osmolator question

[jimsflies]

I just bought an osmolator and hooked it up today. I don't have a sump and put the sensor inside my remora aqua c skimmer box in the same compartment as the skimmer pump.

I'm not sure if this is normal, but the sensor that controls the pump seems to become fully submerged before the pump turns off. Then it needs to fully be out of the water before the pump turns on. I would say there is about an 1-inch of water difference in the skimmer box between pump on and pump off. Is this how its supposed to work? The set up at the LFS seems to just barely touch the water.

thanks

 

[rvitko]

The skimmer box could be a problem because the sensor will not work if air bubbles are coming into contact with it, likewise if a film of water is trapped between the sensor and the holder or trickling down the sensor from the skimmer output. The other thing is to be sure it is installed pointing down. It is also not unusual for a new sensor to be less than perfect, plastic is hydrophobic material, it repels water and air sticks to it, until this surface property is eliminated by time and bio films or by a rinse in hot soapy water, just as hot as you could put your hand under it may behave erratically. I would clean the sensor and try using it outside the box and let me know the result, If the tank is very small it could also be a result of the built in time delays, about 15 seconds after fill is registered the pump should shut off and about 8 seconds after air is detected the pump should come on, in a small tank this might make a more erratic surface change but this program was added to eliminate the pump constantly turning off and on from small waves and minor changes.

 

[jimsflies]

Thanks for getting back with me.

I'll try cleaning the sensor. The unit appears to be working fine, only that the sensor becomes totally submerged before it turns off. I have a 29 gallon tank. But I'll bet if there is a 15 second delay before the pump turns off that could be the answer, in the small skimmer box that is enough volume to submerge the sensor. Will operating it like this be a concern as far as sensor life?

 

[rvitko]

No, the sensor is water proof, occasionally we get one that isn't but it is pretty rare, I think in 4 years of working with this model I have changed 3 or 4 sensors.

 

[gbtower]

Can an older osmolator be upgraded to have the new hysteresis enabled?

 

[rvitko]

Unfortunately no, but their aren't too many of the ones from before this change, I have one at home and they work fine it is just annoying when they hover between fill and don't fill for an hour or so. It is just an IC, the problem is the older ones like yours and mine were hand made and the new ones are surface mount and have very small components. I personally prefer the hand made ones because I can repair them, the usual failure if one occurs is a 4002 diode you can pick up at any Radio Shack.

 

[gbtower]

Ooo, an antique!