Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[MrineLfRlz]

Good luck with that. Ph probes are notorious for drifting. So unless you are calibrating consistently, 1 or the other will drift. So your redundant safety may not be hat redundant after all and cause more issues.

I don't use a pH controller or my Apex to control the effluent. I adjust the Masterflex and the reg to produce effluent at the rate the tank is consuming and I use the pH probe (that I calibrate once a month) as a safety stop. But if your reg n pump are reliable, there is very little danger of dumping too strong of effluent into the system.

E.g. My Masterflex is set to 10ml/min (I think) and my reg is set to produce a pH of 6.9-7 in my CaRx. This does not mean my Apex shuts off the solenoid when it hits 6.9. Solenoid is always open and effluent flow is constant.

Apex is set to shut off the solenoid if CaRx drops below 6.7 and shut off the Masterflex if tank ph drops below 7.8.


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Well this is why im here to learn more about what i have no idea about yet. I didnt know about the drifting, so please criticize this is what i need.

 

[Dragon1979]

Is masterflex is the most consistent available now

 

[africangrey]

How did you get 10mL/min, the lowest I could get was ~30ml/min using LS24, could you share the tubing and head combination that you are using.

Good luck with that. Ph probes are notorious for drifting. So unless you are calibrating consistently, 1 or the other will drift. So your redundant safety may not be hat redundant after all and cause more issues.

I don't use a pH controller or my Apex to control the effluent. I adjust the Masterflex and the reg to produce effluent at the rate the tank is consuming and I use the pH probe (that I calibrate once a month) as a safety stop. But if your reg n pump are reliable, there is very little danger of dumping too strong of effluent into the system.

E.g. My Masterflex is set to 10ml/min (I think) and my reg is set to produce a pH of 6.9-7 in my CaRx. This does not mean my Apex shuts off the solenoid when it hits 6.9. Solenoid is always open and effluent flow is constant.

Apex is set to shut off the solenoid if CaRx drops below 6.7 and shut off the Masterflex if tank ph drops below 7.8.

So if pH probe drift high, no big deal, effluent stays the same because pH in the CaRx stays the same since my solenoid is always open. If you set it to shut off at 6.9 and your probe drifts up, the controller will keep the solenoid open because it thinks it's still high when in fact it's dipping below set point.

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[vhuang168]

Oops. You are right. I had the pump on rpm. It is 30ml/min using LS17 running at 10rpm.


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[swk]

How did you get 10mL/min, the lowest I could get was ~30ml/min using LS24, could you share the tubing and head combination that you are using.

Units with .6-100rpm gearing are capable of small dosing such as that. I have 2 masterflex pumps. One with 6-600rpm and the slower rpm version of the same pump. You can drip insanely small volumes with the gearing at 1-100rpm, or whatever it is l.

 

[NeverlosT]

Another Masterflex reefer

Another Masterflex reefer

Hi all, I am joining the club!

I just bought a used 7520-40 pump with 77200-62 head. So the only problem there is it takes the "performance tubing" which costs $120 for 25ft, but the pump and head only cost $150, so I think it is still a win even if I can't find tubing for cheaper and have to buy a used head that will handle L/S 17 tubing.

My current setup is a ReefDynamics CMR250E (hard to find info on them now since RD is no more, but here is a link to a video showing the smaller version and how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_D_E8DBn0Q.

I currently have the issue where if I use the "CO2 recirc" feature the reactor makes a ton of noise since it is constantly recirculating a ton of bubbles (the reactor pH remains relatively stable, so I dont think that it is sucking air, and the Aquarium Plants CO2 regulator is not constantly bubbling, far from it).

If I do not use the recirc feature, the top of the reactor slowly fills with gas, last time I caught it and drained it just before the gas exposed the entire pH probe, so a lot of gas. But it runs much more quietly.

The reactor intake has enough suction from the recirc pump to suck water in from the sump, then push it out through a needle valve, through a secondary chamber, and then drip into the sump (about 2 drips/second).

I am excited at the possibility of no longer needing that needle valve and just using the masterflex to control the effluent delivery.

Here are some pictures of the reactor setup currently.

The Red tube on top is a way to bleed trapped gas, the black tube on top is CO2 recirc, the white tube to the needle valve is output, and the big blue tube down low is the feed. In theory, this reactor is supposed to be top of the line.

I plan to put the masterflex after the CA reactor and before the secondary chamber (since my secondary chamber isnt necessarily watertight/airtight). So pull from the reactor and push through the secondary chamber.

Any input on solving the trapped gas issue, or suggestions on where to get cheap L/S 24 tubing, or a cheap Easy Load II head that will accept L/S 17 tubing, would be much appreciated.

Thanks for this thread, it is very informative.

Here's a fun pic for your time, good ol' OG Mummy Eye:

 

[NeverlosT]

Rats, Apparently I cant post pics from my Google Photo Albums, so here is try #2 with photobucket.

