Osmolator has stopped sensing saltwater

[Runfrumu]

I have about a 4 year old osmolator that today filled up the sump until the alarm sounded, pulled the sensor from the sump and sure enough was dirty so I soaked it in 50/50 water-vinegar for around an hour until the gunk was off, dunk it into fresh water and back into the sump.

I've now let it set in the sump for a few hours like I did when it was new until the all the microbubbles quit forming on it, and it still doesn't sense the saltwater, but can pull it out and dunk it in freshwater and the 50/50 solution and it senses them both right away, back into the saltwater and nothing.

Any ideas? Ordering a new sensor isn't a problem, but it just seems weird that it can sense fresh but not saltwater.

Thanks

Mark

 

[rvitko]

This would be odd for a couple reasons. First a failed sensor should pump no water and show a constant green light. To the optic sensor their should be no difference between fresh and salt water. Have you tried salt water in the same container you are trying freshwater? (exact same set up that works with the freshwater) I suspect another culprit like a magnet near the controller or bubbles on the sensor in the saltwater set up.

 

[Runfrumu]

I've not tryed putting the water in a different container, but I tryed swishing the probe around in the saltwater and leaving it sitting in the saltwater overnight, but no difference.

I've reordered another controller just incase, I don't mind a little redundancy anyways, 2 is 1 and 1 is none.

The controller is mounted underneath the cabinet and is in the same place its been for 4 years, with no added equipment around it either. Nothing has changed as far as equipment in the previous 4 years in the sump either.

I will try the saltwater in a seperate bowl when I return home.

Thanks

Mark

 

[rvitko]

Hey Mark,

I tried to call about your order, can you give me a call, I think I may have a better option for you- 512-833-7546.

 

[Runfrumu]

Hey Roger, you were right about it being something in the sump. I pulled the sensor out of the sump and into a bowl or saltwater and it works fine. Back into the sump, orange light.

I have unplugged everything in the sump at the same time, removed PH probes, and pulled out a temp sensor, and still no change. Basically, a chiller coil, a return pump, HS skimmer, HS calcium reactor, 6025 to stir detritus up, a NP reactor with a small sicce pump and that's it the water, but no power to any of them.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Mark

 

[rvitko]

It is a rare issue, but sometimes a very shiny surface, particularly smooth white plastic or the perlescent tacky white gravel for freshwater tanks can reflect the IR light and cause an issue with the sensor, very new and polished black plastic can also be a cause. It still acts up with everything unplugged?

 

[Runfrumu]

I don't have a clue what it could be. I've shut the return pump down so theres no water coming to or from the main tank, so anything in it shouldn't affect it at all. I've pull the PH probe from the calcium reactor, pulled out the temp probe, unplugged the skimmer pump, Calcium reactor pump, 6025 powerhead, NP reactor pump, and the return pump is unplugged. I even took the shut off float switch for the osmolator out of the water.

There is no way that I can see for any voltage to hit the sump, but I can take the sensor, dunk it in a bowl of tank water, and it's fine, then the sump, goes orange, and I can do it back and forth with the same results.

Before when I had a voltage leak from a return pump, I noticed it when I flipped off the return pump and it caused my PH probe in the reactor to jump, but that isnt happening this time.


Im stumped on this. It actually started when I walk in the house yesterday at 7, I had been home for about 2 minutes and I head the flood alarm start going off.

Thanks

Mark

 

[rvitko]

Is everything unplugged or just switched off? I ask because the only thought that comes to mind is that some grounded appliance might be causing this issue through the ground, for example you could have a faulty device somewhere in the house and current is in the house ground line and entering the aquarium or possibly the ground wire is grounding a small current leak from the optic sensor if there was a tear in the wire or a small leak in the sensor.

 

[Runfrumu]

Is everything unplugged or just switched off? I ask because the only thought that comes to mind is that some grounded appliance might be causing this issue through the ground, for example you could have a faulty device somewhere in the house and current is in the house ground line and entering the aquarium or possibly the ground wire is grounding a small current leak from the optic sensor if there was a tear in the wire or a small leak in the sensor.

Ahh, didn't think of that, I had the switches all turned off, but didn't think it could be feeding on the ground.

I will start unplugging everything one at a time until I hopefully find the culprit.

Thanks again

Mark

 

[Runfrumu]

I physically unplugged everything thats in the sump with the Osmolator, but still the same thing. I will check my ground tommorrow in the house with a voltmeter to make sure theres not a hot ground. The only thing plugged in on the main tank is a pair of 6105's, but they dont have ground prongs on them so I wouldn't suspect it to be them, and another PH probe and salinity probe.

 

[Runfrumu]

Now it is working again.

Nothing has changed around my tank or house, but the sensor tip was in the water for a couple of days turned off and I only would only flip it on to add freshwater back to the sump, then manually cut it back off. Tonight after flipping it on and waiting while I browsed online, I notice the green light is back on and it's cut itself off.

I'm going to leave it on today just to see how it goes.

 

[rvitko]

Keep me posted, we shipped your order yesterday, I think you will have it on Monday.