Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[zachts]

The beauty of this setup is that you do not switch things on/off ever, and it results in very stable tank conditions. That said I will agree there are other options out there to make this work out with continuous flow adjustable speed pumps though.

I will note also for the more DIY inclined that a cole-parmer L/S pump head can be had on ebay for under $30 new and you just need to pair it with a motor capable of turning it. A cheap pwm motor control can allow you to get a good degree of variable speed. And a setup like this would cost you well under $100.

For example there are some great little Ametek/Pittman three head pumps on ebay right now using the cole parmer head that would be perfect. You only need one of the heads and removing the other 2 puts less strain on the motor making PWM speed control more effective. These happen to be great little pumps, I bought several for dosing and AWC before the seller realized what he had and jacked up his price. They work Great, by the way.

The all in one systems discussed in this thread are great but not absolutely needed to make this work out just as well. Just my thoughts to save some money for those on a tight budget with the skills to DIY electronics and such.

 

[AcroporAddict]

There are other options, but this thread is to help those using Masterflex pumps, and is not suggesting these are the only pumps available.

Also, I do use a controller pH probe with my CO2 setup, set to the lowest hysteresis. What impresses me about the Masterflex pumps is the consistent delivery of correct effluent flow rates, which is something I never had, and makes them worth the purchase price alone. My KH has never been more stable in my 465 gallon SPS tank.

Stenner pumps are not bad, but you will be in for $250-$300 or so for one that is adjustable, and you can buy a used Masterflex with pump head off ebay for that amount or less.

 

[Haksar]

Nothing will change. Right now your regulator turns the gas on and off based on the controller. You don't want to change the total amount of gas input you just want to make it so it delivers it in a steady stream. The reason you set the controller to turn the reg off if it gets to low is so that you don't mess something up. One of the easiest ways to adjust this is to operate the setup like normal and just back off the gas until it never turns off. After you get there you can change your ph lower and the regulator should just run and run at the correct delivery rate.

Sorry I am a bit confused does this mean I need to lower the ph in the controller for the regulator to run continuously without dropping the BPM.

 

[dkeller_nc]

Stenner pumps are not bad, but you will be in for $250-$300 or so for one that is adjustable, and you can buy a used Masterflex with pump head off ebay for that amount or less.

I simply noted this because someone earlier on had mentioned buying a new Masterflex to avoid the uncertainty of R&R of used equipment. You can, of course, buy used Stenners, Rolachems, etc... for a whole lot less than they cost new.

One other option - the king of the hill in adjustable, bullet-proof peristaltic dosing pumps is Watson-Marlow. They are far more reliable and ruggedly built than CP's masterflex, and are widely used in the industry that I work in (pharmaceutical/medical). They are prohibitively expensive new, but they can often be purchased from used equipment sites and e-bay for $200-$300.

 

[CW from the OC]

Is the Cole Parmer MasterFlex Peristaltic pump with easy load drive 7523-20 digital drive, a good unit?

The CP website doesn't have the full description up for that one anymore, but from what I saw of the specs for the "direct replacement" they list, it looks perfect. If it was available when I was looking I would have pounced on it.

 

[aquaenthusiast]

Yes, you can pull through the reactor by putting the pump input to the effluent output of the reactor. It will draw the effluent through the reactor the same as pushing water through it. The only difference is that if you are pushing and the reactor output gets clogged the reactor will leak water.

so it is wiser to pull water out/from the calcium reactor? is there any better benefit to push it through?

 

[AcroporAddict]

so it is wiser to pull water out/from the calcium reactor? is there any better benefit to push it through?

I push through and haven't had any issues, but Mark is saying if you pull through the reactor with the CP pump in stead of pushing through, you avoid possibly overpowering the calcium reactors seals (O-Rings, tubing connectors,etc) if the output of the reactor clogs up, since the CP pump won't be pushing water towards a clogged up effluent line reactor.

No real benefit of pushing water vs pulling through a reactor that I can see. Pulling is probably the safest way. Probably just not done a lot because it would appear a bit counter intuitive if you have always fed from a pump or manifold (pushing water through).

 

[agv180]

hello


tell them my opinion, for many years I had a 1502 korallin which controlled it with pHMeter and effluent needle with a wrench .
I could never control it was impossible because the key was not accurate and if the regulated soon was out of position . which did not allow to have the necessary amount of ml .

5 months ago change the reactor and buy a Schuran jetstream 1 " is perfect, the best in the world as the manufacturer says " reactor also purchase a " master flex peristaltic pump 7554-80 " with a "head 7518-00 ." the settings are made ​​through this link http://reef.diesyst.com/reactor/reactor.html is extracourse aragonite and magnesium zeomag . the internal pH of the reactor is 6.52 and I have 24 ml of effluent. aquarium system is 200 gall which is holding me alone with the reactor 2 months ago I do not add any other element to meet the parameters which was impossible without masterflex pump. because the amount of effluent varied over time.


as I said in the post , the pump is worth every penny of the cost because it is for life and allows fine control the reactor.

recommend the pump masterflex

I apologize for my bad English .

 

[meshwheel]

You guys want to hear something great about the older Knops that I did not even realize until reading the directions years later??
You can run a Tee off the recirculation pump and use it to take water into the reactor as well! HA!!!! Do not even need to worry about a additional pump to feed it!

 

[meshwheel]

agv180,
I would imagine becasue the pump is so stong, small deviations in the back pressure in the reactor cannot effect it. That's great!!!! Sounds like that will make you life a heck of alot easier for sure!!!
I hope it goes all well for you now! Good luck!!

