Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[slief]

Originally Posted by guc32

Ok and thanks for the advice. Should I be concern that its not an official Cole Parmer model number? Motor inside should still be serviceable through Cole Parmers parts?

I think the actual Cole Parmer part number for that pump is 7550-10. I think the screened part number is likely an OEM number or something.

http://www.coleparmer.com/Product/Ma...chTerm=7550-10

[guc32]

Yes that looks like to be the same one. Thank you for finding that out.

[hkgar]

I would definitely call Cole Parmer re the part number. Maybe just my paranoia but counterfeit comes to mind.

[Dean Graham]

Hi guys love the topic im from Australia and had the same problems with these calcium reactors
Masterflex pump on the way Ebay
AP digital bubble counter on the way.
As for dual stage regulator i need to buy here to suit our bottles so i can have one built to my specifacations and choose the output Psi Example is
1 Psi to 8 Psi Max
or 1 Psi to 25 Psi Maxi
The lower the maximum Psi setting the more accurate it will be so what would you people suggest please
And what pressure is working best AP bubble counters

cheers
Dean

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by Dean Graham

Hi guys love the topic im from Australia and had the same problems with these calcium reactors
Masterflex pump on the way Ebay
AP digital bubble counter on the way.
As for dual stage regulator i need to buy here to suit our bottles so i can have one built to my specifacations and choose the output Psi Example is
1 Psi to 8 Psi Max
or 1 Psi to 25 Psi Maxi
The lower the maximum Psi setting the more accurate it will be so what would you people suggest please
And what pressure is working best AP bubble counters

cheers
Dean

I think a range of 0 to 15 PSI would be good. I think most would use between 6 and 12. There is a relationship between PSI and bubble count as PSI determines the amount of CO2 in each bubble, if I am correct. The higher the bubble count, the lower the PSI.

Have you considered the Aquarium Plants CO2 doser? Here is the link.

http://www.aquariumplants.com/Carbon...ator_p/co2.htm

It is highly recommended. Might be cost prohibitive to get it shipped though.

[Dean Graham]

Thanks Hkgar
I have ordered that bubble counter from Aquarium products just waiting for it to arrive looking forward to try and get this calcium reactor dialled in at the momment I have AquaMedic KR 5000 it has been a real headache but I guess after reading this forum these other items will make all the difference

Cheers
Dean

[janes_mw]

Well, finally hooked my set up into my 300 gallon system. Once I "shoe horned" the reactor and the Masterflex in, it took me all of 10 minutes to get the system full, purged of air (I put a valve on the old input port so I could open to purge air, worked great) and running. Here is my initial settings:

Bottle pressure to Reactor 10 PSI
Effluent (draw from top of reactor) - 40-45 ml/minute
Bubbles - didn't count, but prolly 20 per minute
Reactor pH settled in at 6.56 (After 4 hours now still steady)

So far, so good. I'll check my Alk in tank in AM.

Still have to tidy up wires so yes, I know! Not much room in here anymore!


Pic of set up before I stuffed in the cabinet:


Settling of pH (tank pH low, yes):


Feeding the Beast:

[Pife]

I am having issues with check valves on the co2 line. It keeps leaking air into the reactor when the Aqua plants regulator is off. Any suggestions? I have tried several.

[slief]

Originally Posted by Pife

I am having issues with check valves on the co2 line. It keeps leaking air into the reactor when the Aqua plants regulator is off. Any suggestions? I have tried several.

I've seen some that have the John Guest style fittings on either side of the check valve. You might try some zip ties on both sides of the check valve and at the other barbed fittings as well. What check valves are you using? My AP check valves haven't leaked if I shut the reg off but I also have the connections secure as mentioned above.

Why is your regulator off to begin with? If it's off because of your reactor pH, you should try adjusting the bubble count so you get stable pH and the controller doesn't have to intervene. That's the beauty of the Cole Parmer coupled with a good regulator. My Apex never has to shut my Co2 supply off because my reactor pH stays perfectly stable as a result of the consistent flow and consistent bubble count. If your controller is shutting the Co2 supply off, you need to reduce your Co2 bubble count until your reactor pH stays at your target pH without the controllers help.

[Pife]

I'm using the check valve that came with my GEO 6x24. What is an ap check valve? I am just testing for leaks right now and getting it plumbed and all the lines fitted the way I want. I do have zip ties on the valve. I have tested them by blowing through them and they work but if you suck from the other side of the valve it pulls air through.

[Pife]

Thanks for the speedy response also. I am amazed at the amount of help you are willing to give. You really went out of your way to help my buddy Nick.

[slief]

Originally Posted by Pife

What is an ap check valve?

Its the one I got from Aquarium Plants when I bought my regulator. It's a small inline one similar to the Geo one. US Plastics has some nice check valves but you would need to convert your Co2 line to John Guest style 1/4" connections. Also, depending on your regulator, the check valve pressure could come into play.

http://www.usplastic.com/search/defa...+Tube+Fittings

[Aqualund]

Anyone have issues with the peristaltic tube breaking? Im using L/S 15 pump head with the most expensive new tubing from coleparmer, and I would say...over the last 2 years the tubings have busted about 5 times. Each time its a catastrophic failure, and the saltwater of course destroys the pump head by corroding it.

