignificant.

Originally Posted by watsonj

For what its worth I have been running a kamoer KSP-F01 for three weeks and it is great control is fantastic, quiet and the pump was reasonable $260.
http://youtu.be/KIW9ikYA6_4

Awesome! That looks like a great alternative. Thanks for posting it. Welcome the the peristaltic reactor club

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by gregr

What's a normal range for effluent pH during a day? How much does it really matter if it fluctuates .1 or .2 pH units? How much is too much? These are my deep questions for the day

I think we pay too much attention to the effluent ph and not enough to the effluent ALK That is what maintains the tanks ALK. The ph shoul be whatever gets the media to melt to maintain the Effluent ALD you would like - between 25 & 45.
I need to get my PH down to 6.3, to get ALK of 25, because of the reactor efficiency and the media size - coarse. Someone else might very well get the same result at 6.5. If I need to adjust my effluent becaus of increased tank demand then I alower the effluent ph to get the results I want Just my thought.

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by rtolz

I just won an auction for a Masterflex digital drive with head.

More the merrier, welcome to the club.

[tkeracer619]

Originally Posted by hkgar

I think we pay too much attention to the effluent ph and not enough to the effluent ALK

Agreed. PH is just much easier to monitor real time and gives a good indication of the reactor. The KH output will be directly tied to the ph if media amount is unchanged. The ratio changes along with the media volume. This is why I suggested tuning to the regulator and not the probe. If you feed a metered amount of water and a metered amount of gas, in theory and from what I have observed it will just dissolve more media (as media volume is reduced) keeping the kh output the same over the life of the reactor.

[gdemos]

Anyone have extra LS 18 tubing? Getting a 7550-90 and the 16 tubing I have won't get the flow rate max I will need. Sorry to ask on this forum if not appropriate. Feel free to PM. thanks, -Greg

[gregr]

The manufacturer of my reactor says the same thing about following alkalinity instead of pH but man- it's effortless to monitor pH and alkalinity requires actual work lol.
Thanks for the feedback folks. I've been testing alk everyday now that the reactor is working efficiently so I'll base future adjustments on that (and Ca readings too I suppose).

[tkeracer619]

Greg, I think there was 2 boxs of masterflex ls18 on ebay for $50each for 50 feet a week ago.

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

This is why I suggested tuning to the regulator and not the probe. If you feed a metered amount of water and a metered amount of gas, in theory and from what I have observed it will just dissolve more media (as media volume is reduced) keeping the kh output the same over the life of the reactor.

Does this mean that as tank demand increase you increase flow or increase gas? Tuning the regulator and not the probe sounds like you would increase the gas to get a higher exiting effluent ALK?

Sorry to belabor this, but just trying to understand.

[gdemos]

thanks Mark. checked ebay and asked seller to clarify what he had listed...
US Plastics carries PHarMed BPT Tubing in smaller (more practical) quantity of 5' minimum
any difference between LS18 and this PharMed BPT which is made by Tygon?

USP carries a 5/16" ID (7.9375 mm ID) x 7/16"OD x 1/16" Wall, takes a 5/16" Barb.

CP carries LS18 which is ID 7.9 mm ID (.31"), and takes a 3/8" Barb

my concern is the 7550-90 which is 1-60 RPM needs the big tubing to get me up to 228 mL/Min which is conceivable I may need the capacity for. I've got enough LS16 tubing to wallpaper my house, but need LS18 or equivalent...