Tunze Osmolator

[Dozer]

I finally got one of these today, I can't wait to get it up and running. I have a question for those of you who are using one. How close is your reservoir to your sump and tank? I want to use a Brute garbage can about 14-18 feet away I guess. The problem is that the way the system is delivered is for a shorter distance. The guy at the LFS didn't think it would be a problem, and sold me a longer length of the tubing to get from the reservoir to the tank. However, I didn't even think about the wiring from the controller to the pump in the reservoir. Has anybody else added to theirs to cover a longer distance like this?

[scuba_steveo]

Yes, I did. I connected mine with telephone wire. Works great. Just get a small guage wire, not braided, and some clamps from home depot for like 5 bucks.

[Dozer]

Thanks Steve. Btw, how far away is your reservoir from your tank? Are you using the pump it came with? Do you run it on 9 or 12V?

[scuba_steveo]

it only about 4' as the crow flies but I have the tubing and power running about 15'. I run the wires and tubes down the walls and under some other stuff so that it does not get in my way.
9V. but I lose 5 gallons per day and it is haveing a hard time keeping up so I might switch it to 12V. it can run on but but 9V is better.

[scuba_steveo]

I am actually about to get a second pump and wire both to the same control until. I am going to do this because the pumps are cheap and are know to go out. If your container has RO only in it the pump should last 1 year. If it has kalk I only give it 3 months. The pumps are cheap. I am doing this for insurance. If one pump goes out the second can do the job.

[Dozer]

If your container has RO only in it the pump should last 1 year. If it has kalk I only give it 3 months.

Wow, that's dramatically less than I expected. I was thinking about a year if running kalk through it, but at least several years with plain RO water. Kind of takes a little wind out of my sails about buying it :unsure

[Dozer]

What about just jumping the gun and putting another better quality pump on it right from the start? Maybe a mag or something? It would solve the longer run from the reservoir to the tank issue, and also last longer and still be ok if it ran dry. I wonder how tough of a modification this would be?

[H2OCruiser]

I use the tunze osmolator, it is going on a 3+ yrs using it on plain RO water. Never have replaced the pump, yet at least. The long run might change its performance. Not sure though.

[scuba_steveo]

I am just saying what I have heard and experienced. I have had min for about 6 months now. I had an osmomat for about 1.5 years. The two are the same thing except one is for in tank use and the other is for in sump use. But use the same pump. The osmomat never had a problem but it was on a 37 and hardly ever ran at all. The osmolator runs all the time. When I got it 6 months ago the pump was bad. Tunze replaced it right away. Now the second pump is starting to go out. Do not get me wrong, the osmolator rocks! be very happy with your purchase.

[aquadoc]

I use the osmo, on my tank it is about 4 feet from the tank, from the container it goes to a kalk reactor, then has to pump water to the top of my tank, and it works great I have had my too, for about 3+ years, never replaced the pump. I think you will be alright.
As far as connecting 2 pumps to the system I would look and see the amp rating for both and see that the 120v converter to 12v would be capable of the load. Plus I would call, and see if the control board for the osmo would handle it to. That would suck to fry out your osmolater, because of too much load.

[AlexKilpatrick]

One issue with replacing the pump is that it is a DC pump. You can't easily replace it with a Mag or Maxi-jet, or anything like that because those are all AC. The controller outputs DC, so it can't drive an AC pump without some extra parts. I actually spent some time looking around for an equivalent DC pump from another source, and eventually gave up. I would just buy a couple of spares -- they are only about $15, as I recall.

I will say one positve thing about the Tunze osmolator. My controller fell into my reservoir, and sat there feebly beeping *underwater* for about a day. I took the back off and let it dry for a day, and then it worked perfectly after that.

[Dozer]

Alex- Where are you in RR (if you don't mind me asking)? We're right off O'Connor near Great Oaks (West of I-35, Brushy Creek area). If you're close by I wouldn't mind seeing your setup sometime if you would be willing. I'm hoping to hook up my osmolator in the next couple days, I think it will be pretty cool.