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[tkeracer619]

Welcome to the club! Thanks for posting the pics.

I know it's a pain but could you post a pic of the inside of the cap?

 

[NeverlosT]

I can certainly, but I think that I can describe it just as well (maybe).

The inside top of that reactor is turned on a lathe such that it is a cone, with the point facing up, allowing trapped gas to concentrate at the center, where the recirc/discharge port draws from (to either bleed gas from the chamber or recirc it back to the pump, the valve on the top is a three way, the positions are [stop][bleed][recirc]). The pH probe and the effluent line are both off-center on the lid, so they sit just slightly lower on the cone, which ideally forces the probe tip and effluent port to always be submerged.

Back when I thought Co2 recirc was the bee's knees, that conical lid was a big reason for my purchase (and the workmanship).

Here is a quick vid (cut straight to the good part) describing the function of that valve:
https://youtu.be/5_D_E8DBn0Q?t=2m10s

 

[tkeracer619]

Ok great! I actually tried to respond last night but rc didn't like my post. That helps.

So what you're going to want to do is plug the effluent out port and the co2 recirculation input. Pull your effluent from the co2 recirculation output and keep the bleed side as normal. This will draw any non dissolved gas out of the reactor.

A big issue with trapped gas and trying to recirculate it is that under normal conditions co2 dissolves into the water rapidly. If it didn't dissolve on the first pass it probably won't dissolve much on the 2nd or 15th resulting in continuous build up.

I'll see if I can find you a head. There was a hidden stash of stainless easyloads but last I checked it was starting to dry up. I'll have to get back to my pc to get you a link.

This thing is going to be rock solid!

 

[tkeracer619]

Ok so this is what i have gotten so far

masterflex 7523-70- thanks for the great deal scuzy!
Supper Reef Octopus SRO 5000 calcium reactor
carbon doser c02 reg.

opinions please this is what i still need
easy load head
pinpoint ph controller
10lb c02 cylinder
all correct fittings to connect the masterflex pump properly
two little fishes reborn calc. media
zeo mag magnesium granulate
more patience

Awesome! Welcome to the club! Once I get to the pc I'll see if I can link you a good pump head as well.

Carbon doser is a great regulator for this setup, no worries in that regard.

For this setup a ph probe is only used when the setup is in an error state. Under normal operating conditions the system will run full steam ahead. After a power outage at my house this week one of my masterflex pumps decided not to restart, the probe turned the reg off. Using a ph probe as you would in a normal setup will reduce the accuracy of this system.

All of the fittings needed are in the first few posts but wait until we get you a pump head. Regardless re read those posts, they have proven to be accurate over the years. Many successful reefers are using this setup now.

Tuning will be easy! We'll get to that as you get closer to turning it on.

 

[NeverlosT]

I eliminated the recirc, and now excess CO2 will just flow on into the secondary chamber and then to atmosphere if it makes it through there.

On the tubing front, I am wondering if biting the bullet and just buying $120 of tubing will mean I have tubing for life (or at least a really long time) or if I should instead try to get a stainless easyload that takes the more common tubing.

decisions... decisions...

I am pretty excited about the possibility of being able to go away for a few days without wondering if the reactor effluent needle valve has plugged and my tank alk is diving...

Ok great! I actually tried to respond last night but rc didn't like my post. That helps.

So what you're going to want to do is plug the effluent out port and the co2 recirculation input. Pull your effluent from the co2 recirculation output and keep the bleed side as normal. This will draw any non dissolved gas out of the reactor.

A big issue with trapped gas and trying to recirculate it is that under normal conditions co2 dissolves into the water rapidly. If it didn't dissolve on the first pass it probably won't dissolve much on the 2nd or 15th resulting in continuous build up.

I'll see if I can find you a head. There was a hidden stash of stainless easyloads but last I checked it was starting to dry up. I'll have to get back to my pc to get you a link.

This thing is going to be rock solid!

 

[tkeracer619]

I am pretty excited about the possibility of being able to go away for a few days without wondering if the reactor effluent needle valve has plugged and my tank alk is diving...

I tested and dosed my 34gal coral qt daily for months. Was fighting a precipitation issue as well. Set up one of these, had it adjusted in two days and have only tested about once per month since. Rock solid!

I have 3 Masterflex reactor setups running and have no concerns about stability. I only test for alk/cal once per month on them, rarely do they swing more than .2 dkh per month. The only adjustments I'm making are due to increased demand.

 

[MrineLfRlz]

Awesome! Welcome to the club! Once I get to the pc I'll see if I can link you a good pump head as well.

Carbon doser is a great regulator for this setup, no worries in that regard.

For this setup a ph probe is only used when the setup is in an error state. Under normal operating conditions the system will run full steam ahead. After a power outage at my house this week one of my masterflex pumps decided not to restart, the probe turned the reg off. Using a ph probe as you would in a normal setup will reduce the accuracy of this system.

