Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

I wonder if someone could give me some pointers. I've been running a GEO 618, masterflex, and dual stage regulator for 6-8 months now. I enjoy the quality of the gear but I still just don't seem to have a handle on tuning it. Sps bioload is small to moderate but really starting to take off. To the point that if I don't touch the reactor, my alk will drop about 0.4-0.5 dkh per week at my previous setting.

Right now I am running at 42 rpm, with my regulator at 15 psi, and I get about 1 bubble every 4-5 seconds. The ph in the reactor is fairly high at 7.25. Reborn media.

Now...I ran the ph even higher at 7.35 and 1 bubble per 8 seconds, and when things started growing noticeably, daily, the dkh began dropping.

My problem now is I cannot seem to get my adjustments to hold still. Even a literal hair turn of the needle valve will cause my alk to shoot up 0.5-1 dkh over a 1-2 day span, and I'll have to back it off a hair and it'll drop again. I can't seem to figure out how to make small enough adjustments to just get my alk to hold still. Every tiny adjustment I make in the co2 seems to cause a knee jerk shift in alk.

I don't think I'm understanding the concept of tuning and adjustment. I don't think I can run my effluent slow enough to use a 6.5 ph inside the reactor without nuking the tank. Someone help with my tuning and adjustments please


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Try to do the hair turn of the co2 that causes the alk to rise and then do the final tweaking with the master flex by bumping that up 1. Wait and see if that levels off and if not bump it up one more. I would just try to do the fine tuning with the pump now to see if you can get it stable


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Tank PH shut off

Tank PH shut off

Curious is anyone has a command line in your programming to shut down the reactor if the tank ph drop too low - less than 7.8 or there abouts?
 
20170718_124617

Just picked these both up as a package deal for $450. Pretty good deal right? I'm going to take what I need and sell the rest. What should I keep? Easy Load or Easy Load II? One or two heads? Really dont think I need 4. The setup on the right or left? Surprisingly the setup on the left has a noticeably louder humm. The one on the right is pretty quite. Probably not too big of a deal once inside my cabinet.

I was thinking of running two heads into one so I can run the motor at a lower RPM. Thoughts?
Left setup is 7524-50. Right is 7553-80 with 7553-71 controller.

Just noticed these are only 1-100 rpm units. Problem?

Thanks Sleif for the previous answer.
 
Last edited:
Just joined the club!!! Picked up a 7550-30, but it doesn't have a pump head. What models should I start looking for? I know from reading this thread 7518 is a good model that uses the L17 tubing.... what other models should I be on the look out for?
thx
 
Anyone know if the 7523-00 is brushless? Or the rpms on it? I know the 7523-60 is brushless but cole parmer doesn't list the 00 on its site.

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I have having an issue with co2 bubble accumulation at the top of my reactor. I believe my slow flow contributes to the co2 accumulating too easily.

5ml, 2psi, 10 seconds a bubble for a 10g, 7.5g sump system.

My system is sort of stable but I believe the gradual bubble accumulation is affecting effluent and it's nutrients.

What is the best way to increase my flow throughout the system without nuking my tank?





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Jonnywhoop said:
I have having an issue with co2 bubble accumulation at the top of my reactor. I believe my slow flow contributes to the co2 accumulating too easily.

5ml, 2psi, 10 seconds a bubble for a 10g, 7.5g sump system.

My system is sort of stable but I believe the gradual bubble accumulation is affecting effluent and it's nutrients.

What is the best way to increase my flow throughout the system without nuking my tank?





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Click to expand...


Raise the ph in the chamber.


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Have the new unit, pump headed & material from USPlastics coming next week... now I need to get the threaded rod to mount the head. Way back in the thread there is mention of 8/32 threaded rods, is this standard for all Masterflex pumps? About 3 1/2"?
 
michael.lemke said:
Raise the ph in the chamber.


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To raise my ph - I would slowly up my masterflex mL up which would give the co2 less time to saturate the media correct?

My alk numbers have been solid for a bit now, what are my other consequences of raising my flow to say 10mL, coming from 5ml where it's at currently?


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No other consequences. Your hypothesis is correct. Raising your effluent rate will reduce contact time and increase the ph of the reactor. Which will lower the amount of supplement it provides. Your alkalinity in your tank will start to gradually fall


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Bpb said:
No other consequences. Your hypothesis is correct. Raising your effluent rate will reduce contact time and increase the ph of the reactor. Which will lower the amount of supplement it provides. Your alkalinity in your tank will start to gradually fall


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Yup. Plus 1


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Stickboy97 said:
Have the new unit, pump headed & material from USPlastics coming next week... now I need to get the threaded rod to mount the head. Way back in the thread there is mention of 8/32 threaded rods, is this standard for all Masterflex pumps? About 3 1/2"?
Click to expand...

You have the Easy Load II. It's thicker than the Easy Load. 8/32 thread by 3 1/2" will work good. I had to buy a 4" long and cut it down 1/2".
 
slief said:
Yes, That is the equivalent of LS17 tubing and it's used in the pump head. Most of us adapt that tubing to 1/4" RODI style tubing to connect between the tank and the pump and the reactor and the pump.
Click to expand...

How do you adapt the 1/4 id tube to 1/4 od ro tubing? Do you use a plastic nipple or push the ro tubing into the pump head tubing?
 
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