Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[janey]

@ herring_fish Post #1057

HIGH FIVE....

 

[slief]

Questions on the silicon tubing L/S 17. Is the internal diameter is 1/4"? As we don't have John quest here so I am using this as a connector one side to connect to silicon L/S 17 while the other to the RO pipe ;

While those may not be John Guest branded connectors, they are essentially the same and function the same way. As such, those fittings are just fine!

 

[zachts]

While those may not be John Guest branded connectors, they are essentially the same and function the same way. As such, those fittings are just fine!

Also be sure to zip tie the tubing on the barb fitting to ensure it stays put and seals.

 

[herring_fish]

Also be sure to zip tie the tubing on the barb fitting to ensure it stays put and seals.

What do you mean?

 

[zachts]

or hose clamp, either one.

 

[herring_fish]

Oh! Gotcha Thanks

 

[machodik]

While those may not be John Guest branded connectors, they are essentially the same and function the same way. As such, those fittings are just fine!

Thanks Scott,

By the way , the one in the picture has in one side 3/8" and the other side 1/4" , I think the regular RO tube is 1/4" but I wonder L/S 17 use 1/4" or 3/8"? In the tube size specs , it mentioned hose Barr is 1/4" , is this means the diameter ?

I can see thru the picture that silicon tube looks bigger than the RO tube , is this right?

 

[renevilleneuve]

What type of tubing is preferred? Tygon,pharmed,silicone,norprene etc. I read the norprene is resistant to acidity and alkalinity. Opinions please.

 

[tkeracer619]

PharMed BPT and Norprene food grade.

Your head is compatible with LS 15, L/S 24, L/S 35, and L/S 36 only. You will need to find some from someone who bought a roll or get a roll. Still unaware of anyone who sells it by the foot.

 

[tkeracer619]

Thanks Scott,

By the way , the one in the picture has in one side 3/8" and the other side 1/4" , I think the regular RO tube is 1/4" but I wonder L/S 17 use 1/4" or 3/8"? In the tube size specs , it mentioned hose Barr is 1/4" , is this means the diameter ?

I can see thru the picture that silicon tube looks bigger than the RO tube , is this right?

LS17 has an ID of 1/4" and an OD of 3/8". 1/16" wall thickness.

Any ideas or comment?

Sometimes reactors are not temperamental. The masterflex pumps takes a potential unknown variable and turns it into a controllable variable.

 

[machodik]

LS17 has an ID of 1/4" and an OD of 3/8". 1/16" wall thickness.



Sometimes reactors are not temperamental. The masterflex pumps takes a potential unknown variable and turns it into a controllable variable.

Well noted , thanks , now I got it :

ID - internal diameter
OD - outer diameter

Thanks !

 

[machodik]

Well noted , thanks , now I got it :

ID - internal diameter
OD - outer diameter

Therefore for the connector , I need outer diameter of 1/4" to fit L/S 17 tube's Internal diameter of 1/4"!

Thanks !

 

[tkeracer619]

I love this thread because it is based on big ideas.

Combined efforts go a long way. I am thankful for everyones contributions. I didn't expect to be on page 43 and getting ready for a split. Plenty of life left on this subject and I think the best stuff to come from it haven't been yet realized.

I don't think your quest for a great reactor has gone unnoticed. Looking forward to the progress.

Thanks !

you're welcome

 

[machodik]

Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

I learned a lot form this treat and thanks so much for all the advises and support from all of you out there.

I am still on my quest of finding a good pump to my system , unlike you people in the U.S. , You have wide variety of good used Cole palmer pumps to choose from . Here in my country so sad to say that Cole Palmer are not as popular as you have over there , perhaps there are user but considering its prices and quality I supposed so much user still not deciding to change and sell their used one or perhaps a lot of user opted to buy those cheaper version of china made.

I can say that I have spend so much time to look for the right pump and I will only reported it back if I finally have one .

But I learned a lot thru you guys , my GEO 618 , my AP carbon Doser all are known by me thru your information taken in this nice site and thanks to my friend in San Fo that help me buys it for me . But still I really appreciated for having this nice post and everyone keep discussing things and their experiences .

