Tunze Nano Osmolator keeps failing......

[rovster]

I was hoping I could get some help here. I've had my Tunze Nano Osmolator (single float) for a couple years now, maybe 3. I had it on a 30 gallon tank and it worked flawlessly for about a year. I took the tank down set up the osmolator on my QT tank about 6 months later. It worked fine for about 6 months and then one day it started failing. It fails by overflowing leading to damaged floors and lots of frustration:deadhorse1:

There is no control box with lights like the full Osmolator on my main tank (which I LOVE), so I don't know if I can do anything about this.

I've tried cleaning the float in vinegar, I've made sure to route the grey cable away from any power cords as best I can. I have noticed it happens soon around a water change when levels are reset. Sometimes it happens immediatly when I turn it on, and I flick the sensor and it stops, and sometimes it happens a couple days later after its been working fine. Its very strange. I'm not sure if the float is getting hung up on something, or if bubbles are getting in there.

I've resorted to running my ATO resovoir half full which is a PITA and I feel like I'm just waiting for the next time to fail. Most recent was a few days ago and its been off since until hopefully I'll get some answers here. I would be happy to post pictures of anything and everything if needed. Will also try and answer any questions. Power cord is plugged directly into a wall, and there is no heavy machinery on the tank. Only equipment is (Kessil A150, HOB filter, HOB skimmer and a pump).

Thanks in advance!!

 

[rvitko]

The two possibilities that come to mind:

1) The glass on the new tank is very thin or another magnet is near the float. The float is a magnetic switch, the black ring inside the float is a magnet which flips a switch inside the post. If the glass is very thin, the field of the magnet holder may not be cancelled, if another magnet holder is nearby, that can also be a cause. Lastly, if you own other Tunze products and possibly inadvertently swapped a magnet, the 3152 magnet holder is considerably weaker and the stronger magnets from pumps/skimmers, etc could cause the same issue. On thin glass a shim between the outer glass and magnet should solve it.

2) A siphon, especially siphon situation 3-

 

[rovster]

The two possibilities that come to mind:

1) The glass on the new tank is very thin or another magnet is near the float. The float is a magnetic switch, the black ring inside the float is a magnet which flips a switch inside the post. If the glass is very thin, the field of the magnet holder may not be cancelled, if another magnet holder is nearby, that can also be a cause. Lastly, if you own other Tunze products and possibly inadvertently swapped a magnet, the 3152 magnet holder is considerably weaker and the stronger magnets from pumps/skimmers, etc could cause the same issue. On thin glass a shim between the outer glass and magnet should solve it.

2) A siphon, especially siphon situation 3-

You know I may have switched the magnet. It is thin glass as its a 30 gallon tank. I will wedge a piece of acrylic in there to get some separation and will report back if any issues. Its definitely not a siphon situation. Thanks a lot!

 

[rvitko]

A 30 should be plenty thick for he stock magnets, usually 15 and less is an issue. You might see if something else you have has a weaker magnet.

 

[rovster]

A 30 should be plenty thick for he stock magnets, usually 15 and less is an issue. You might see if something else you have has a weaker magnet.

Well I may have swapped it for my extra magnet from my main osmolator. Ether way I will shim some acrylic in there and see if that solves the issue.

Anything else. Basically the float fails causing the Osmolator to dump the entire ATO in the tank causing it to overflow.

 

[smatter]

I wonder why it's not timing out after 1.8 or 3 minutes? It should only pump around a gallon in 3 minutes.

 

[rovster]

Again when set it up started to overfill and I flicked the sensor housing and it stopped, almost as if the float was stuck and flicking it released it. It's been fine the last few hours we'll see about tomorrow.....