Osmolator setup and gripe

[Kirk_M]

Problem:

The instructions do not specify what color wire (blue or brown) should be plugged into which side of the clamp to the control unit. Does it matter which goes where (will one make the pump run in reverse, versus forwards)?

Gripe:

Tunze's mounting system is awful, in general, but even worse for the osmolator. It doesn't fit American tanks (I am using an AGA 40 breeder as my sump, where it is mounted), as the screws aren't long enough to fit over the lip of the tank. I am forced to have it clamp the horizontal part of the rim (maybe has 8 mm of grasp to the rim) where a glass top would normally sit. Having to use silicon is ridiculous. These are being sold in America, to American consumers, for a very high price. They should come equipped with parts to fit AMERICAN tanks. Not to mention that their machining of the plastic parts is awful. So much for "German quality." Magnetic mounts should be STOCK, not an OPTION that will cost you up to $60 a piece, as expensive as Stream pumps, etc. are. Roger, please pass this on to Tunze (I doubt it will matter to them, though).

 

[rvitko]

Magnetic mounts will not work for the osmolator- it relies on magnets to function. It isn't that it doesn't matter, we are looking to redo the holder system in a year. We don't include long screws with the osmolator as I had advised they weren't necessary, most sumps have thin one piece molded trim and the plastic screws are fine for this install.

The wires can be attached in any order, it doesn't matter.

 

[Kirk_M]

How do the magnets in the sensor work, btw? I was under the impression that it was an optical sensor...

When you say that Tunze is looking to do the mounting system over, is that for ALL of their items, or just the OSMOLATOR? If mag mounts can't be done for the osmolator, will Tunze consider INCLUDING the magnetic mounts with their STREAMS?

 

[rvitko]

The float switch back up is magnetic, and the magnets set off the alarm.

We looked into including magnet mounts but the present design cannot be made in a big enough quantity so it would slow production even further, we already have trouble meeting demand. In the next design cycle we will redesign the holder systems but we already have all the designs for this year done and a new holder is not part of it. Really, I have used the current holders now for 6 years and they aren't that bad once your figure them out. They take some time but they are very solid and permanent when properly assembled. Sometimes like in this case you need a couple accessory sets to install them but given that we need a very solid mount, the simple solutions of suction cups and clips just don't cut it, a Stream is way to strong for that and if an osmo bracket fell the results could be bad.

 

[Kirk_M]

The streams, for sure, mounted better on my tank. The osmolator brackets, I do not feel, are as secure. I can STILL see the stream's mount MOVING though when the pumps pulse, even with the mount tightened as tight as I would feel comfortable threading plastic parts together without stripping them. Suction cups for sure would ot work due to the force of water the stream generates. Eventually, I'll shell out the cash for the mag mounts, but, I just really feel that the price is rather steep for plastic and two magnets -- don't get me wrong on this, because Tunze's stuff is well worth the price paid, as it functions well, but, come on, it can't cost anywhere close to what retail is to produce the mag mounts. My guess is that there's $15 TOPS material in those things. $50 for a PAIR is reasonable.

 

[rvitko]

Those magnets are sold virtually at cost on Tunze's end- for perspective they have the same strength as a $100 cleaning magnet. The magnets are neodymium and I have bought them bulk before for projects, even raw they are $10 a pair and their are 6 pairs in a 6200.50

 

[Kirk_M]

Fair enough...

The holder states for up to 3/4" glass. My Oceanic 120 brick has 3/4" glass. Will it hold well enough, or should I stick with regular holding devices?

 

[rvitko]

They are solid, trust me, you don't want to get your hands caught in them.