Flow rate for continous peristaltic pump on Ca reactor?

ScooterV · Aug 2, 2018

I'm likely not using the correct search terms, but everything I can find refers to the Cole Palmer/Masterflex pumps and stated in RPM. RPM doesn't mean much unless using only one of those pumps. I'm also not looking or exactly what my own needs will end up being in the end, but the general overall range in ml/min or g/hr, any rough idea. It is a 270 gallon with some SPS already but hopefully crowded at some point. Kalk in the ATO is already falling behind so it's time to work on the calcium reactor that's been sitting there a year just waiting, lol.

The reactor will be in a remote location and I will be using a Stenner pump. I already have three in use for other things, and some parts to rebuild another, but looking for the "range" I may need to settle on the 100 psi version if the flow would be enough or have to go with a 25 psi version before I order parts. I AM concerned that due to the distance and 1/4" tubing, and the reactor even being on the vacuum side the vacuum may become too strong. If so I'll get 3/8" line run. If that STILL doesn't work I'll have to give in on stand space and find a quiet pump, but the garage will remain the plan for now. The run each way is 8 feet up, 10 over through the attic, then 8 feet back down so the Stenner itself can for sure handle it.

So, any ideas on the min-max continuous flow by volume would be great! Thanks! I can use the guides for the Masterflex otherwise and adjust slowly.

Reeferdood · Aug 2, 2018

There are other ways to feed a calcium reactor and way cheaper than a CP/Masterflex, IMHO. I prefer using more flow like a slow stream and adjusting the pH from there. This method worked flawlessly for a long time before tearing down my big system and downsizing.

KrisReef · Aug 2, 2018

+1 what Reeferdood said.

I have a Cole Palmer peristaltic pump that I ditched on my 150 gallon system. I instead bleed off pressure from my return through a simple 1/4" supply "T" that feeds return water into the calcium reactor. I adjusted the 1/4" tube outflow to produce a steady stream and then adjusted the pH inside the chamber down until the calcium/Alk supplied kept up with the demands of the tank. This keeps the outflow fairly stable and prevents the 1/4 inch tubing and control valve from getting blocked with calcium deposits. I found trying to adjust the cole palmer pump output and pH to get the unit balanced did not work. The steady flow method works for me. The outflow is more than steady drops, "slow stream" is what I've ended up with. Hope this helps.

jda · Aug 2, 2018

You need to match to your tank. If it is full of acros or LPS and coralline growing like crazy, then you might need 50-100mls per minute. If you have a young tank and a bunch of frags, then you need significantly less. Do you have a tank photo so that some of us can guess? Nobody will be able to make a good guess without knowing your tank a bit more.

Start out with 40 drops per minute and 10 bubbles of CO2. Let this marinate overnight. Check the PH (no big deal if you cannot) and effluent alk and check back with us.

I have used T off of the return line for a long time. It works fine. I have not really had issues with clogging since I went to the larger ARM size and the media did not melt down so far. I will also sometimes use a small, reliable pump like a good MaxiJet or a QuietOne to feed a reactor.

BantyRooster97 · Aug 2, 2018

I have a masterflex on my tank & it is awesome. It is currently only running at 10 ml per min (not sure what rpm, all the digital masterflex pumps can display both if needed).

You need to test your tank & see where it needs to be. I lost 75% of my SPS due to stupidity this year & went from 30 ml/min to 10. I test ALK 1-2 times per week and it hasn't deviated more than .1 in weeks.

So just test & adjust.

ca1ore · Aug 2, 2018

On my SPS packed 90 I was pushing 30 ml/min ..... on my not-quite-so-packed 450 I'm at about 80 ml/min. YMMV. Nothing quite like an industrial duty peristaltic for reliability.

Breadman03 · Aug 3, 2018

I'm currently using my DOS to feed 1200 ml/day through my CARX. My tank is quite low demand.

ScooterV · Aug 3, 2018

Awesome, thanks!! It looks like a range of 10-100ml/m here. I did finally find one old thread elsewhere stated by flow and it stated 10-120ml/m. So, that would be 3.8-45.6 gallons a day. The Stenner on my ATO is 2.5-50 gpd so should work fine and I can cobble together any old Stenner to go back on the ATO.

Thanks to all, but while it may end up not working for various reasons the reactor is in a remote location so the pump options are limited and tapping off the return not at all possible. With three in use and a box of spare parts I'm also a fan of the Stenner pump and the reliability, even if it doesn't have and LED telling me exactly what the rate is at. They are noisy, but being in the garage it doesn't matter. I was also looking for the overall range to match the pump, not so much where it needs to be right now. Besides stand space and keeping things clean the goal is for anything that has even a remote possibility of leaking be either in/over sump or moved to the garage.

LOL, now I only need to cross my fingers the 1/4" line works ok because I don't want to be back up in the attic pulling RO tubing through walls again when I already have a bundle of 6-7 lines run between back of tank and garage for any use.

Breadman03 · Aug 3, 2018

If/when the Stenner can't keep up, grab a faster one. The 1/4" should be fine, but you might consider grabbing some fitting to step up the size just to be sure.