Tunze Osmolator question.

LoveReefer · Nov 9, 2019

I use the Osmolator 3155 and turn it off while I feed. Same with my return pump. I wait until the pump comes back on and water level is returned to normal in sump before turning it back on. If I don't the alarm goes crazy. When I turn the ATO back on it pumps about 15-20 seconds of water into my sump until the water level is over the optical sensor. Usually it's right at the bottom of the sensor. I'm guessing about a cup, maybe two of fresh water put into my sump extra. Then the water has to fall quite a bit more than usual in my sump before it's triggered to come back on and settle in it's final spot. I'm assuming it's made to do this? Does it even out somehow and I'm not seeing how? Does this extra fresh water added make the salinity fluctuate in a negative way? If I leave it plugged in without alarm, when my return kicks on and drops the water in my sump before the overflow can catch up......the ATO pumps water to compensate. It's a lose lose lol. I got to thinking....If I were ever to use Kalkwasser in my ATO which I plan on....everyday it will pump a little extra kalk into the tank. How do you Osmolator people deal with this? I feed conservatively twice a day. I was thinking I could plug into a timer to set for 30 minute delay before it comes back on? After typing that, I'm not sure how I would even do that. Seems like that would be an even bigger pain. Maybe with a controller but no controller here. I like having the alarm active for piece of mind but even with it turned off it's still kind of wonky how it works. What gives???

Flippers4pups · Nov 9, 2019

LoveReefer · Nov 9, 2019

90 gallon display ~25 gallons in sump.. fwiw

Auquanut · Nov 9, 2019

I have the same Osmolator and basically turn everything off when I feed. What I did to keep it from having the alarm go off is to remove the float sensor from the optical sensor mount and use the included magnetic holder to place the float sensor in a position just above the high level mark when the pump is off. It will still alert me and turn off the ATO if the optical sensor fails, but shouldn't allow so much RO into the system that it causes a problem.

fcmatt · Nov 9, 2019

That one cup of fresh water in a display and sump of that size is nothing. Dont even worry about it.

It will evaporate long before your next feeding and kick on again multiple times before u feed the next day.

As for dosing kalk.. I will let someone else answer that one.

LoveReefer · Nov 9, 2019

That makes sense. Good idea. I just seen that sensor mount the other day and wondered why I would ever use it...

That solves alarm for sure. I’m having a hard time picturing it in my head, but this should stop the pump from triggering as long as the water doesn’t drop below the sensor when the return kicks back on shouldn’t it? I’ll have to play with that tomorrow.

I’m guessing if it does kick back on while the overflow is catching up to the pump, there’s no way around that? Thanks

Mike

LoveReefer · Nov 9, 2019

Replied before I seen your other post. Good to know that it’s no issue thanks

Yeah, if anyone knows how it affects kalk if at all some info would be great. Thanks

Mike

LoveReefer · Nov 11, 2019

Auquanut said:
I have the same Osmolator and basically turn everything off when I feed. What I did to keep it from having the alarm go off is to remove the float sensor from the optical sensor mount and use the included magnetic holder to place the float sensor in a position just above the high level mark when the pump is off. It will still alert me and turn off the ATO if the optical sensor fails, but shouldn't allow so much RO into the system that it causes a problem.

Hey man thanks for this tip! Ran some tests and looks like this fixed it all together. The ATO doesn’t trigger at all now and water returns to perfect level. Took me a few to figure it out. I thought it was a different mount completely lol. Turns out it was the plastic guard and two extra magnets. Sometimes it takes me a minute;Wacky.

thanks again.

Mike