DanConnor
Active member
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...
Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread
- Thread starter tkeracer619
- Start date
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
Active member
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/masterflex-pharmed-bpt-tubing-l-s-15-25/0650815
Can I buy the 3/16" ID tubing from this site, and use that?
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23886&catid=664
If so, then all I have to do is figure out how to connect that to my calcium reactor tubing.
https://www.masterflex.com/i/masterflex-pharmed-bpt-tubing-l-s-15-25/0650815
Can I buy the 3/16" ID tubing from this site, and use that?
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23886&catid=664
If so, then all I have to do is figure out how to connect that to my calcium reactor tubing.
tkeracer619
New member
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.
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.
MTC Procal Mods
MTC Procal Mods
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.
MTC Procal Mods
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.
Last edited by a moderator:
DanConnor
Active member
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?
tkeracer619
New member
They do not publish wall thickness on the performance tubing. It could very well be 1/8" inch but I cannot be sure as I have never measured it and the only person I know who tried it only got a couple days out of the tubing.
Precision tubing has a 1/16" wall so you can use off the shelf tubing. The one you linked is probably just fine. Looks like a pharmed BPT tube.
The wall thickness is critical as that effects how tight the rollers pinch it. An incorrect wall thickness either causes a no flow situation or a rapid tube rupture.
If you do purchase the tube from CP make sure you are getting a pharmed BPT tube as it has excellent life and properties. Also, if you do so, please measure the wall thickness with a set of calipers. 20' of tube is going to last a very long time! Maybe you can split it with someone who else who has a performance head.
Precision tubing has a 1/16" wall so you can use off the shelf tubing. The one you linked is probably just fine. Looks like a pharmed BPT tube.
The wall thickness is critical as that effects how tight the rollers pinch it. An incorrect wall thickness either causes a no flow situation or a rapid tube rupture.
If you do purchase the tube from CP make sure you are getting a pharmed BPT tube as it has excellent life and properties. Also, if you do so, please measure the wall thickness with a set of calipers. 20' of tube is going to last a very long time! Maybe you can split it with someone who else who has a performance head.
scuzy
Active member
I user it to shut the masterflex off if pH is to far off.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Both my masterflex and solenoid are not controlled by the apex. Just plugged into constant power.
Set masterflex at say 30ml and adjust ph in CaRx to 6.5 then test my tanks alk change after a day. Then adjust to higher ph if its raising too much alk since 30ml is lowest setting. But if alk dropped then I would up my 30ml to 40ml and adjust solenoid to 6.5 ph again.
Adjust till constant alk readings.
Set masterflex at say 30ml and adjust ph in CaRx to 6.5 then test my tanks alk change after a day. Then adjust to higher ph if its raising too much alk since 30ml is lowest setting. But if alk dropped then I would up my 30ml to 40ml and adjust solenoid to 6.5 ph again.
Adjust till constant alk readings.
hkgar
Active member
Exactly, funny so many people just can't understand it. I do have to adjust mine
a bit as growth will continue to increase the amount being used and as you start using more the rate at which it increases also increases. I am at abut 2.3 dKH/day and have started supplementing the reactor with ATO with Kalk.
hkgar
Active member
I have a virtual outlet "CAREACON" I switch from OFF to ON and the power outlets for the reactor, mixing pump and regulator monitor the condition and shut down "If Outlet CAREACON = ON Then OFF
DanConnor
Active member
OK, so I ordered both. :hmm5: I don't have calipers, but I would say the cole-parmer wall is about 1/8" thick, or about twice as thick as the other.
Seems to work fine. I plugged it in and turned it on and it was already set to 45 ml per minute- probably a good place to start. This pump seems to really be working to pump at that rate- normal? It's in a basement room so no worries on the noise.
People generally pull water through the ca reactor with these? Seems like a safer approach than pushing...
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