Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

Surf_and_Turf said:
Not trying to hijack any threads. I have a masterflex L/S MN-7524-50 with a Model 7518-00 head connected to a GEO CR618 Reactor coupled with a Carbon doser regulator(30ml effluent drip-5 seconds between bubbles). I am having issues with air being pulled into the reactor because of the masterflex pulling water through the reactor instead of pushing through it. Anyone else have any issues with this? I've replaced the factory barbed fitting's with nylon compression fittings. Thank you!
Click to expand...

ClownsRCoo said:
That's my issue too. I chose to pull air though because if I use the effluent like to pull water from the reactor it's in the next area to actually suck the air out vs the stock setup when you push water in. I couldn't really get it to purge much air when. I pushed water in. I want to drill and tap the lid and pull from there but am nervous of screwing up the lid.


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Click to expand...

I switched my masterflex over to pushing instead of pulling. I would also suggest removing any teflon tape and using teflon paste on all threaded fittings. I use Oatey Great White with PTFE. Lastly, if the output pressure is too high, you may get excess CO2 in the reactor. I keep mine at 3 PSI. Also note that with a flow rate of 25-30ml/min, the bubble rate should be around 1 bubble every 5 seconds to maintain a reactor pH of around 6.5-6.6.
 
My output pressure is right at your recommended settings, I chose to pull for the reasons I stated above. It seemed like when I pushed I couldn't purge the initial air enough that was in the reactor from when I first set it up. My bubble rate is just about that and keeps my reactor at 6.7.

The air in the reactor just builds and builds until the pump is constantly sucking air in and starting to cavitate.

The effluent line is a barb and has flexible tubing coming from it. It seems to be 1/4 so all I did was connect that line into super speedfit connection which is the #2 item on the recommended parts list in this thread at the start. It holds and doesn't leak water but I'm thinking it's probably not an air tight seal either with it basically being airline tubing and not rigid RO tubing. Can I switch that barb thread on the reactor out with one of those male speedfit fittings also and use RO tubing from the reactor to the pump? I'm not sure what size the threaded male end of that barb even is


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My output pressure and masterflex settings are identical. I will set it up to push through the reactor instead of pulling. I know the reactors don't handle being in a slight Vaccum very well:/
 
Hello All
Great Topic and Content

I have skimmed through most of this topic and I still have a question about the drives.
I Have a 180 gallon system that is is primarily SPS (95%).
Approximately what speed (rpm) could I expect to run a drive with a system this size? I would plan on using LS/17 tubing for the calculations. I see several drives available some are 10-600 RPM, others are 20-600 RPM and others are 1-100 RPM. I know early on in the topic TKRacer mentions 6-600 RPM Drives but if people are running them at 10 RPM or so is it really required. It seems those 6-600 drives get quite costly
 
Blitzie said:
Hello All
Great Topic and Content

I have skimmed through most of this topic and I still have a question about the drives.
I Have a 180 gallon system that is is primarily SPS (95%).
Approximately what speed (rpm) could I expect to run a drive with a system this size? I would plan on using LS/17 tubing for the calculations. I see several drives available some are 10-600 RPM, others are 20-600 RPM and others are 1-100 RPM. I know early on in the topic TKRacer mentions 6-600 RPM Drives but if people are running them at 10 RPM or so is it really required. It seems those 6-600 drives get quite costly
Click to expand...

That was my question a few posts up. As I see it:

Cons:
Far more expensive

Pros:
Less wear on drive
Quieter (each 10rpm increase comes with noticable noise increase)
Longer tube life

Given the relative cost of tube to pump, that seems irrelevant.
 
ostrow said:
That was my question a few posts up. As I see it:

Cons:
Far more expensive

Pros:
Less wear on drive
Quieter (each 10rpm increase comes with noticable noise increase)
Longer tube life

Given the relative cost of tube to pump, that seems irrelevant.
Click to expand...

I am just not sure what RPM I could expect to run on that size system
Are we talking 10 RPM or 10% of a 100 RPM capacity drive or am I talking 50 RPM.
 
Blitzie said:
I am just not sure what RPM I could expect to run on that size system
Are we talking 10 RPM or 10% of a 100 RPM capacity drive or am I talking 50 RPM.
Click to expand...

Every tank will be different. I have a 300gal system, 155gal display, with SPS. I havea 7240-40 (10-600) and L/S17. I run 70ml/min. Not sure what the rpm would be but on that? It is definitely in the low end for sure. This is to keep alk at about 3.6 meq/l or 10.2dKh.
 
ostrow said:
Every tank will be different. I have a 300gal system, 155gal display, with SPS. I havea 7240-40 (10-600) and L/S17. I run 70ml/min. Not sure what the rpm would be but on that? It is definitely in the low end for sure. This is to keep alk at about 3.6 meq/l or 10.2dKh.
Click to expand...

The L/S tubing gets 2.8 cc/ revolution. If your running 70 cc/ min then the pump is rotating 25 revolutions/ min. More then enough capacity even with a 100 RPM pump
 
Hi does any one know if drive: 7550-60 take easy load heads?
I see only precision tubing heads on ebay.
They are going cheap there 200s and want to buy it if it works with an easy load head.

I did not get that info from ColeParmer online site.
Could'nt wait till tomorrow to call company.
Thank you
 
Help with Korallin c1502.

I have had it running with a CP pump for a couple years. Today I had to change some tubes around and when reassembled the water in the reacor empties through outlet two even though the Masterflex is set at 20ml/min. The Eheim pump is pushing the water out outlet two. If the recirc pump is shut off the flow from outlet 2 drops to the 20 ml/min

It all worked fine before, what's up?

Pump cose in the inlet and tere are outlet tubes on both outlets 1 & 2
 
Thanks to the people who answered my questions
As a recently Purchased a 77521-50 Pump and a 77201-60 Head off Ebay
I then purchased the fittings tkracer619 listed in 3rd post just in different quantities.

The fact I am running a Lifereef Calcium Reactor meant that I had 3/8 OD tubing so I converted the entire reactor over to 1/4” tubing.
I hooked up all the tubing and fired up the pump in a pulling of water setup. I set the pump at the max RPM and it primed itself quickly with no leaks. I then dialed it back so that visually the drop rate is equal to what I was running prior. It has been running steady and has not bound with air as others are mentioning.
Now I am waiting for my Carbondoser to come in.

Just a comment to people who may be considering this setup I have a 150 Gallon Tank and a 30 Gallon Sump and by setting the drip rate to visually what it was before I am running at 8 RPM. At that speed the 77521-50 which is a 1-100RPM model is very quiet. I know I may need to adjust it in the future but I just wanted to pass this along
 
Wanted to buy a easyload pump head for the high precision L/S 17 tubing if anyone has one. PM me
Thanks



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