Tunze osmolator 3155 over filling

sturner91 · 12/31/2016, 08:51 PM

I've done my research and have seen that people recommend cleaning the sensor however even after cleaning, it works for a little then eventually stops. When I say stops, I mean my skimmer starts overflowing and the pump turns off after 10mins of run time. I have a custom limit set due to the sensor and float switch arguing all the time. I've taken the sensor out and tried running it in a bowl of water and acted like it was being filled. At first it wouldn't work. After cleaning it, it worked no problem repeatedly. 1hr after installing it in my sump I check on it to find it flashing red(I turned off that extremely annoying alarm since I turn off my return during feedings) and find my skimmer pumping straight water due to the sump level being way passed where it should be. Clearly I need to tinker with the right location for my float switch, but to my understanding that's there as a back up. Other than cleaning the sensor is there anything else that can be done?

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joshbrookkate · 12/31/2016, 09:32 PM

Probably unrelated to your problem...
...But make sure the output line is above the water line. I rearranged things in my DT and inadvertently let my output tubing go slightly under the water line, creating a siphon. I knew there was a problem but thought it was a pump malfunction. I replaced the pump but found the same problem. That's when I looked at my tubing setup and found the siphon.

sturner91 · 12/31/2016, 09:59 PM

Yea my hose is mounted on the edge of my sump. Not submerged at all

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SPR1968 · 01/01/2017, 02:43 AM

I have had mine for about a month and this happened when I first installed the Tunze.

You mention your skimmer was over flowing

I found the problem with mine was I had the pump return hose a little close to the optical sensor so when the water was being topped up, I believe it was creating tiny air bubbles near the sensor and the sensor read that as 'no water lets top up' and continued for the 10 mins

I moved the top up tubing and no further issues.

I just mention this because if your skimmer is overflowing and creating tiny bubbles near the sensor, that may be the cause.

On the float switches, the optical is set so it's at the correct water level you want, the standard float switch is set in mine to the maximum water level when I turn off the main pump for maintenance etc so it would only activate with Tunze failure (in theory!) and then you also have the 10 minute cut off as final back up.

Also if you read the instructions the RO water level needs to be below the level of the top up hose so you don't get a syphon effect.

sturner91 · 01/01/2017, 03:16 AM

I was reading on some other posts that they recommended turning it on outside the water then put it in water. Something along the lines of maybe it couldn't sense the water? Not really sure.

Anyhow, I muted the alarm cause even if both switches fail the 10min runtime won't overfill my sump so that's good. My problem is my skimmer will over flow my bottle I'm using(which already isn't very big).

As of now, I have reconfigured the sensor and float to be on the same magnet this time. Giving about an inch of overflow room till the float triggers and kills the pump. I have also dialed down the pump to run on nano settings even tho I'm on a 72g tank. That still seems fast enough for fill up to me. This time, as a test, I turned the osmolator on outside the water, then lowered it into the water.. The sensor works. So I lowered it down to where it should be. As of now I have about 2" extra water in my tank. I'm waiting for evap to lower it back to where it should be. For now my skimmer needs to be left on lower settings until I get this solved. The carpet is already pretty wet

Here are some pics of where the water line should be and how my sensor is sitting. Unfortunately I can't behind the sump so I can only do a top down picture.

You can see the line of shmutz on the window for where the water should be.

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sturner91 · 01/01/2017, 03:18 AM

Also, the sensor is in the return compartment. I moved the sensor further from the inlet section to that portion as well as adjusted where my top off hose is directed.

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gone fishin · 01/01/2017, 06:49 AM

you mentioned you turn off the return pump to feed. How does this affect the sump level.

I know when I turn my return off for WC's I need to unplug my tunze or it goes crazy due to the changes in the sump level.

sturner91 · 01/01/2017, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gone fishin

you mentioned you turn off the return pump to feed. How does this affect the sump level.

I know when I turn my return off for WC's I need to unplug my tunze or it goes crazy due to the changes in the sump level.

