Official: Masterflex Calcium Reactor Setup Thread

[fixmgood]

Originally Posted by vitodog

Thanks alemone, any suggestions for a brand name for the solution?

Go to any refrigeration supply store and get a bottle of "Big Blue" it is used specifically to find gas leaks. They probably have other brands as well.

[Chicago]

Will do.. i read it like four times.. fifth time is a charm..no problem.. i have a cheat sheet now on which ones are which.. brush v brushless. 100 rpm vs 600 rpm ect..

[NeverlosT]

Originally Posted by zip70

Were you able to change flow rate to 45, 55...? I can not do it. how do I change RPM?

Zip, I was able to change RPM 1 revolution per minute at a time, which is enough for me. Though a buddy just got a unit similar to mine and he can edit RPM by 10ths of a revolution.

Most of these units have manuals online as well.

[slief]

Originally Posted by NeverlosT

Zip, I was able to change RPM 1 revolution per minute at a time, which is enough for me. Though a buddy just got a unit similar to mine and he can edit RPM by 10ths of a revolution.

Most of these units have manuals online as well.

The newer brushless models allow you to adjust in 1/10th RPM increments.

[zip70]

Originally Posted by slief

The newer brushless models allow you to adjust in 1/10th RPM increments.

Mine is 7523-60. I can only adjust from 50ml/min to 60 to 70....How do I make it to 55ml/min. , 56 ,58....?
I read a manual 3 or 4 times but I could not find how to do it.
I need help. Thank you

[slief]

Originally Posted by zip70

Mine is 7523-60. I can only adjust from 50ml/min to 60 to 70....How do I make it to 55ml/min. , 56 ,58....?
I read a manual 3 or 4 times but I could not find how to do it.
I need help. Thank you

Edit.
That is a 10-600 RPM pump that can only be controlled in .1 RPM increments up to 100 RPM according to the manual. LS 17 tubing on an Easy Load Head flows at 2.8ml/min per RPM so multiply that by your each RPM and that’s what you will get. The minimum flow for that pump with LS17 tubing would be 28ml/min (10 RPM Minimum). If you can only adjust from 50ml and up, it would sound like you are either using the wrong tubing or have the wrong tubing selected on the front panel because as noted above, 28ml/min should be the minimum flow rate with LS17 tubing which is what we typically recommend. You may also need to calibrate the pump. See section on calibration in the manual. See page 6 of the manual below.
https://pim-resources.coleparmer.com...-60-70rev5.pdf

For reference, here are the flow rates per tubing diameter for an Easy Load 7518-00 and 7519-10 which are the common Easy Load heads that support LS17 tubing as well as other tubing sizes.

Tubing sizes acceptedL/S® 13, L/S 14, L/S 16, L/S 25, L/S 17, L/S 18

Volume Per Revolution With L/S 13 Tubing (mL)0.06
Volume Per Revolution With L/S 14 Tubing (mL)0.21
Volume Per Revolution With L/S 16 Tubing (mL)0.8
Volume Per Revolution With L/S 25 Tubing (mL)1.7
Volume Per Revolution With L/S 17 Tubing (mL)2.8
Volume Per Revolution With L/S 18 Tubing (mL)3.8

Link to head specs.
https://www.coleparmer.com/i/masterf...-rotor/0751810

[zip70]

Thank you Slief...You are the man. Ok so if I want 55ml/min. I need to take 55/ 2.8 = 19.6 RPM. I need to set my RPM at 19 or 20 to get to 55? On the pump I need to choose RPM not SIZE anymore due to RPM override it?

[slief]

Originally Posted by zip70

Thank you Slief...You are the man. Ok so if I want 55ml/min. I need to take 55/ 2.8 = 19.6 RPM. I need to set my RPM at 19 or 20 to get to 55? On the pump I need to choose RPM not SIZE anymore due to RPM override it?

Yes but I revised my reply above after reading up on that pump. You should be able to select the ml/min but I suspect you need to calibrate the pump. Mine is a newer one (7523-80) that doesn’t require calibration. I think you can do exactly what you want if you select the correct tubing size on the pumps front panel and calibrate. Also keep in mind that I am assuming you are running LS17 tubing and not some other sized tubing.

[zip70]

Originally Posted by slief

Edit.
That is a 10-600 RPM pump that can only be controlled in .1 RPM increments up to 100 RPM according to the manual. LS 17 tubing on an Easy Load Head flows at 2.8ml/min per RPM so multiply that by your each RPM and that’s what you will get. The minimum flow for that pump with LS17 tubing would be 28ml/min (10 RPM Minimum). If you can only adjust from 50ml and up, it would sound like you are either using the wrong tubing or have the wrong tubing selected on the front panel because as noted above, 28ml/min should be the minimum flow rate with LS17 tubing which is what we typically recommend. You may also need to calibrate the pump. See section on calibration in the manual. See page 6 of the manual below.
https://pim-resources.coleparmer.com...-60-70rev5.pdf

For reference, here are the flow rates per tubing diameter for an Easy Load 7518-00 and 7519-10 which are the common Easy Load heads that support LS17 tubing as well as other tubing sizes.

Tubing sizes acceptedL/S® 13, L/S 14, L/S 16, L/S 25, L/S 17, L/S 18

Volume Per Revolution With L/S 13 Tubing (mL)0.06
Volume Per Revolution With L/S 14 Tubing (mL)0.21
Volume Per Revolution With L/S 16 Tubing (mL)0.8
Volume Per Revolution With L/S 25 Tubing (mL)1.7
Volume Per Revolution With L/S 17 Tubing (mL)2.8
Volume Per Revolution With L/S 18 Tubing (mL)3.8

Link to head specs.
https://www.coleparmer.com/i/masterf...-rotor/0751810

The 50mil/min was an example. I just pick a random number. Actually L/S 17 the minimum you can adjust is 30ml/min.

[vitodog]

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.

[Bpb]

Originally Posted by vitodog

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



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[vitodog]

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

[slief]

Originally Posted by vitodog

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

Originally Posted by zip70

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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?

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?