Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[Bpb]

OK, so I finally have all the components to start up my Masterflex 7550-30. I just want to be sure I set it up right. I have a GEO 612 reactor and I know my pump replaces the feeder pump I have been using. I think it should be set up like this, The intake tube from the pump goes into my sump, the output end of the pump goes into the input of the reactor and back into my sump. Is this correct? Please let know.

What you're describing is a conventional setup using a propeller pump and needle valve. What you need to do is the opposite.

Masterflex IN tube is connected to the geo effluent OUT (on top)
Masterflex OUT goes to sump
Geo effluent IN goes directly to sump

This way the pump PULLS the effluent through the reactor, and the reactor in drinks up the water from the sump like a straw



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[vitodog]

Thanks Bpb, boy, did I have it all wrong or what?

 

[slief]

Thanks Bpb, boy, did I have it all wrong or what?

No. You had it correct if you want to push through the reactor. Some push, some pull. His instructions are for pulling through the reactor.

 

[vitodog]

OK, thanks guys. Right now I am pulling. Everything seems to be running nicely. If in the future, I want to push through the CaRX at least I already know both methods. Thank you slief and Bpb for your help.

 

[zip70]

OK, thanks guys. Right now I am pulling. Everything seems to be running nicely. If in the future, I want to push through the CaRX at least I already know both methods. Thank you slief and Bpb for your help.

what is your flow rate? how many ml/min? thanks

 

[tom obrecht]

Slief pm sent.

 

[vitodog]

zip70, right now its 40 ml/min. PH in the reactor is holding at 6.2. I think I'm going to raise the flow a little to increase the PH in the reactor some what. I'll test Alk in the effluent and tank tomorrow.

 

[zip70]

zip70, right now its 40 ml/min. PH in the reactor is holding at 6.2. I think I'm going to raise the flow a little to increase the PH in the reactor some what. I'll test Alk in the effluent and tank tomorrow.

6.2 will melt your media quickly I thought. can you increase your flow rate like 42, 45 , 46...or it only go to 50 ,60?

 

[slief]

zip70, right now its 40 ml/min. PH in the reactor is holding at 6.2. I think I'm going to raise the flow a little to increase the PH in the reactor some what. I'll test Alk in the effluent and tank tomorrow.

6.2 will melt your media quickly I thought. can you increase your flow rate like 42, 45 , 46...or it only go to 50 ,60?

+1

6.2 pH is too low and will turn the media to mush in a hurry. I'd recommend around 6.5 at the least and increase your effluent rate to compensate.

 

[vitodog]

Thanks guys. I raised the drip rate from 40 to 50 ml/min but that only raised the PH to 6.3. So, I raised the drip to 60 ml/min and will monitor. My BPM is 25.

 

[hkgar]

Thanks guys. I raised the drip rate from 40 to 50 ml/min but that only raised the PH to 6.3. So, I raised the drip to 60 ml/min and will monitor. My BPM is 25.

Change the ph of the effluent by changing either the bubble PSI or the bubbles per minute. Only change the effluent flow if the current flow cannot keep up with tank demands at less than 6.45, or possibly 6.3. The consensus seems to be that media becomes mush at 6.3, so 6.45 is nicely conservative.

I am currently at 100ml/min and 6.43 effluent ph and effuent dKH of 20.

 

[vitodog]

Thanks Garry. I raised the effluent flow from 50 ml/min, to 70 ml/min but this only raised the PH from 6.3 to 6.4. I'm a little stumped at this point because before using the Masterflex, I was able to reach an effluent PH of 6.7, with a flow rate of 45-50 ml/min. My BPM is 20 and PSI is 9. My effluent Alk is also 20 dkh. The Alk in my tank is 10.5. I would like to lower the tank Alk to around 8.3.

 

[vitodog]

I apologize if i'm monopolizing this thread. As i'm trying to tune in my Geo 612 reactor and since adding the Masterflex, a couple of things have occurred. 1st, I can't seem to get the effluent PH above 6.4. 2nd, Circulation pump is making a lot of noise although I just took it off line and examined it and it was clean. 3, Is it normal for a lot of bubbles to float up through the reactor? I should mention that I have changed the method from pulling the tank water through the reactor to pushing the tank water though the reactor. Any suggestions or advise?

 

[slief]

:celeb3:

I apologize if i'm monopolizing this thread. As i'm trying to tune in my Geo 612 reactor and since adding the Masterflex, a couple of things have occurred. 1st, I can't seem to get the effluent PH above 6.4. 2nd, Circulation pump is making a lot of noise although I just took it off line and examined it and it was clean. 3, Is it normal for a lot of bubbles to float up through the reactor? I should mention that I have changed the method from pulling the tank water through the reactor to pushing the tank water though the reactor. Any suggestions or advise?

Your Co2 rate is too high for your flow. Drop the Co2 pressure down. That should allow you better control over your pH and will likely also solve the other issues. I run at 3 PSI on the Co2 output. That is likely the cause of your low pH and excess gas in the reactor. The noise you are hearing from the circulation pump is likely the excess gas/bubbles going through the pump.

 

[vitodog]

Thanks slief. You were right about lowering the Co2 pressure. As soon as I lowered the pressure, the pH increased from 6.4 to 6.5. I lowered the pressure from 9 psi to 4 psi. slief, am I correct in assuming that by lowering the pressure, the excess gas bubbles will eventually begin to disappear from the reactor and circulation pump?

 

[slief]

Thanks slief. You were right about lowering the Co2 pressure. As soon as I lowered the pressure, the pH increased from 6.4 to 6.5. I lowered the pressure from 9 psi to 4 psi. slief, am I correct in assuming that by lowering the pressure, the excess gas bubbles will eventually begin to disappear from the reactor and circulation pump?

Yes, per my previous reply, reducing the Co2 should sove your other issues and by lowering the pressure, you are reducing the amount of Co2 going in since the reduction in pressure results in a reduction in the Co2 bubble size. In a nutshelf, you're pumping in too much Co2 for the amount of water flow going through the reactor. Reduce the Co2 rate and you will increase the pH and reduce the excess gas in the reactor. So in short, it should solve your other issues as well. You can purge the excess gas out by shutting off the circulation pump, moving the reactor back and forth to get the gas out of the media and up to the top of the reactor. Then run the Masterflex pump at or near full speed long enough to suck the gas out. You might need to tilt the reactor a tad to help get the bubbles to the output on the lid.

 

[vitodog]

Thank you slief. Your devotion to this thread and detailed explanations are very much appreciated. Thanks again.

 

[slief]

Thank you slief. Your devotion to this thread and detailed explanations are very much appreciated. Thanks again.

Glad to help.

 

[hkgar]

I would shut the unit down until your tank dKH is at the level you want and then restart. Your bubble rate is pretty high.

 

[vitodog]

Thanks again hkgar, good advise. I was going to tinker with BPM and drip rate to try and bring the tank Alk down. But duh, of course, your suggestion is the quickest and easiest way to go. Will do.