Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[slief]

Originally Posted by hkgar

Thus my confusion. My flow is 40ml, bubble count 6 per minute and my reactor ph is 6.4.

Your flow is 26/ml and bubble rate of 15/minute (more than 2x mine) and your ph is 6.65.

If my bubble rate was equal to yours my ph would probably drop below 6, unless I pushed the flow rate quite high.

Are you sure your pH probe is accurate? That seems like a really low bubble rate for your flow rate. Then again, I run a Geo 818 reactor which is a pretty big reactor buy something doesn't sound right to me unless your effluent rate is a lot slower than you think it is.

[jimmy007]

Is this a brushless model can't find any info on google?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Masterflex-p...L#ht_265wt_916

[slief]

Originally Posted by jimmy007

Is this a brushless model can't find any info on google?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Masterflex-p...L#ht_265wt_916

No, it's a brushed motor. I don't think Those units aren designed for the Easy Load heads either and the quick load heads that they come with aren't really ideal. You can't use the good norprene tubing in them and they aren't really great for continuous use. The Easy Load heads handle the abuse much better so. I think the quick load heads pump less fluid per rotation due to a smaller roller assembly which results in the need to run the motor at a faster RPM. You could probably add an easy load head to it though and roll the dice as it may hold up but I would probably keep looking.

[rmchoi]

This is my first-time calcium reactor set up. Since this summer, I have been putting together the pieces for this. Started with a Lifereef calcium reactor LCR2. Then picked up used Masterflex 7523-70 pump and Victor 2 stage CO2 regulator /Ideal valve.







The reactor media is Reborn, just because this is what came with the reactor. I'm using an Easy Load 7518-00 pump head with tubing recommended by tkeracer619 on page 1 of this thread — BTW, thanks tkeracer619 for the guidance!

Cole-Parmer gave me a tip: when time to change the peristaltic tube, instead of replacing it, just slide the tube toward the output side. This lets the rollers push on a new section of unused tubing. Do this as again and again, as your tubing length allows.

So now, everything is plumbed and connected. Just need to plug in the ph probe and add water. Once it's running, tuning this is where I will be back asking for help!

[swk]

Originally Posted by rmchoi

This is my first-time calcium reactor set up. Since this summer, I have been putting together the pieces for this. Started with a Lifereef calcium reactor LCR2. Then picked up used Masterflex 7523-70 pump and Victor 2 stage CO2 regulator /Ideal valve.

The reactor media is Reborn, just because this is what came with the reactor. I'm using an Easy Load 7518-00 pump head with tubing recommended by tkeracer619 on page 1 of this thread — BTW, thanks tkeracer619 for the guidance!

Cole-Parmer gave me a tip: when time to change the peristaltic tube, instead of replacing it, just slide the tube toward the output side. This lets the rollers push on a new section of unused tubing. Do this as again and again, as your tubing length allows.

So now, everything is plumbed and connected. Just need to plug in the ph probe and add water. Once it's running, tuning this is where I will be back asking for help!

Keep us posted how you like the lifereef reactor. I have a geo I love that I'm currently using, but I also picked up the lifereef reactor too to try out at some point.

[rmchoi]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

After completing the last step set your peristaltic pump at 30ml/min.
Adjust your regulator until you get a ph of 6.5. Do not use the controller to set the ph, use the regulator.

I start up Lifereef CR and the Masterflex pump yesterday night. There are so many air leaks, that I had to dismantle everything and reassemble. Now there is only an occasional tiny air surge through the pump. The only place I can think is it might come from the unions. Hoping that replacing the two union gaskets will eliminate this completely.

After re-plumbing, its up and running today. According to tkeracer619, I set the peristaltic pump at 30ml/min. I started the CO2 at 1 bubble/sec. There is a steady drip of effluent. The reactor pH is steadily falling, reading 6.91 after a few hours.

So at this point, I guess hold the peristaltic pump at 30ml/min, keep eye on pH, adjust CO2 as needed until target alkalinity is reached?