More power to you guys and hope when I got my piece I shall be reported back by then.

Cheers,

MD

 

[renevilleneuve]

Thanks tke racer 619. Will buy a roll but mentioned small quantity from someone possibly in Montreal whilst I get my tubing.

 

[ianrwesley]

Pump for sale

Pump for sale

For those who are interested I have a pump up for sale in the drygoods FS forum. It's a 77301-20 which is a digital brushless unit with pump and controller.

 

[machodik]

This should be a nice piece of pump , So pity , shipping cost from USA to Taiwan is way too high and not to mentioned some tax and duty too.

 

[herring_fish]

Is This Woth Fixing?

Is This Woth Fixing?

This is not a great idea. It's just a starting point. What to do and is it worth even worrying about?

So I have tried to follow protocol. I searched around on RC and the net.

Then I started a thread on The Reef Chemistry Forum http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2497924but now I am back here. On RC, I did find this:

You will need to pay attention to magnesium levels. Once you get your alk stable, calcium should remain stable as long as you have the correct amounts of mag.

How do you keep the correct amounts of mag? This is an expensive system. Couldn't it address this? Should it?

So i got to thinking....i know usually leads to bad things...

Since people have been adding dolomite(sp?) to the calc reactors in order to add mag, and since it requires a lower ph to dissolve it, which usually makes the calc media turn to mush why not to a separate reactor for it?

I was thinking have a separate chamber with recirc pump and run it off the same CO2 bottle as the calc reactor, just with its own solenoid / ph controller.
That way you can adjust the dosing separate of the calc.

Thoughts?

it wouldn’t be for an easier cheaper kinda thing, just more precise dosing. As opposed to trying to balance things by the amount of media in the reactor.

The only thing I would recommend above the AP Carbon Doser is the Aquarium Plants Carbon Doser add-on box with a digital screen

Could a second output stream of CO2 and another smaller reactor help or hurt? Is there a better way to go? Should anyone bother?

 

[herring_fish]

I think that I want to eventually build a calcium reactor but I don't know enough about them yet and I would like to get some help in planning. I want to build a reactor that will be out in the garage so height is not an issue. Let's say that I will make a dual chamber system with the flow running from bottom to top. I might use 6 inch diameter tubes for the chambers because I already use them for another project.

Will having tall chambers allow the fine powder to settle out before going to the recirculating pump and therefore potentially increase its life? If so, when would it be over kill?

By the way, I did report about talking to the guy at Geo and besides his comments about a second chamber, I didn't get a chance to say that he said that he would be glad to build it for me but he didn't think that an overly tall chamber would help with the settling of dust.

 

[tkeracer619]

Could a second output stream of CO2 and another smaller reactor help or hurt? Is there a better way to go? Should anyone bother?

No reason to bother. Some dolomite in the reactor does the trick but that is down the road and due to the difference in uptake you have to toy with it over time to get it dialed in. When I run dolomite I am only looking to supply maybe 50% of my total requirements and will use the mag recipe from randys 2 part to add the rest, this way I don't overshoot but the dolomite reduces the amount needed. Mag doesn't drop fast and if you do water changes you are likely fine. I add mag to my water change water and make the salt mix go further.

I didn't get a chance to say that he said that he would be glad to build it for me but he didn't think that an overly tall chamber would help with the settling of dust.

What dust? If GEO is building you a reactor make sure to get the effluent output on the lid.

A calcium reactor is nothing but a tube with recirc pump. A custom with all the features will work no better than a 5 gallon bucket retrofitted (function vs form). It's just a chamber for a reaction to occur, the hardware you use to control it makes all the difference. There may be an amount of media that is ideal for any given tank size / demand level in regards to minimums. I've run reactors to the max where they just couldn't keep up. I have never though yet encountered a reactor that was too big unless the tank had no demand in which case they should have been using kalkwasser or two part until there was demand.

If you want the ultimate reactor you are in the right thread. You could turn a cowboy boot into a good reactor with this setup :lol:.

This should be a nice piece of pump.

Didn't you get a pump already or no?