All of the fittings needed are in the first few posts but wait until we get you a pump head. Regardless re read those posts, they have proven to be accurate over the years. Many successful reefers are using this setup now.

Tuning will be easy! We'll get to that as you get closer to turning it on.

thank you for the welcome sir!
I have been wanting to do this for a long time even with my bubble magus doser i still have fluctuations. Im very excited about dosing equal amounts of alk/calc. with the reactor not to mention all the trace elements that will be dosed.
I got my reactor and my carbon doser in so far and i ordered a SLX module for my reefkeeper i will set it up for the error situation as stated then its the c02 cylinder and the media and im golden. I just wish i could test it out but i have to get my pump in it should be here by Wednesday then i can at least pressure test it for leaks. Thanks for the thread and the help!

 

[jh2pizza]

Im using a Geo 618 with a Pan World Pump. AP doser and a Blue-White Dosing pump for supply.

The problem I am running into is that Excessive air builds up at the lid, gets sucked down into the pump causing cavitation. I have to constantly shut off the pump, let it work the air out and restart it.

I had a theory that the AP was dumping gas at some point causing the excessive air issue at the top of the reactor. I shut off my gas, shut down the Pan World and let the feed pump purge the system over night. started the Circ pump and within 30 minutes,it stopped circulating. Shut it down again, let it purge. This time, I shut off the feed pump, started the Circ pump with no gas. Nothing going in or coming out, the thing run for 48 hours. within 30 minutes of turning on the feed pump, it stopped circulation.


Would pulling the water through correct the issue? BTW, there is no valve on the output to plug up.

I have thought about pulling the effluent through the system, but Im not sure that will fix it.

I have thought about replumbing to reverse the direction so its not pulling the excess air from the lid directly into the pump. Issues with that may be pulling fine pieces into the pump causing pump failure.

I have thought about throwing the entire thing over the hill and going back to 2 part.

 

[swk]

Im using a Geo 618 with a Pan World Pump. AP doser and a Blue-White Dosing pump for supply.



The problem I am running into is that Excessive air builds up at the lid, gets sucked down into the pump causing cavitation. I have to constantly shut off the pump, let it work the air out and restart it.



I had a theory that the AP was dumping gas at some point causing the excessive air issue at the top of the reactor. I shut off my gas, shut down the Pan World and let the feed pump purge the system over night. started the Circ pump and within 30 minutes,it stopped circulating. Shut it down again, let it purge. This time, I shut off the feed pump, started the Circ pump with no gas. Nothing going in or coming out, the thing run for 48 hours. within 30 minutes of turning on the feed pump, it stopped circulation.





Would pulling the water through correct the issue? BTW, there is no valve on the output to plug up.



I have thought about pulling the effluent through the system, but Im not sure that will fix it.



I have thought about replumbing to reverse the direction so its not pulling the excess air from the lid directly into the pump. Issues with that may be pulling fine pieces into the pump causing pump failure.



I have thought about throwing the entire thing over the hill and going back to 2 part.

I pull directly from the lid and forgo pulling from the co2 recirc

 

[souk]

Im using a Geo 618 with a Pan World Pump. AP doser and a Blue-White Dosing pump for supply.

The problem I am running into is that Excessive air builds up at the lid, gets sucked down into the pump causing cavitation. I have to constantly shut off the pump, let it work the air out and restart it.

I had a theory that the AP was dumping gas at some point causing the excessive air issue at the top of the reactor. I shut off my gas, shut down the Pan World and let the feed pump purge the system over night. started the Circ pump and within 30 minutes,it stopped circulating. Shut it down again, let it purge. This time, I shut off the feed pump, started the Circ pump with no gas. Nothing going in or coming out, the thing run for 48 hours. within 30 minutes of turning on the feed pump, it stopped circulation.


Would pulling the water through correct the issue? BTW, there is no valve on the output to plug up.

I have thought about pulling the effluent through the system, but Im not sure that will fix it.

I have thought about replumbing to reverse the direction so its not pulling the excess air from the lid directly into the pump. Issues with that may be pulling fine pieces into the pump causing pump failure.

I have thought about throwing the entire thing over the hill and going back to 2 part.

Push/pull wouldn't make a difference. Your effluent output, did you mod it exit the top lid or still on the pvc?

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[jh2pizza]

Everything on the Reactor is stock. I took it apart today and noticed the tubing was very loose where the manifold connects to the Pump. This is most likely where the excess air is from.

Push/pull wouldn't make a difference. Your effluent output, did you mod it exit the top lid or still on the pvc?

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[souk]

Everything on the Reactor is stock. I took it apart today and noticed the tubing was very loose where the manifold connects to the Pump. This is most likely where the excess air is from.

I hope thats the case and it's fixed. If not, best thing to do is to exit the lid. Its very easy to mod the lid.

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[ostrow]

Everything on the Reactor is stock. I took it apart today and noticed the tubing was very loose where the manifold connects to the Pump. This is most likely where the excess air is from.

And you are using a masterflex as in this thread?