Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[tkeracer619]

Please post detailed pictures. Change the masterflex so it pushes through the reactor.

You are way too close to having a stable reactor to not give it a fair shot.

 

[skidrow52]

Please post the picture of your reactor which shows how the tubes are connected

Yes, it is leaving from the lid.

A few locals suggested I was putting to much c02 in the tank, but i had the pressure gauge set to 4, with a bubble every 8 seconds and it held the ph rock steady at 6.5.

I tried changing the larger bubble less frequently (10 seconds), smaller bubbles more often, using the apex/ph probe to Co tool the ph inside the reactor and all ended in the same result.

 

[Dapg8gt]

How loud are the digital brushless units? Is there any noise at the lower speed we use them @? Asking because I would need to put it behind my tank that's basically in a corner so it will make anything sorta echo that's running..

Can you guys hear them running?

 

[dburt520]

Please post the picture of your reactor which shows how the tubes are connected

I did have it set to push, and also tried to pull. Pushing was better...

The only pic I have is of it sitting on my counter as I took it offline.

 

[tkeracer619]

m running?

No, you can't hear the digitals.

I did have it set to push, and also tried to pull. Pushing was better...

The only pic I have is of it sitting on my counter as I took it offline.

Glad you gave it a shot, too bad you didn't give it time to figure it out. If you decide to hook it back up let us know. If you don't you may want to describe the problem you had in your fs post. A reactor trapping gas isn't "fiddling". Could be anything from a bad fitting to the wrong media (arm extra course is likely the wrong media).

Out of curiosity can you post a picture of the bottom of the lid? It is hard to tell with the photos I found with the BM reactor but with all those tubes running all over the place in one of the images I think I already spot the problem.

 

[Dapg8gt]

No, you can't hear the digitals.



Glad you gave it a shot, too bad you didn't give it time to figure it out. If you decide to hook it back up let us know. If you don't you may want to describe the problem you had in your fs post. A reactor trapping gas isn't "fiddling". Could be anything from a bad fitting to the wrong media (arm extra course is likely the wrong media).

Out of curiosity can you post a picture of the bottom of the lid? It is hard to tell with the photos I found with the BM reactor but with all those tubes running all over the place in one of the images I think I already spot the problem.

Thanks for the response I need to get on the hunt for a good unit. I have dual stage regulator coming from a friend and now I just need the digital unit to go along with my reactor.


Anybody have a good deal on a digital/brushless one let me know.

 

[tkeracer619]

If the budget for Dburt's pump is ok then I would go that route. It is an awesome setup! Otherwise they are slim pickings right now.

 

[muttley101]

Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

Watson, Sorry for the confusion what I was talking about was the brass parts between your regulator and ap doser

 

[Dapg8gt]

If the budget for Dburt's pump is ok then I would go that route. It is an awesome setup! Otherwise they are slim pickings right now.

Yeah I've been looking and it seems you are right.. I really can't spend the $ on that one right now unless I do a large frag sale.. It may come down to that but by the time I'm done I'm sure it would be gone =)..

 

[dburt520]

No, you can't hear the digitals.



Glad you gave it a shot, too bad you didn't give it time to figure it out. If you decide to hook it back up let us know. If you don't you may want to describe the problem you had in your fs post. A reactor trapping gas isn't "fiddling". Could be anything from a bad fitting to the wrong media (arm extra course is likely the wrong media).

Out of curiosity can you post a picture of the bottom of the lid? It is hard to tell with the photos I found with the BM reactor but with all those tubes running all over the place in one of the images I think I already spot the problem.

Here are pics of how the lines are ran, and bottom of lid.

Water feed line:


CO2 feed line from regulator:


Bottom of lid - center if my efluent OUTPUT lube that ran back into tank:


Outside top of lid - again, center is effluent, right side is the CO2 recirculation line to the recirculation pump:


Please, if something is not right let me know. I would gladly like to use it because it worked awesome for 3 or 4 days, and then clogged. Reset it, and 3 or 4 days later it would clog again. I travel quite a bit for 3 or 4 days at a time, so I need to trust my equipment while I am away.

