Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

ClownsRCoo said:
What kind of check valves are everyone using? The ones listed earlier in this thread don't have very good reviews online. I don't want to risk my nice regulator to damage from a crappy check valve.
Click to expand...

I used the check valve that came with my Aquarium Plants Carbon Doser regulator.
 
I'm trying to get used to my masterflex so when I set up my calcium reactor I'll be comfortable with it. I'm using the LS17 tubing. It's slipping when I have the pump on and pulling the tubing all to one side. I have the easy load 7518-00 head. There are little pincher looking V's on each side of the head. Do you pinch those down to hold the tubing in place? Any way to tell how much is too tight? I don't want to rip the tubing
 
Yes, push the black tabs on the side in and down to lock the tubing in place. There are only a few possibly settings for the tabs, so go far enough that the tubing doesn't walk but no further than necessary.
 
Hi Everyone,

This has been a very informative thread. I am pleased to be joining you in using the Masterflex powered calcium reactor. The drive I got did not come with a pump head. I ordered a 7518-10 off of ebay but it does not come with any mounting hardware. I would prefer not to use the expensive cole parmer hardware. Does anyone happen to know the appropriate screw length, diameter, and thread count? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

James
 
i believe the thread is 8-32, i could not find screws in stainless steel in the lengths i wanted, plus i wanted them in ss, not sure if they are available in steel,some people have used threaded rod, just cut to the lengths you need, i broke down and used cole parmer hardware, just double check the screw size before you cut the rods, i can check on the thread size when i get home from work.
 
I can second that it is 8-32...as much as I can remember.

I just bought threaded rod, a few washers and wingnuts. For a single pump head it's fine. If I was running a couple pump heads I would likely get the more stout cp hardware but for standard calrx purposes threaded rod is fine provided you have the know how to cut and smooth the threads afterward
 
Mine were exactly 3inch! For quick load head and another, so I believe those are for most. I just went with Phillips head type. Works great so far
 
I notice that not everyone is running the 5 different part number pumps posted at the the beginning of the thread. So as long as there Masterflex, continuous duty and 3-600rpm they should work fine right?
 
MrineLfRlz said:
I notice that not everyone is running the 5 different part number pumps posted at the the beginning of the thread. So as long as there Masterflex, continuous duty and 3-600rpm they should work fine right?
Click to expand...

Pretty much. You can always search this thread for the model you are considering using the the "Search This Thread" tool at the upper right of each page in this thread . Chances are that it's been discussed somewhere in this thread.
 
Those 5 pumps are brushless. The main difference is noise. The brushed pumps are louder than the brushless ones.


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I just received my used 7523-80 pump. Its quiet but not silent while running at 30 ml/min with LS17 tubing, even without the head. Is this normal or should the pump be absolutely silent at this speed? Thanks for your input.
 
steamguy said:
I just received my used 7523-80 pump. Its quiet but not silent while running at 30 ml/min with LS17 tubing, even without the head. Is this normal or should the pump be absolutely silent at this speed? Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...

Should be very quiet but not necessarily silent but darn near it. Quiet it relative though. I have the same model and at 24ml/min, it's hard to hear. Maybe a slight hum but having had a brushed model, it's silent in comparison.
 
Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

Been away from this thread a long while as my calcium reactor has been very stable since learned good advises from you guys here .

But last week my surprise is that calcium up to over 500 ppm from 480 ppm while KH drop from 7.60 dkh to 6.7 dkh , I wonder why In spite my Geo 618 reactor running smoothly as in the past and calcium media and co2 are still ok and dripping as before with no clog or whatsoever as my Watson mallow pump being regularly check , is this because my alkalinity demand going up suddenly ? I have only add 1 small LPS which I doubt it demand so much KH ?

Cheers,

MD


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Last edited:
slief said:
Should be very quiet but not necessarily silent but darn near it. Quiet it relative though. I have the same model and at 24ml/min, it's hard to hear. Maybe a slight hum but having had a brushed model, it's silent in comparison.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I do not have a head for my unit yet. I think it may be pretty far out of calibration. When I set it for LS17 tubing and 24ml/min the equivalent pump RPM is 72.1, or 12.02%. Does this seem fast to you? I will calibrate the unit once i receive the head. Thanks again for all your guy' help. I can't wait to have it all set up.
 
steamguy said:
Thanks, I do not have a head for my unit yet. I think it may be pretty far out of calibration. When I set it for LS17 tubing and 24ml/min the equivalent pump RPM is 72.1, or 12.02%. Does this seem fast to you? I will calibrate the unit once i receive the head. Thanks again for all your guy' help. I can't wait to have it all set up.
Click to expand...

That is way way way too fast.. 24ml/Min should be about 8.5 RPM assuming you are using an easy load head with LS17 tubing. LS17 tubing flows at 2.8ml/min per revolution. At 72 RPM, you would be pushing about 201 ml/min. You calibration is either way off or you have it programmed wrong.

For reference, here is a flow chart for a typical Easy Load head.
image_zpswrze4mx6.png
 
swk said:
I can second that it is 8-32...as much as I can remember.

I just bought threaded rod, a few washers and wingnuts. For a single pump head it's fine. If I was running a couple pump heads I would likely get the more stout cp hardware but for standard calrx purposes threaded rod is fine provided you have the know how to cut and smooth the threads afterward
Click to expand...



I usually get a couple donor nuts, cut the bar, back the nut to the cut, then smooth the cut. Once that's done, I remove the nut and gently clean up any junk.
 
I bought a 77301-20 benchtop system and some far things are not as stable as they should be, at least from what I've seen on here from other members.

I'm have the pump set at 50ml and the AP regulator at 1 bubble every 10 seconds. Output Co2 pressure it's about 6psi. I'm not worried about getting the pH to the correct level just yet. I first wanted to see how stable this thing was but so far I'm not impressed.

Tank pH swings from 8.2 to 7.8-7.9 thought the day.

Calcium reactor swings from 7.53 to 7.36

Anybody experience similar pH swings? Could I be doing something wrong or is this pH swing in the reactor simply due to the tank pH swing?
 
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