Tunze Experience... sad ending?

[ptan]

My first experience with tunze is with my fowlr tank (180 gallons)... bought 4 units of 6045 for its circulation last 2006. I'm very happy and satisfied with its performance and durability. So last December 2009 when i started to commissioned my new reef tank 275 gallons. I pulled the trigger in getting tunze rather than vortech. I went with 1 unit 6105, 1 unit 6205 and 2 units 6055 plus tunze 7096 to control all powerheads. My new reef tank started to run by September 2010. The flow was very amazing and very consistent. It needs very minimal monitoring. Never encounter any problem with it. I do regular cleaning every quarter. But last sunday August 14 2011, 3 out of the 4 pumps suddenly stopped working. The powerheads are all clean and working properly day before. All the power supply provided by tunze is working fine. I tried to check if there is any blockage or any dirt hindering the powerhead to work properly. Tried to disassembled and assemble the powerhead but still nothing works. I tried to disconnect the powerhead from the tunze 7096 but still the powerhead is not working. It is really saddening situation because I purchased all of this powerheads assuming that it will serve its purpose for the next 5 years or more. But with less than a year of use, 3 out of four is not working. I hope Tunze team will be able to do something about this.

By the way all my equipments are being protected by AVR (Auto voltage regulator). And also all the power supply is working properly so I doubt if the cause of malfunctioning is electrical surge.

And also I bought all of them at premium aquatics. I live in Philippines so it cost me a heck of delivery from US to Philippines. I hope there is something that we can do about it... Thank you very much...

 

[rvitko]

What model pumps are not working?

How have you confirmed the power supplies work? Keep in mind the LED on the power supply is not proof it works and even a voltmeter doesn't prove it is not shutting off under load. I would test the pumps with known working pumps power supply, a 6055 power supply can momentarily run a 6205 for a quick test, a 6205 power supply can safely run all pumps long term.

Are you sure that the propeller and magnets have not just fused to the metal shafts? The metal shafts stay still and the magnet with attached propeller spins on the shaft. The most common issue is that people neglect this surface and over time calcium build up fuses the magnet and propeller to the shaft so they cannot spin.

There is no doubt this is a complicated situation, there is no repair center near you so any repair will involve expense in shipping, but they can be repaired.

 

[ptan]

6205, 6105 and 6055. I tried using the remaining working 6055 power supply to power up the three non-working powerhead... but with no avail, still not working. The powerheads magnet and shaft are all clean... what else can i do to fix this? I'm really torn... Its really a major disaster...

 

[Rosscopeco]

That sucks. It sounds really strange that all three died at once.
All my tunze pumps have been bulletproof bar one wavebox nano pump block that was replaced.
Best of luck and I'm sure Roger will get to the bottom of things.

 

[rvitko]

I will send a PM with a suggestion on the best way to procede.