It is a smaller reactor, so perhaps my media was not right. The LFS recommended it and after reading about it many had good results with it, but at a much lower CO2 (seems like that would make my problem worse.)

 

[tkeracer619]

Can you show another angle of the bottom of the lid? Particularly the acrylic tube glued to the lid.

Do you have a sponge on the bottom or just the top? I would remove the top sponge, it is unnecessary. Save it for when the bottom wears out.

What goes on the top clear bubble counter looking thing? I assume this is supposed to be the input.

It will be rock solid in no time. I travel as well, I feel your pain.

Should be setup like this but swap the two hoses on the top.

In this image if I see what I think I see there is an acrylic tube glued to the lid in line with the output. At first it tricked my eyes into thinking it was off center but that was a reflection.
This is causing the issue. It is trapping the gas inside the reactor the way a standpipe keeps water in the tank, same deal. Swapping the two tubes on the lid will give you a true lid output giving trapped gas a place to go.

 

[dburt520]

Yes, first pic, above the blue "Tee", is the input line (I know, looks like a bubble counter...). I was holding the hose out in the pic just to show where it routed to and from.

Yes, I have 2 foam pads. One on top, one on bottom.

Yes there is an acrylic "tube" glued to the center "output" hole. I see what you mean by a deceiving shadow of some sort... new pic is here:



It is not an open tube... it is a tube, but has a "cap" glued to the bottom of it with 2 small (1/8" roughly) holes drilled on each side of the tube.

Mine is set up exactly like that picture shows, however you are saying that is incorrect? Wouldn't you want the gas to go to the top most place in the reactor (air rises, and that forces it back into the circulation pump).

 

[dburt520]

I guess my question is, by doing this (swapping the hoses), I am essentially forcing any unused CO2 out of the reactor effluent line, is that correct?

 

[tkeracer619]

Those two small holes are close to the "cap" end of the tube correct?

I guess my question is, by doing this (swapping the hoses), I am essentially forcing any unused CO2 out of the reactor effluent line, is that correct?

Yes, if it didn't dissolve it will escape the reactor. At that point it is no longer contributing.

 

[dburt520]

Sorry, realized my first pic was garbage. here are a few more:





To answer your question, yes, the two holes are close to the cap.

So, I will play with it and bring it back online. I am going to assume this is going to require a completely different feed rate, bubble size and bubble count, so it will take time to redial it back in. Going to have to set it back up when I will be home from work for a few days. Since I am starting over, is there a preferred media I should look into for a smaller reactor like this?

 

[tkeracer619]

If you are willing to give it a go I bet something as simple as swapping those two hoses fixes the issue. Once the media dissolves go with regular arm media.

 

[dburt520]

Well, it makes complete sense because the "directions" (if thats what you want to call them) suggest to swap the hoses (as you suggested) in the beggining to bleed any air out of the reactor, and then when the air bubbles are out and it is not grinding air, power it down and swap the hoses around as seen in the bubble magus pic as well as mine.

 

[tkeracer619]

Also... at minimum replace the effluent output connector to a push to fit. Those barbed fittings have way too small of an orifice for a calcium reactor. They can clog with a tiny grain.

 

[dburt520]

There is no way to replace the fittings on the reactor unless i cut/drill/grind the old fittings out?

 

[tkeracer619]

Well, it makes complete sense because the "directions" (if thats what you want to call them) suggest to swap the hoses (as you suggested) in the beggining to bleed any air out of the reactor, and then when the air bubbles are out and it is not grinding air, power it down and swap the hoses around as seen in the bubble magus pic as well as mine.

For some reason manufacturers are trying to be efficient with CO2 and recycle that gas. I think it's silly, CO2 is dirt cheap. I use $10-$15 a year. I am not concerned about recycling the 10% that doesn't dissolve...