Osmollator overflowing HELP!!!

JTEAGUE

New member
Yesterday I purchased the Tunze Osmolator Universal 3155. After hooking it up it overflowed the sump within 45 minutes. The electronic sensor was completely covered by the water and the pump continued to run. I noticed this and turned it off. I emptied the sump and started over (reservoir half full) and it worked fine until 8am this morning when I heard the alarm. I got up and the sump was well above the electronic sensor again and the reservoir was empty, pump humming from running dry and the alarm sounding. The trouble shooting doesn't mention anything about this. Please help.
 
I've searched the net and these seem to get good reviews. The manual has trouble shooting but it has more to do with the LED's than the sensors. The pump is small and runs a minimum of 10 seconds and a max of 10 minutes. I read it only pumps 2 gallons in 10 minutes at 7 ft head but that can't be right as it put 2 gallons in my sump in no time flat.
 
It has something to do with new plastic. I remember Roger saying something about new plastic would cause a film to form on the sensors that would confuse the Osmolator. Search back in this Forum for Osmolator and you can find Rogers explanation and how to solve it.
 
Yes vapor1 I believe you are right I found something on another board about this and she was recommended to post on RC and she did however I could not go back that far so I used her screen name hoping it was the same on both boards and it was. It was like Jan 12th 07 mrsfish posted and Roger talked about the sensor being plastic and collecting air bubbles around the tip until it is broke in. Amazingly It has run fine since being plugged back in but the pump has not come on yet so I'm still concerned. Thanks for your response.
 
Did the pump run or did it siphon? You always want to pump up to the tank otheriwse even if everything works perfect the water will continue to siphon, if it filled past the float valve and the alarm was going off you definitely have a siphon. Pump up to the tank and never to the sump to prevent this. The float and alarm system kills the pump instantly so it cannot pump anymore and only a siphon could keep filling it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10120056#post10120056 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rvitko
Did the pump run or did it siphon? You always want to pump up to the tank otheriwse even if everything works perfect the water will continue to siphon, if it filled past the float valve and the alarm was going off you definitely have a siphon. Pump up to the tank and never to the sump to prevent this. The float and alarm system kills the pump instantly so it cannot pump anymore and only a siphon could keep filling it.

Roger, I believe evrything is working now. It did not make it to the float switch as I noticed it filling past the infrared sensor and the alarm going off. I unplugged the unit. I'm hesitant to run the return into my tank as I would only have one sensor the float type. I like the idea of it being in the sump and the sump can hold the extra water? However I am open to ideas if you can explain the reasoning for going into the tank instead of the sump. I have my 5 gal. bucket sitting right beside the sump if that makes a difference.
 
If the water level in your reservoir is higher than the water level in your sump your reservoir will empty into your sump. Affixing the hose above the water level in the display is ideal, as siphoning is not possible. I simply have mine zip tied to the cord of my Nano Stream about two inches above the water's surface. I also use the Kalk Dispensor so shooting the kalkwasser right in front of the pump is ideal for rapid dispersion.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10120837#post10120837 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smatter
If the water level in your reservoir is higher than the water level in your sump your reservoir will empty into your sump. Affixing the hose above the water level in the display is ideal, as siphoning is not possible. I simply have mine zip tied to the cord of my Nano Stream about two inches above the water's surface. I also use the Kalk Dispensor so shooting the kalkwasser right in front of the pump is ideal for rapid dispersion.

Ok, if my reservoir level is higher than the sump and if it is full it will be? Will the reservoir still empty if the return is above water level?
 
If your reservoir is taller than the sump, it will siphon. You will see every illustration in the manual shows the line going up to the tank as in the majority fo cases, reservoir to sump will result in a siphon problem.
 
Ok as bad as I hate to have it in my main display guess that's what i need to do. Does this mean I need to move the float switch to the main display as well?
 
It is totally unobtrusive unless you have a trimless tank with a center overflow and it is viewable from all sides. You have to have a cord of something going into the tank you can attach it to. Another solution would be to attach a piece of pvc in the sump that is taller than your reservoir. Affix the hose inside the top of the pipe, making sure it is above the water level in your reservoir. This way the water can flow down the pipe without splashing and a siphon cannot be formed because air can enter the hose through the open top of the pipe.
 
Yea it's no problem to run the line up the back of the tank and attach it above water level. In fact I believe it came with a bracket that would be perfect. The instructions seemed to be thorough just not written in good English so it makes it a little harder to understand.

Also Roger I'm sending a pm about one of the sensor brackets that was damaged.
 
Okay the line has been plumbed into the overflow for about 24 hrs now and no problems so far. Thanks for the help.
 
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