[AlexKilpatrick]

Actually, I am in Jordan right now, so I am about 6,000 miles from Round Rock. :-) I'm coming home tomorrow, though, so if you want to stop by this weekend, you are welcome. Just give me a call at 296-4130 and make sure I am home.

I have been away from my setup for more than a month now, so I have no idea what it looks like. It is just LR right now.

One confusing thing I noticed about the osmolater is that it seems to come on from about 20-30 seconds when it first starts up, no matter what. That confused me for a while until I just left it alone.

[Dozer]

Lol, I think you deserve a rest after that trip. I'll send you a PM you can let me know when you're home and settled and stuff, and I'll come by next weekend or something.

[Brett Wilson]

I had an osmolator pump survive for at least two years in a bucket used for kalk plus another year of RO. (and I assume is still going)
My tank typically evaporated 1-1.5G per day.

But I do agree it's better to be safe than sorry, specially if you are adding 5g a day!
I think running them parallel is a neat idea....

FWIW there is a nano powerhead out there that is DC, maybe it would work..
I have no idea what wattage it runs at though, if that matters much for the osmo (or it's power supply).

I'll add the link to it when I find it.

[Brett Wilson]

It doesnt mention that it's DC but you can kinda figure that out by the low wattage use (and the fact that it comes with a small DC powersupply)
100GPH (http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AQ-100&Category_Code=Eheim)
200GPH (http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AQ-200&Category_Code=Eheim)
300GPH (http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AQ-300&Category_Code=Eheim)

EDIT, not sure about these, some are reporting problems with them.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8233

[SBreef]

Here is my suggestion to replacing the orginal pump. From what I can tell from this thread, the osmo runs the pump on either 9 or 12 volt DC.
If you can not get a replacement or want get to run a AC pump, and the unit is out of warranty, do this. Get yourself either a 9 or 12 volt Dc relay. The coil of the relay goes across the Dc output from the osmo, the contact of the relay is wired into the power cord of the new pump. Problem solved.
Also, be sure the contact rating for the relay meets or exceeds the new pumps current rating.


Roy

[Dozer]

SBreef- since you know about this kind of stuff, how much would you expect to pay for something like that? The reason I ask is because I was wondering if the price Tunze charges for theirs seems appropriate or not.

http://www.tunze.com/usa/index.html?lang=en-gb

Go here and search on: "Switched socket outlet 3150.11"

Tunze sells theirs for about $54.

[Dozer]

Thanks to everyone so far for your responses on this. I'm happy I got it. I'm planning on filling a Brute garbage can with 20-30 gallons of RO/DI water once each week and then just letting the Osmo do the rest.

Like a wise man once said, "Set it... and forget it..."

[SBreef]

Dozer,

Well that depends on what you want to pay for a relay. I do not know off the top of my head, what a good 9 volt relay costs, but if you switsh to a 12 volt relay, you could use a standard 12 volt single pole single throw relay. The type that alarm people use for starter by pass's. They do not cost a lot and are usually rated at 15 - 20 amps. And then some misc. wire and plugs, so therefore not near the $$ Tunze wants for something in a "pretty" box, that you would not normally see.

Roy

[SBreef]

Check out this thread about the Aqua Globes.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8233

[Brett Wilson]

doh! well that's no fun. i'll add that to my post about them!

[Dozer]

Good to know, thanks guys.

[eric]

I finally got one yesterday too. As for 12V pumps, something to think about would be a small bilge pump - found at West Marine or Boater's World.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=76551&catalogId=10001& classNum=304&subdeptNum=75&storeNum=11

[scuba_steveo]

Are you hooking that pump up to the osmolator?

[eric]

No, I figured I'm going to use the one that came with it for as long as it lasts. That was just a quick search for a 12V bilge pump. Am I missing something obvious?

[scuba_steveo]

No. I am just wondering if anyone has hook up their osmolator to a different pump.