So, is everyone just using the easy load heads and not having this issue?

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by Aqualund

Anyone have issues with the peristaltic tube breaking? Im using L/S 15 pump head with the most expensive new tubing from coleparmer, and I would say...over the last 2 years the tubings have busted about 5 times. Each time its a catastrophic failure, and the saltwater of course destroys the pump head by corroding it.

So, is everyone just using th6 months. easy load heads and not having this issue?

Yes leaks can and have happened. I just regularly change my tube every 6 months. I am not sure what the rated hours are, but I seem to remember about 5000

[zachts]

Originally Posted by Aqualund

Anyone have issues with the peristaltic tube breaking? Im using L/S 15 pump head with the most expensive new tubing from coleparmer, and I would say...over the last 2 years the tubings have busted about 5 times. Each time its a catastrophic failure, and the saltwater of course destroys the pump head by corroding it.

So, is everyone just using the easy load heads and not having this issue?

That works out to around 3500 hrs assuming 24/7 use. Most of the high end tubing is rated for around 4000+ hrs at 50rpm, so if running faster than that it might wear out faster, but I don't think that it's unrealistic, you just need to replace tubing more often before letting it fail. Like every 2000hrs or so, I'd say. A lot just replace it quarterly or more often for good measure.

[hkgar]

Is my math wrong? 24 hours time 30 days equals 720 hours per month and in 6 months that would be 4320 hours in 6 months.

[zachts]

Originally Posted by hkgar

Is my math wrong? 24 hours time 30 days equals 720 hours per month and in 6 months that would be 4320 hours in 6 months.

looks like good math to me. tubing life span is just and average. lots of things can effect it and shorten the life, pump RPM, tubing not seated correctly, the type of fluid being pumped, lots of back pressure or excessive vacuum, dirt or debris getting into the rollers, or just a little sharp pointy sediment or sand getting sucked thru the tubing on a regular basis.

I prefer to err on the side of caution and replace things more often on critical components rather than push it to the limit.

[Aqualund]

thanks

[moondoggy4]

Originally Posted by gdemos

I put the Masterflex in a closet adjacent to my sump room. Here's some pics of the frag system that I've been talking about and the larger reactor on my display

I bought this unit today, can somebody tell me which model I got? I already have my calcium reactor but not the regulator not sure if I will go the Planet model or build your own.

The head is a 7014-20 the tubing is small like airline diameter. Thanks in advance

[d2mini]

Nice setup, haven't seen one of those consoles before.
Good idea with labeling the tubing date.

So you got that same console drive, moondoggy?

[moondoggy4]

^^^^^ Yes I did I got if from a local guy (semi that is 130 miles RT) for 50 bucks. Not sure if I have the correct head or right tubing, the max for this tubing is 15ml/mn, I want 35 to 50 ml/mn.

I guess I could use it for dripping Kalk for now.

[michael.lemke]

I am sure this has been discussed already but was wondering if this pump would work well. I found one used for a decent price. I already have the aquarium plants carbon doser and love the results so far. Thanks for any input.

[herring_fish]

Look at post #1179

[slief]

Originally Posted by michael.lemke

I am sure this has been discussed already but was wondering if this pump would work well. I found one used for a decent price. I already have the aquarium plants carbon doser and love the results so far. Thanks for any input.

Yep.. It's been discussed and nope, that pump is not suitable for calcium reactor use. Stenner pumps are not designed for 24/7 continuous duty. Nor can they be slowed down enough to meet the flow requirements of a calcium reactor. You really need a pump that you can control the ml/min rates very precisely and one that can pump continuously down to very low flow rates. +- 25ml/min. While you can adjust the flow on certain models, the motor spins at a constant speed but the adjustment controls a clutch that changes the frequency that the pump head engages in. The end result is that the motor never slows down. They are also TERRIBLY noisy. FWIW, I run a Stenner 85M5 for my ATO pump and they are probably the best ATO pump money can buy but I would never even consider using one for a calcium reactor as they don't offer the kind of precise control needed for calcium reactor use and would also result in flow irregulatities due to the fact that flow isn't constant if you slow them down. Instead it's intermittant due to the pump head clutch engagement.

[michael.lemke]

Originally Posted by slief

Yep.. It's been discussed and nope, that pump is not suitable for calcium reactor use. Stenner pumps are not designed for 24/7 continuous duty. Nor can they be slowed down enough to meet the flow requirements of a calcium reactor. You really need a pump that you can control the ml/min rates very precisely and one that can pump continuously down to very low flow rates. +- 25ml/min. While you can adjust the flow on certain models, the motor spins at a constant speed but the adjustment controls a clutch that changes the frequency that the pump head engages in. The end result is that the motor never slows down. They are also TERRIBLY noisy. FWIW, I run a Stenner 85M5 for my ATO pump and they are probably the best ATO pump money can buy but I would never even consider using one for a calcium reactor as they don't offer the kind of precise control needed for calcium reactor use and would also result in flow irregulatities due to the fact that flow isn't constant if you slow them down. Instead it's intermittant due to the pump head clutch engagement.

Perfect, that's what I needed to hear. Thank you.