 

[Theokie]

Masterflex Brush Replacement

Masterflex Brush Replacement

I've gotten two pumps off of ebay and they are a bit louder then I expected, I'm wondering if a brush replacement might quiet them down a bit.

Has anyone on here done a brush or bearing replacement? And if so is it as easy at it appears, just removing the cap and then removing the assemblies?

 

[turkeyty]

Finally got everything setup this week... Its a deltec with an aquariumplants regulator, fed by a cole parmer digital pump pulling through reactor. The ap regulator was easy peasy to set and I'm running the ph at 6.5 in reactor. I currently have the cp pump pulling 40ml a minute... I will make adjustments as warranted through the next few weeks. It seems that using both the ap reg and cp pump has made this project go together easily and effortlessly. Hopefully the added expense will allow me to enjoy the aquarium and corals more and not be fiddling with the equipment and supplements as much...

Once again, A BIG THANKS to Mark for his help! Here's a picture of the finished set up...

Ty

 

[mntnbighker]

Nice tip

Nice tip

Just one example - look up "stenner classic series" on google. Some of these are fixed delivery rate pumps (though the actual rate delivered can be changed by changing the tubing size), but they also make variable-delivery pumps that are adjustable by means of a mechanical transmission. And they're continuous-duty.

US Water Systems has the Stenner 85 series adjustable PS pumps on sale right now for $336. The 85M5 is 11 to 223 ml/min which sounds about perfect for most ca reactor needs from what I am reading in other posts. Thanks for the tip. I think this makes much more sense than a used CP pump with unknown hours on it. Anybody know if the 45 series are much quieter being half the motor rpm of the 85 series?

:beer:

 

[CW from the OC]

That Stenner is very interesting. I'd give it a try if I didn't recently pick up 2 Cole Parmers. Someone buy one and try it out!!!

 

[EvMiBo]

Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

I purchased a 7520-25 with quick load head used from eBay ($125 shipped). Works well but it is relatively old and somewhat noisy. CP doesn't make the model but if you search for it on their site it gives you the modern equivalent. I have no large complaints other than the age and the noise.

But, I am considering purchasing a stenner 45M5 (also on "sale"). Which is adjustable from 6.6 to 131 mL/min. I have a knack for trying to purchase new gear and the old CP pump worries me some.

Fwiw, the stenner 45's and 85's use the same motor but the 45's run at 26 RPM (max. I assume) as opposed to the 85's 44 RPM. It's a safe bet to assume the 45's will be quieter. The only 45's I'd be comfortable buying are the M4 or M5 due to their volume range.

 

[meshwheel]

Nice job Ty!.........................STAY THIRSTY MY FRIEND....................

 

[Pseudo69]

Thanks CW.

 

[tkeracer619]

Sweet! Looks great. Well oiled machine! Any updates?

As far as noise is concerned going to a brushless unit is the answer. They are silent.

Changing the bearings in the pump head is straight forward. I suggest a nice Japanese bearing if your supply house has them but they should be available locally.

Changing brushes on a brushed unit is straight forward. I have actually seen replacements at Ace Hardware... You should still be able to order from CP or find the brushes surplus if you want originals.

Taking the motor itself apart is a bit more complex but if it does have bad bearings (still crunchy with brushes and gearing removed) they can be replaced. I have never done so and if I did would probably take it to a specialist for service.

I have an old brushed unit for my ATO pump. The thing sounds like pure hell. Pumps just fine . It could be a good candidate for a rebuild.

Sorry I am a bit confused does this mean I need to lower the ph in the controller for the regulator to run continuously without dropping the BPM.

Ultimately, you want the AP regulator to run continuously. With this setup there is no need to worry about the ph changing on you randomly. You are supplying a metered amount of water and gas. The ph probe should be there only as a meter and to make adjustment easy. On my setup the controller is set to turn off the reactor should ph drop to 6.3. Since I run my reactor at 6.5 it never turns the regulator off.

 

[tkeracer619]

How I tune my reactor.

How I tune my reactor.

Everyone will come up with their own way but this is how I do it using arm standard (fine) media. Tune to Alk not calcium. If you have a stable Alk and sufficient magnesium (3x calcium) then calcium will remain stable. So again test for all 3 but focus mainly on Alk(dKh).

-Test Tank
-Run CaRx for a few hours without gas at 30ml/min.
-Make sure Regulator is set low and slowly turn on the bottle.
-Set bubble count to about 30BPM
-Slowly increase gas pressure until it reaches a chamber ph of 6.5
-Test Tank
*If levels are falling
-Increase both gas flow and effluent flow by the same percent. Raise to 35ml/min and 35BPM.
-Test Tank
*If levels are still falling repeat until tank is close to stable.
-Test Tank
-Make fine adjustments to the regulator via gas pressure or bpm to achieve stability.
-Test Tank
*Once levels are stable adjust levels of tank via 2part.
-Test Tank
*Once tank remains stable adjust the regulator such that you try to reduce pressure and increase bubble count. a 50% decrease in pressure (15-7.5psi) is equal to a 100% increase in bubble count (30BPM-60BPM).

Test often at first and at least every week from then on out. Keep a log book of your test results and what changes you made. You will be surprised at what you learn about your tank, its consumption, and your husbandry.

 

[EvMiBo]

Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

*Once tank remains stable adjust the regulator such that you try to reduce pressure and increase bubble count. a 50% decrease in pressure (15-7.5psi) is equal to a 100% increase in bubble count (30BPM-60BPM)

If you don't mind, can you elaborate on this some?