Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[scuzy]

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Guys, are the easy load heads interchangeable across different masterflex pumps? My load head is in good shape, but the economy drive whirs, clanks, squeaks something awful. It's in a basement fish room so I'm not fussed about the noise just that as it's increasing the drive may be closing in on end of life.

Heads are interchangeable.


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[tkeracer619]

They're interchangeable as long as they are not a custom job or a long shaft version.

Typically as long as the drive cog doesn't stick out of the back of the head an inch you have a standard version that is interchangeable.

It probably needs new bearings and brushes. You can rip it apart if your careful and repair it. I actually have an economy drive that is as you describe... still works though. I'm going to do a rebuild on it like I did the brushless drive. Not sure when though.

[Ssteve]

I ended up buying a 7550-30 with a 7017-21 head for $200 off eBay. I went through and low balled a bunch of people and just so happened to get lucky. Can't wait to get it up and running cause I'm tired of trying to dial in my calrx just to have the feed pump crap out or slow down.

[tkeracer619]

Awesome! Welcome to the club! Post some pics when you get it set up.

[DanConnor]

I just bought a Cole Parmer Masterflex L/S Computerized Drive 7550-30 w Easy Load II 77201-62 off ebay for $420.

So I'll be on here asking stupid questions soon.

[Ssteve]

Originally Posted by DanConnor

I just bought a Cole Parmer Masterflex L/S Computerized Drive 7550-30 w Easy Load II 77201-62 off ebay for $420.

So I'll be on here asking stupid questions soon.

Considering I just got the same pump, please ask away as I am sure ill have the same or similar questions and its hard to go back through 100 pages every time you want something answered.

[balz3352]

Hey there. So I'm going to be setting up a calcium reactor here soon and have some questions. I have never set one up before usually do 2 part and on the tank that this reactor is going on kalk. Kalk can't keep up and I want to do calcium reactor with the masterflex setup. Really I just need to make sure that im putting the right stuff in the right spots.

Ive attached a pic with a drawing on it and a blank
Its a dual chamber reeftek reactor.

Im getting my carbon doser in the mail hopefully tomorrow. Have the masterflex pic below.


If you have some tips on setting up a reactor please post up!!

[tkeracer619]

Awesome! You're going to love this setup.

First thing I would do is not stop your current dosing scheme. Kalkwasser is a great addition to any high demand reef. They certainly can work together.

Replace the needle valve with a simple push to fit fitting. You don't need it anymore. Use teflon paste on the threads instead of tape. It's ideal to pull through the reactor instead of push.

Once you get media, have it all plumbed together, and the regulator hooked up turn the system on without turning on the regulator. You can turn the speed up on the masterflex to fill but go down to 20rpm to start off tuning. Once the chambers are full go ahead and kick on the recirculation pump to purge any air in the system. I'd let it run a couple hours like this.

While your waiting, without plugging the regulator power adapter into the reg, make sure the regulator adjustment knob is turned counter clockwise until you feel low resistance. Open the co2 tank slowly, then turn the regulator adjustment clockwise until you build pressure on the 2nd gauge. Close the valve to the co2 tank and make sure pressure in the guages doesn't drop. Give it a couple hours as well. It should hold pressure. This checks for leaks in the regulator and at the bottle to regulator connection.

Once you are done making sure there are no leaks open the bottle. Set the regulator for lowest amount of gas flow. 8 seconds per bubble or something like that. Plug the regulator in and set it to 6 psi. Over the next couple hours slowly adjust the regulator seconds per bubble setting faster until you get to 6.5ph.

Test the tank several times per day to see how the tank is responding. If the tank is still dropping add more gas and effluent flow to keep 6.5ph. Continue adjusting and testing until it becomes stable.

[ca1ore]

Is that an older reactor? Looks a lot like the unit a buddy of mine runs, I just can't remember the name. If it is, he's had pretty good success running reborn in the main cylinder and ARM fine in the secondary. We did fool around with the design a bit. IMO, The probe port is in the wrong chamber and I don't like the way the second chamber is fed water.

[Ssteve]

My 7550-30 just arrived today. Hooked it all up to push through my lifereef reactor. Initially it caused a few spots on the reactor to start seeping a little but I was able to get it sorted out. 12rpm ended up being 30ml min which is about where I was previously.

[balz3352]

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Is that an older reactor? Looks a lot like the unit a buddy of mine runs, I just can't remember the name. If it is, he's had pretty good success running reborn in the main cylinder and ARM fine in the secondary. We did fool around with the design a bit. IMO, The probe port is in the wrong chamber and I don't like the way the second chamber is fed water.