[jduck]

I know its not necessary, but isit OK if I feed off of return line?

Noticed that the output isn't a steady drip. More of a cyclic drip drip drip drip.....pause

[scuzy]

I think you should just feed outbofbthe sump

[sfdan]

Under normal operation, my guess is the slight pressure your return pump is putting on the tubing isn't going to make any difference. If your tubing breaks though your return pump will just keep pushing water through it causing a small flood, whereas if it is fed directly from the sump, broken tubing in a peristaltic pump wont keep pulling water.

[hkgar]

Originally Posted by jduck

Noticed that the output isn't a steady drip. More of a cyclic drip drip drip drip.....pause

The drip pattern is a function of the rollers in the pump head as each roller pushes the water and there is a slight break for the space the roller takes.

[BigMike75]

Just pulled the trigger on a 7523-60 with Easy load 7518-00 head. These things are hard to come by for any kind of reasonable price. Got a bonus at work so I thought this would be the time to grab 1.

[BigMike75]

How long of a piece of l/s 17 tubing does everyone usually use in the rollers of the pump?

[scuzy]

A foot

[BigMike75]

Thanks

[atlfishes]

I recently changed my calcium reactor to the My Reef Creations (MRC CR-2), because I wanted a duel chamber reactor. What I'm finding is I can't maintain the same drip rate after about 48 hours. If I prime the Masterflex that buys me another 48 hours. When I prime it looks like I might be pulling out some air. Has anyone else had issues with MRC or other duel chamber reactors.

[BigMike75]

How tight should the adjustment on side of head be and is that to keep the tubing from walking in rollers? Using l/S 17 tubing.

Thanks

[slief]

Originally Posted by BigMike75

How tight should the adjustment on side of head be and is that to keep the tubing from walking in rollers? Using l/S 17 tubing.

Thanks

You want it tight but not pushing too much into the tubing. The idea is to hold the tubing in place and if the tubing is walking in the head then it isn't tight enough.

Here is the manual.
http://www.coleparmer.com/Assets/man...xEasyLoad1.pdf

[BigMike75]

Thanks

[balz3352]

Anyone on here running masterflex digi-staltic 7527-34? Just got one off Craigslist and there tested it and couldn't quite figure it out but it eventually worked. Now cant get it to turn al buttons work. Getting code 65536. Anyone

[swk]

Originally Posted by balz3352

Anyone on here running masterflex digi-staltic 7527-34? Just got one off Craigslist and there tested it and couldn't quite figure it out but it eventually worked. Now cant get it to turn al buttons work. Getting code 65536. Anyone

Try Cole parmer customer service. They're always happy to help.

[balz3352]

They unfortunately were no help stating that pump was long discontinued and no longer supported... Luckily. I opened up the box and a cord was loose plugged it in and now at least uncalibrated mode works!! Woo hoo!

[dwsindy]

Quick install question with the pumps and the tubing. Are you all trying to keep the tubing size similar when transitioning from the size 17 on the input and output of the Masterflex pump? Or does it matter? I see on some pics of install where the tubing has been reduced down to 1/4".

Apologize if this has been asked and answered before.

[BigMike75]

L/S 17 ID is 1/4 inch tubing. When you use the murlock fittings you are able to us RO tubing for your runs.

[royvoss]

not sure if this is the place to post this, i just finished plumbing this up , pulling thru the reactor, everything seems to be fine, have not turned on the c02 tank, not real sure were i should start with the flow rate and bubble count, a bit nervous, i am dosing 2 part and kalk, right now doing 60 ml of 2 part and 2 literes of kalk per day, and just added 10 frags a few days ago. if anybody can give me staring point ,it would helpfull, from reading i this thread i keep leaning toward 30ml and 1 bubble every 2-4 seconds . and test and adjust from there. the reactor is oversized, i have a larger tank in the works. cuurent volume is 150 gallon.

[Chicago]

Glad I found this thread.