Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

I have another questions... This might be a dumb question but I don't want to risk damaging the pump.

Will turning off the pump via the apex cause any damage to the controller or pump/motor? The controller as a switch on the back to power the unit on & off. Is turning it off with the switch the same as simply unplugging the cable or just cutting the power off via the apex?

When I do water changes I drain water out of the middle section of my sump and that is where the intake for the Masterflex is. If I don't stop the pump it will eventually suck in air. I have been stopping the motor manually by pressing start/stop while I do the water change but having the apex automatically shut it off would be better. (No risk of me forgetting to turn it back on)
 
Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

Isn't it perfectly safe for these to draw in air since its peristaltic?

Edit: never mind I guess you don't want air pumping into the carx lol

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Affordable_Reef said:
I have another questions... This might be a dumb question but I don't want to risk damaging the pump.

Will turning off the pump via the apex cause any damage to the controller or pump/motor? The controller as a switch on the back to power the unit on & off. Is turning it off with the switch the same as simply unplugging the cable or just cutting the power off via the apex?

When I do water changes I drain water out of the middle section of my sump and that is where the intake for the Masterflex is. If I don't stop the pump it will eventually suck in air. I have been stopping the motor manually by pressing start/stop while I do the water change but having the apex automatically shut it off would be better. (No risk of me forgetting to turn it back on)
Click to expand...

That shouldn't cause any issues. On the other hand, why not extend the inlet side of the line deeper into your sump so you don't need to worry about it drawing air?
 
slief said:
That shouldn't cause any issues. On the other hand, why not extend the inlet side of the line deeper into your sump so you don't need to worry about it drawing air?
Click to expand...

I could do that but I wanted to keep the line far off the bottom of the sump to prevent it from sucking in any detritus. I could re-route the line to my skimmer section which stays filled during the water change.
 
Affordable_Reef said:
I have another questions... This might be a dumb question but I don't want to risk damaging the pump.

Will turning off the pump via the apex cause any damage to the controller or pump/motor? The controller as a switch on the back to power the unit on & off. Is turning it off with the switch the same as simply unplugging the cable or just cutting the power off via the apex?
Click to expand...

If you can, set it up to turn off via the start/stop input on the back of the unit. A breakout box or using a relay would make this easy and is likely better for the unit. I cannot say for sure it's worse for the unit to power cycle but I have a suspicion it is.
 
africangrey said:
Since we are on the subject of tubing what are the differences between the platinum or peroxide cured in our application, does platinum silicon last longer thus commands a $10 more in price tag?
Click to expand...

Platinum cured tubing is about 30% stronger in terms of tearing. For our applications since we are (should be) changing tubing long before the expected lifespan i'm not sure it matters so much. Though, in the hobby of excess, why not spend the extra $10?
 
tkeracer619 said:
If you can, set it up to turn off via the start/stop input on the back of the unit. A breakout box or using a relay would make this easy and is likely better for the unit. I cannot say for sure it's worse for the unit to power cycle but I have a suspicion it is.
Click to expand...

Have you done this before? a diagram showing how to wire it would be great. Worse case scenario I can just physically stop it by pressing stop on the unit.
 
Thanks TKERacer for the thread. I just set up a masterflex propelled MRC cr1 for my 180 gallon reef and 50 refugium. I purchased a used 100 RPM digital brushless pump which came with a easy load 2 head. It's quiet , effective, and I stare at it as if a work of art. I run 75cc/min at 6.4pH and it holds the dkh between 8 and 9. Your instructions and following comments on set-up and adjustments were invaluable. While at it I also for very little money purchased a fixed 6 RPM cole parmer with two heads and run an AWC for a frag tank. Thanks again
 
I have a quick question. I have a 6-600rpm console drive masterflex with a single head. If I wanted to covert it to dual head is it as simple as just adding a second head and getting longer bolts to attach them?
 
gus6464 said:
I have a quick question. I have a 6-600rpm console drive masterflex with a single head. If I wanted to covert it to dual head is it as simple as just adding a second head and getting longer bolts to attach them?
Click to expand...

Yes it is. Just get a 2nd head and the longer screws.
 
As a base, what are a couple of good ones on eBay right now that aren't $1000?

My head exploded reading this thread!
 
Reel North said:
As a base, what are a couple of good ones on eBay right now that aren't $1000?



My head exploded reading this thread!
Click to expand...



This is literally the hardest part of setting this up. I just started searching eBay for master flex and watched for a bit.


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