It is an old reeftek I got from a local guy getting out for cheap. Planning on using reborn throughout. We'll see how it works. Im hoping for good results.

[balz3352]

Dumb question. How full do you fill the reactor chambers?

[Vinny Kreyling]

Loosen the screws & twist the tops to the wide part of the slot & lift off.
The center pipe will have to be disconnected.
There is a gasket under the tops & generally it will stick to the top or bottom surface.
A scraper or screwdriver will let you see the solution.
Just take it slow & you will have no problems.
Leave an inch or so of clearance under the lids when filling.

[balz3352]

So inch or so below the top on both chambers?

[Pseudo69]

Balz3352, have you tested out your Masterflex? I was looking at the same setup but wanted to know if it was loud at all?

Everyone else, Which Digital Masterflex unit head is the quietest? My system in in my bedroom.

[balz3352]

Originally Posted by Pseudo69

Balz3352, have you tested out your Masterflex? I was looking at the same setup but wanted to know if it was loud at all?

Everyone else, Which Digital Masterflex unit head is the quietest? My system in in my bedroom.

I have tested briefly its pretty dang quiet. Not silent but much MUCH quieter than the brushed unit i have.

[Vinny Kreyling]

Yes both chambers.

[balz3352]

Another stupid question. Just realized that I don't have a bubble counter is it necessary/recommend with the Carbondoser

[Pseudo69]

What are the model numbers if you don't mind. I need to pull the trigger

Thank you

[slief]

Originally Posted by balz3352

Another stupid question. Just realized that I don't have a bubble counter is it necessary/recommend with the Carbondoser

Not really needed with the carbon doser but it's nice to have one so you can verify the bubble rate. I keep my output at 3 PSI on my regulator..

[DanConnor]

Originally Posted by Ssteve

Considering I just got the same pump, please ask away as I am sure ill have the same or similar questions and its hard to go back through 100 pages every time you want something answered.

Well, looks like I screwed up already. The Easy Load II 77201-62 doesn't accept LS 17 tubing. Only 15, 24, 35, 36. So now I have to figure out what to do...

[DanConnor]

OK. So Cole-Parmer just seems to give inside diameter on their tubing sizes. LS15 has a barb size of 3/16" and ID of .189" which is about the same.
https://www.masterflex.com/i/masterf...-15-25/0650815

Can I buy the 3/16" ID tubing from this site, and use that?
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/ite...3886&catid=664

If so, then all I have to do is figure out how to connect that to my calcium reactor tubing.

[tkeracer619]

ID doesn't matter with tubing, it's the wall thickness that matters. Performance tubing has a thicker wall. Precision has a 1/16" wall.

I'm not completely sure what the wall thickness is for performance tubing and don't actually have any personal experience with it. They state that it is a proprietary size so I am unsure if you can get any compatible tubes without going to cole parmer. It is very expensive from them. You are looking for a pharmed BPT type tube.

This is why I recommend the ls17 compatible heads. You can buy tygon brand tube from us plastics for cheep.

[ca1ore]

Been slowly modifying my trusty old MTC ProCal. I've had it for a while - bought in 1999, I think. As the tank has grown, so has the need for minerals, thus the recent 'expansion'. Added a large rubble chamber, so turned old one into a CO2 mixing chamber based on the old downdraft skimmer principles. No radicalized CO2 chez moi.



A very basic MasterFlex pump. Had been getting noisy, but I cleaned and lubricated it, now not noisy at all. Flow is down through initial CO2 chamber, up through main rubble chamber, then up through final chamber. Bioballs in first chamber, reborn in second, fine ARM in third. I have a solenoid set to vent the initial chamber periodically, though as I run the system under slight pressure, gas buildup has yet to be a problem.



Jeff at MTC made me a double-wide rubble chamber - well, OK, double-tall. Lid is drilled for a pH probe. Changed from down flow to up flow.

[DanConnor]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

ID doesn't matter with tubing, it's the wall thickness that matters. Performance tubing has a thicker wall. Precision has a 1/16" wall.

I'm not completely sure what the wall thickness is for performance tubing and don't actually have any personal experience with it. They state that it is a proprietary size so I am unsure if you can get any compatible tubes without going to cole parmer. It is very expensive from them. You are looking for a pharmed BPT type tube.

This is why I recommend the ls17 compatible heads. You can buy tygon brand tube from us plastics for cheep.

Not sure I entirely understand. The tygon tubing (at the link in my email) is acceptable, but the problem is that we know the measurements of LS17 but not LS15?