My sump level changes drastically. I'm probably going to have to do the same. I've only had the top off for a day so I'm figuring it all out.

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12/31/2016, 08:51 PM	#1
sturner91 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 135	Tunze osmolator 3155 over filling I've done my research and have seen that people recommend cleaning the sensor however even after cleaning, it works for a little then eventually stops. When I say stops, I mean my skimmer starts overflowing and the pump turns off after 10mins of run time. I have a custom limit set due to the sensor and float switch arguing all the time. I've taken the sensor out and tried running it in a bowl of water and acted like it was being filled. At first it wouldn't work. After cleaning it, it worked no problem repeatedly. 1hr after installing it in my sump I check on it to find it flashing red(I turned off that extremely annoying alarm since I turn off my return during feedings) and find my skimmer pumping straight water due to the sump level being way passed where it should be. Clearly I need to tinker with the right location for my float switch, but to my understanding that's there as a back up. Other than cleaning the sensor is there anything else that can be done? Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

01/01/2017, 02:43 AM	#4
SPR1968 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Nottinghamshire England Posts: 56	I have had mine for about a month and this happened when I first installed the Tunze. You mention your skimmer was over flowing I found the problem with mine was I had the pump return hose a little close to the optical sensor so when the water was being topped up, I believe it was creating tiny air bubbles near the sensor and the sensor read that as 'no water lets top up' and continued for the 10 mins I moved the top up tubing and no further issues. I just mention this because if your skimmer is overflowing and creating tiny bubbles near the sensor, that may be the cause. On the float switches, the optical is set so it's at the correct water level you want, the standard float switch is set in mine to the maximum water level when I turn off the main pump for maintenance etc so it would only activate with Tunze failure (in theory!) and then you also have the 10 minute cut off as final back up. Also if you read the instructions the RO water level needs to be below the level of the top up hose so you don't get a syphon effect. __________________ Shaun Current Tank Info: 2016 Red Sea Max S 650 LED Black Reef Tank

01/01/2017, 06:49 AM	#7
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	you mentioned you turn off the return pump to feed. How does this affect the sump level. I know when I turn my return off for WC's I need to unplug my tunze or it goes crazy due to the changes in the sump level. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

12/31/2016, 09:32 PM	#2
joshbrookkate Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Windsor, ON Posts: 618	Probably unrelated to your problem... ...But make sure the output line is above the water line. I rearranged things in my DT and inadvertently let my output tubing go slightly under the water line, creating a siphon. I knew there was a problem but thought it was a pump malfunction. I replaced the pump but found the same problem. That's when I looked at my tubing setup and found the siphon.

12/31/2016, 09:59 PM	#3
sturner91 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 135	Yea my hose is mounted on the edge of my sump. Not submerged at all Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

01/01/2017, 03:16 AM	#5
sturner91 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 135	I was reading on some other posts that they recommended turning it on outside the water then put it in water. Something along the lines of maybe it couldn't sense the water? Not really sure. Anyhow, I muted the alarm cause even if both switches fail the 10min runtime won't overfill my sump so that's good. My problem is my skimmer will over flow my bottle I'm using(which already isn't very big). As of now, I have reconfigured the sensor and float to be on the same magnet this time. Giving about an inch of overflow room till the float triggers and kills the pump. I have also dialed down the pump to run on nano settings even tho I'm on a 72g tank. That still seems fast enough for fill up to me. This time, as a test, I turned the osmolator on outside the water, then lowered it into the water.. The sensor works. So I lowered it down to where it should be. As of now I have about 2" extra water in my tank. I'm waiting for evap to lower it back to where it should be. For now my skimmer needs to be left on lower settings until I get this solved. The carpet is already pretty wet Here are some pics of where the water line should be and how my sensor is sitting. Unfortunately I can't behind the sump so I can only do a top down picture. You can see the line of shmutz on the window for where the water should be. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

01/01/2017, 03:18 AM	#6
sturner91 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 135	Also, the sensor is in the return compartment. I moved the sensor further from the inlet section to that portion as well as adjusted where my top off hose is directed. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk