Peristaltic feed pump for a CaRx

solitude127 · Oct 25, 2017

I've read that Geo will be coming out with a peristaltic feed pump for a CaRx. Any word on a release date?

geo · Oct 25, 2017

This is actually being manufactured by Spectrapure. I am just doing testing on the prototypes and giving my input. I would suggest contacting them for an ETA.

solitude127 · Oct 25, 2017

geo said:
This is actually being manufactured by Spectrapure. I am just doing testing on the prototypes and giving my input. I would suggest contacting them for an ETA.

Thank you.

Chris155hp · Oct 31, 2017

Can’t wait

biecacka · Nov 2, 2017

Let me know if you wanna borrow my CaRx to test one one.

Corey

Daniel@R2R · Nov 3, 2017

Cool! Now I want to see what happens with this!

BigJohnny · Nov 3, 2017

Will it be rated for continuous duty though, like a cole parmer masterflex or Watson Marlow?

aquaman30k · Nov 4, 2017

I called Scott at Spectrapure and he confirmed yes it will be continuous duty. Basically the LM3 pump with a different controller.

chema · Nov 14, 2017

I currently have the LM3. I use it as the ATO pump and is too noisy for a permanent operation use

BigJohnny · Nov 19, 2017

I was just informed by Jonas Roman (designer of the focustronic alkatronic) of this pump he uses on his calcium reactor. He said it is very reliable, precise, only has to change the tubing every 6 months, and was only $250 US when he bought it. I looked it up and it is rated for continuous duty (24/7 use) with flow rates from 7ml/min to 70ml/min. What do you guys think?

https://www.aquaristikshop.com/aquaristic/IKS-Dosing-pump-Vario-Blue-II/518000/

DogueDeBordeaux · Nov 19, 2017

How long has he used this pump?
Where can you buy replacement tubing?
Is it quiet?

BigJohnny · Nov 19, 2017

DogueDeBordeaux said:
How long has he used this pump?
Where can you buy replacement tubing?
Is it quiet?

I don't know how long he has been using it but I will ask. Not sure what places would ship the pump to the US or if it is even compatible with us outlets/voltage, but I plan on looking into it. The same website I found the pump on also sells the replacement tubing. KZ also sells both but more expensive. I don't know how quiet it is in person but it's running in this video and I couldn't pick it out over the water from the drains:

His r2r username is JonasRoman if you want to talk to him about it. Really nice guy and very smart/tech savvy. I pre-ordered the alkatronic because I think it's the best alkalinity controller out there and I trust his recommendation. He mentioned another pump that a lot of reefers use in Europe too, but he said he found this one to be more reliable.

Wrasse-cal · Dec 29, 2017

BigJohnny said:
I don't know how long he has been using it but I will ask.

Did you find anything out?

DogueDeBordeaux · Dec 29, 2017

I am going to try one. I am not taking a gamble on another masterflex from ebay. Don't get me wrong, they run for ever. They just seem to start making too much noise after a while. There are not a lot of replacement parts available, or not easily sourced. I contacted coleparmer about sending off for repairs, and it was $800 fee.
If someone knows a place to send these pumps (masterflex) for decently priced repairs I'm all in.

Wrasse-cal · Dec 29, 2017

DogueDeBordeaux said:
I am going to try one.

Are you going to try the IKS dosing pump? If so, I'm very curious to hear how it goes.

DogueDeBordeaux · Dec 29, 2017

yes IKS Vario Blue II
I read somewhere it was used on the dastaco calcium reactors. Now dastaco uses a newer version. Google their calcium reactor package, and look at the pump. Also see the newer pump on uniquecorals site.
I am just not sure how loud this pump will be. I am just tired of the squeaking masterflex.

Specturepure will have their calrx feed pump ready in couple months also. They are in testing phase now.

NeverlosT · Dec 29, 2017

Many of those pumps are stepper motors which are not typically suited for high duty cycle use. I would worry not only about noise but also pump failure. The reason that masterflex pumps are so bulletproof is that they do not use stepper motors.

Then again, I know pacificsun, destaco, and others are all using these stepper motor pumps, so maybe they work well enough. I wish I had a spare, my nightmare is my masterflex crapping out and piecing one together from ebay takes a few weeks.

For $250 bucks though, one of the above might be worth a try. That is the cost of a used masterflex but as has been said, those can be noisy and tough to repair.

If I had the money I'd buy a brushless masterflex and never worry about this again, and have a dead silent pump. Maybe someday.