MRC ca reactor question

kris2001 · Nov 20, 2020

Hi...
Please see pic. I'm gonna feed this reactor using a STP peristalic pump.

1) can i place reactor and tank in the area below DT?

2) can the co2 tank be far away like 5 feet from reactor?

3) can the reactor be 5or 6 feet away from the STP pump that'd get water from stock tank...?

Still trying to figure where to place this thing! I've heard people say keep reactor at eye level for easy reading...
But in this all the matters is the bubble rate in the tank imo...

Thx

GoVols · Nov 23, 2020

Have not ran a cal reactor without a sump close by.

Bumping for more input.

Including if the effluent would syphon back inside the reactor.

kris2001 · Nov 23, 2020

That was mainly my concern, about backflow, siphoning...unnecessarily e.t.c .

But I'm using a kamoer peristalic pump... though.

Snoopy 67 · Nov 23, 2020

I too use the Kamoer & my sump is under the tank. I pull from the sump & return to the other side. The Kaomer is located higher than water level on the back wall. All closer than 5 ft.
No problems. Just remember to secure the tank so it can NOT fall over.
If it does & the valve assembly breaks you have a rocket container on your hands.

jda · Nov 23, 2020

The reactor is a closed system, so you can run it as far away as you want with only pipe friction (negligible). The co2 tank can also be as far away as you want - make sure that you have an excellent check valve.

I have no idea what a STP pump is, but if it can handle some small pipe friction, then it should be fine. I feed with a MaxiJet and they can handle the reactor being 10 feet away from the tank through normal ice-maker tubing.

kris2001 · Nov 23, 2020

Thx.. all good info.

Currently if i keep reactor under the DT, since sump is stock tank it's water level would be higher than reactor height.

I assume it's ok .... if kamoer peristalic pump is higher than sump water level.

But then that pump cant siphon in worst case, so wondering it'd be convenient to screw it to DT stand in the middle below DT....

Snoopy 67 · Nov 24, 2020

I have mine on a small shelf on the back wall of the stand. A little annoying to get to.
I should have put it on the side but already have a doser there.
If a siphon worries you, doubtful with the Kamoer, put a check valve inline.

kris2001 · Dec 1, 2020

Hello..

Just ran a test run via kamoer peristalic pump STP... its pushing sw from sump.

Issue is the MRC reactor input is push connect. Soft tubing that came with kamoer won't snug fit in it... it comes off easily.

So i tried hard tubing (refrigerator line)... that fits perfectly and push connected.

But the feeding end, from kamoer output leaks a bit since it's hard tubing...
The input to kamoer i used soft and it's np....

How to fix my issue!? Pic attached...

Seems kamoer wants its soft tubing to both inlet outlet...

Water Dog · Dec 2, 2020

If you want to go from the Kamoer soft 1/4” ID tubing to 1/4” rigid RO tubing, you’ll need these fittings...

A 1/4” x 1/4” stem adapter...

Mur-lok Stem Adapter Tube x Hose Stem - G.A. Murdock

Mur-lok Stem Adapter Tube x Hose Stem Stem side slides into standard push connect fittings. Barb side is designed for flexible tubing like nylon or clear pvc. Mur-lok RO fittings are the only RO fittings that feature dual EPDM O-rings to ensure a straight leak free fit. These high quality...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Along with a 1/4” x 1/4” push connect coupler...

Mur-lok RO Straight Union Push Connect - G.A. Murdock

Mur-lok RO fittings are the only RO fittings that feature dual EPDM O-rings to ensure a straight leak free fit. These high quality American made fittings are constructed with FDA approved materials. Straight Union - Push Connect x Push Connect Polypropylene construction NSF Standard 58 Certified

www.bulkreefsupply.com

kris2001 · Dec 3, 2020

Thx water dog, ordered those from BRS... Today.

I do have an issue here.
Started running reactor since 2 days.

Is it important to have a check valve for the CO2 line? It leaks in high bubble rate...!

Are there better quality ones, this one is top fin from petsmart.

Is this the best?

Mur-lok Inline Check Valve 1/4" x 1/4" Push Connect - G.A. Murdock

Mur-lok RO fittings are the only RO fittings that feature dual EPDM O-rings to ensure a straight leak free fit. We believe GA Murdock Mur-lok fittings to be the best so strongly that we use them virtually exclusively on each of our BulkReefSupply.com reverse osmosis units and BRS media reactors...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I wanna decrease the PH2 in reactor to 7 and slowly to 6.5. But it doesn't go down below 7.4.... it does only when i reduce kamoer to like 1ml per min.

I wanna keep flow constant ie 5ml per min.... and tweak co2.

What can i do now? Btw my media is caribsea ARM brand. Circulation pump runs always.

Tia... pics, vid attached.