I just replaced my old Tunze osmolator with a new one yesterday and I am having problems with it. I setup the new one just like my previous one and plugged it in. No problems unit cycles and pump runs for 10 -20 seconds and then stops. The controller shows green light on water level, I comeback to my tank later that day and I hear the alarm going off and the water level is too high. I siphoned off the excess water and everything looks good again but when the water level in the sump dips below the sensor my Tunze over fills again. Can anyone help me with this problem?
Tunze 3155 ATO Problems
- Thread starter mchammer
- Start date
This tends to be the norm when they are new. The main reason is that new plastic is a bubble magnet and the optic sensor only detects air vs water and does not differentiate between bubbles and being dry. This tends to resolve itself after a few days, the plastic gets coated by a biofilm that reduces the attraction of bubbles. I would double check the following points though and another culprit can be infrared light from grow lights on a refugium.
1) A siphon, if it is a siphon the issue will be seemingly random, it will tend to only occur when the reservoir is full and the water will fill to a level possibly above or just below the float. Siphon situation 3 is the most probable cause but note as shown in 4 that a
loop will not solve it, the end of the hose must always terminate above the reservoir water level.
Siphon-Situations-688x459.png
2) A sensor issue. The first test is to use the self diagnostic test on the Osmolator to verify the sensor is in working order.
1) With the sensor completely wiped dry, plug in the controller. The sensor MUST be clean and dry for this test to work, a wet or dirty sensor will always fail.
2) All 4 lights will flash and it will beep, a single light will show for a couple seconds and then the normal 15-20 second pump run at startup will begin.
3) This light that is on a couple seconds is the optic sensor status, green means pass, yellow means it is marginal, red means it failed.
Assuming it passes the self test the issue is bubbles, optic sensors work by detecting the refraction of air vs water and make no differentiation between a bubble or being dry. The most overlooked source of bubbles is placing the top off hose in the vicinity of the sensors, the incoming splash will introduce bubbles and cause a fill. The hose can be routed to any area of the sump or main tank, and the optic sensor must be in a calm and bubble free area. A definitive test to verify bubbles are the cause is if you can catch it in the act of an overfill and wipe your finger across the sensor and filling stops within 5 seconds, the cause was bubbles.
3) There is a 3rd possibility but this is relatively obscure and only will apply to tanks under 50 gallons or due to a misunderstanding of how the Osmolator works. The Osmolator has timed functions in addition to sensor controlled functions and for the first 25-30 seconds it is not actually detecting water levels and is instead running a series of self diagnostic tests. The pump will always run for 15-20 seconds when you first power it up, this is so the installer can verify the pump is operational and the pump and tubing are primed and ready to fill. Also, the Osmolator always waits 5 seconds to fill to account for waves and surface movement and overfills for 5 seconds so the pump is cycled on less often. If the tank is under 50 gallons you need to open the controller and reduce the pump speed to "œnano" and if it is under 30, an additional restriction such as a drip irrigation valve might be needed, this will reduce the amount of water added by these timed sequences to avoid raising the float.
1) A siphon, if it is a siphon the issue will be seemingly random, it will tend to only occur when the reservoir is full and the water will fill to a level possibly above or just below the float. Siphon situation 3 is the most probable cause but note as shown in 4 that a
loop will not solve it, the end of the hose must always terminate above the reservoir water level.
Siphon-Situations-688x459.png
2) A sensor issue. The first test is to use the self diagnostic test on the Osmolator to verify the sensor is in working order.
1) With the sensor completely wiped dry, plug in the controller. The sensor MUST be clean and dry for this test to work, a wet or dirty sensor will always fail.
2) All 4 lights will flash and it will beep, a single light will show for a couple seconds and then the normal 15-20 second pump run at startup will begin.
3) This light that is on a couple seconds is the optic sensor status, green means pass, yellow means it is marginal, red means it failed.
Assuming it passes the self test the issue is bubbles, optic sensors work by detecting the refraction of air vs water and make no differentiation between a bubble or being dry. The most overlooked source of bubbles is placing the top off hose in the vicinity of the sensors, the incoming splash will introduce bubbles and cause a fill. The hose can be routed to any area of the sump or main tank, and the optic sensor must be in a calm and bubble free area. A definitive test to verify bubbles are the cause is if you can catch it in the act of an overfill and wipe your finger across the sensor and filling stops within 5 seconds, the cause was bubbles.
3) There is a 3rd possibility but this is relatively obscure and only will apply to tanks under 50 gallons or due to a misunderstanding of how the Osmolator works. The Osmolator has timed functions in addition to sensor controlled functions and for the first 25-30 seconds it is not actually detecting water levels and is instead running a series of self diagnostic tests. The pump will always run for 15-20 seconds when you first power it up, this is so the installer can verify the pump is operational and the pump and tubing are primed and ready to fill. Also, the Osmolator always waits 5 seconds to fill to account for waves and surface movement and overfills for 5 seconds so the pump is cycled on less often. If the tank is under 50 gallons you need to open the controller and reduce the pump speed to "œnano" and if it is under 30, an additional restriction such as a drip irrigation valve might be needed, this will reduce the amount of water added by these timed sequences to avoid raising the float.
Update:
I wiped the sensor and it appears to be working properly. I did open the case and turn the flow down to nano before I wiped the sensor thinking it was filling the sump too fast and causing the problem. I have a 120 gallon tank and 40 gallon sump, should I readjust the flow setting? If so where should I put it?
Thank you for the quick reply Roger.
I wiped the sensor and it appears to be working properly. I did open the case and turn the flow down to nano before I wiped the sensor thinking it was filling the sump too fast and causing the problem. I have a 120 gallon tank and 40 gallon sump, should I readjust the flow setting? If so where should I put it?
Thank you for the quick reply Roger.
QuickxSilver
New member
I'm having the same issue, will give this a try and see if it fixes it.
pinoy.reef2016
New member
Tunze 3155 Start-up error
Tunze 3155 Start-up error
I just bought a used Tunze 3155 and upon set-up it failed. Seller told me that it was perfectly working before he shutdown his tank and removed all the equipment.
2 LEDs - the Too high and Too low lights are flashing at the same time with a continuous beeping alarm. I opened the controller but there is no apparent water damage. I also cleaned the solenoid connections and checked the power adaptor (correct one). Not sure what is wrong. Please assist. Is Roger Vitko onboard? Thanks!
Tunze 3155 Start-up error
I just bought a used Tunze 3155 and upon set-up it failed. Seller told me that it was perfectly working before he shutdown his tank and removed all the equipment.
2 LEDs - the Too high and Too low lights are flashing at the same time with a continuous beeping alarm. I opened the controller but there is no apparent water damage. I also cleaned the solenoid connections and checked the power adaptor (correct one). Not sure what is wrong. Please assist. Is Roger Vitko onboard? Thanks!
pinoy.reef2016
New member
Thank you for the prompt response Roger! Will send the controller and the power supply. I got your address as:
Tunze USA
305 Victor St
Austin, TX 78753
Tunze USA
305 Victor St
Austin, TX 78753
pinoy.reef2016
New member
Just received the 3155 this afternoon, tested it and it works! Thank you again Roger! You're the BEST!
