Tunze Osmolator 3 Nano overfilled sump

[Dave_Buffalo]

I only had the Tunze Osmolator 3 Nano for about a month and it was working fine until it didn't.

I noticed one day the water level a bit low in the display tank so I increased my variable sump pump output a bit and the water level rose correctly. I was not watching the ATO but it should have been triggered to fill.

Well it triggered alright... for over 5 minutes and overflowed my sump by dumping the entire 5gal resevoir into it.

I disconnected it and haven't had time yet to diagnose what went wrong, but what could have caused this?

 

[griss]

I've never used a pump driven topoff so, I won't be any help there. But, I would recommend reaching out to Roger of Tunze USA. Roger is a great guy and always willing to help.

That said, what is your salinity currently at? Fish and Corals can tolerate a drop in salinity better than a sudden increase. So, take you time brining the salinity back up.

 

[Dave_Buffalo]

OK thank you! Yes I am aware of taking salinity deltas carefully, thank you! I sent the above in an email to Tunze.

UPDATE: I had a great dialog with Roger at Tunze Customer (excellent!) Service, and after sending him video of it overflowing, they are sending me a replacement.

 

[Dave_Buffalo]

Update to above: I wrote Tunze and they replaced the Tunze Osmolator 3 Nano, and it no longer fills past the trigger point. But I now have an incompatibly between The Tunze ATO and the Jebao DCP-3000 variable speed pump in the 10gal Sump (50 gal display tank).

The ATO is working as designed. The ATO is triggered and fills for 7 seconds. Sump water level never increases. This extra water ultimately pumps into the tank and sump level remains stable.

After 90 seconds the process repeats.

If left alone which I won’t do, I believe the tank will overflow.

I have had this variable speed DC pump for five years and it has always maintained Tank level and evaporation would lower the sump level ONLY. Over the past 5 years I have manually added a couple gallons of RODI water into the sump WEEKLY. The tank level is always stable, during both evaporation and the addition of the 2gals RODI. I don’t understand why this new trickling of water, is upsetting what has always been a perfectly stable system. It now seems to favor adding to the display tank rather than the sump.

In other words, with the ATO installed, my pump is maintaining sump level rather than display tank level, contrary to what it has done since day one 5 years ago, and contrary to the basic premise of aquarium sumps.

THOUGHTS? I have the sump level about as low as I want it to go, but I can lower it a bit. The protein skimmer needs it about where it is now. Video attached of the ATO refill process.

Here is a diagram Tunze sent me, which I am adhering to:

 

[Uncle99]

Let’s unpack this.

1st, I don’t see any video of what your ATO is doing? That would be helpful.

2nd, You post that the ATO runs for seven seconds?…once triggered it should run until it reaches the sensor, time can vary a bit.

Evaporation always shows itself at the lowest point in the system, normally the return chamber.

If the sump level in the return chamber was running level after you manual fill, I cant see how adding water would end up in a higher display level, without a corresponding increase in return pump.

Are you sure your not running the pump a hair to fast? Over time we might see the display level increase a hair, but not in the sump as the water is being replaced.

Can you post that video (you-tube works great)?

 

[griss]

Or maybe a slight clog/blockage in the overflow/overflow plumbing?

 

[Uncle99]

Is your RODI pump lower than your sump?
Is your RODI fill tube out of the water in the sump?

 

[Dave_Buffalo]

Is your RODI pump lower than your sump?
Is your RODI fill tube out of the water in the sump?

Yes the tube is out of the water so there is no Siphon effect happening. The RODI pump is lower than the sump and always pumping up.

 

[Dave_Buffalo]

Or maybe a slight clog/blockage in the overflow/overflow plumbing?

I can run a new snake through there to check. Thanks for the advice. Something changed over the past few months so that could be it.

 

[Uncle99]

Yes the tube is out of the water so there is no Siphon effect happening. The RODI pump is lower than the sump and always pumping up.

Great. Rules that out.
Seem @griss suggestion of blockage is most likely now.
You can always run without mechanical filters for a bit providing restriction.
I had to remove the sponge in my sump to stabilize long term. It plugged easy.
You may have similar restriction caused over time.
Good luck.
Keep us posted.
If it worked well before, can’t be too many things:
1-ATO pump higher the sump…ruled out.
2-A syphon…..ruled out.
3-A restriction of water flow….your checking.
4-Too much In flow versus out flow….(but it was working before…so ruled out)
5-ATO not filling to “normal sump running level”….doubt this….

 

[Dave_Buffalo]

Great. Rules that out.
Seem @griss suggestion of blockage is most likely now.
You can always run without mechanical filters for a bit providing restriction.
I had to remove the sponge in my sump to stabilize long term. It plugged easy.
You may have similar restriction caused over time.
Good luck.
Keep us posted.
If it worked well before, can’t be too many things:
1-ATO pump higher the sump…ruled out.
2-A syphon…..ruled out.
3-A restriction of water flow….your checking.
4-Too much In flow versus out flow….(but it was working before…so ruled out)
5-ATO not filling to “normal sump running level”….doubt this….

I found the obstruction in my intake PVC but it's going to be a challenge to remove it. I use Cuisinart coffee maker carbon filters (about 1 cubic inch) to eliminate the "gurgle" in my intake PVC, and it fell down the pipe. I need to find a long long long pair of narrow tweezers to remove it. I tried poking it with a shish kebab skewer and it just lodged it in further .

 

[griss]

I found the obstruction in my intake PVC but it's going to be a challenge to remove it. I use Cuisinart coffee maker carbon filters (about 1 cubic inch) to eliminate the "gurgle" in my intake PVC, and it fell down the pipe. I need to find a long long long pair of narrow tweezers to remove it. I tried poking it with a shish kebab skewer and it just lodged it in further .

if you shut down the system and let the pipes drain I wonder if you could blow it out with compressed air from an air compressor?

 

[Dave_Buffalo]

I found the obstruction in my intake PVC but it's going to be a challenge to remove it. I use Cuisinart coffee maker carbon filters (about 1 cubic inch) to eliminate the "gurgle" in my intake PVC, and it fell down the pipe. I need to find a long long long pair of narrow tweezers to remove it. I tried poking it with a shish kebab skewer and it just lodged it in further .

This is what is stuck at the bottom of the xx Diameter PVC. Poking it only pushes it down further. I need long, narrow tweezers, or else dismantle the entire hose, which I am nervous doing on a running aquarium.

if you shut down the system and let the pipes drain I wonder if you could blow it out with compressed air from an air compressor?

problem is the hose from PVC into my filter sock is like this: U ^ . I suppose if I empty enough water out of the tank and sump both I can work with the piping & hoses and disconnect the hose. I do not own an air compressor.

 

[griss]

That does seem like a difficult situation to resolve. I'm a very visual/hands on person when it comes to trouble shooting things like this so, without seeing it in person, I'm not sure what else to suggest.

IF you were able to continue to push the obstruction, where would it eventually end up? Would something like this be able to push it all the way through?

 

[Dave_Buffalo]

I found the obstruction in my intake PVC but it's going to be a challenge to remove it. I use Cuisinart coffee maker carbon filters (about 1 cubic inch) to eliminate the "gurgle" in my intake PVC, and it fell down the pipe. I need to find a long long long pair of narrow tweezers to remove it. I tried poking it with a shish kebab skewer and it just lodged it in further .

This is what is stuck at the bottom of the 1.5" Diameter PVC. Poking it only pushes it down further. I need long, narrow tweezers, or else dismantle the entire hose, which I am nervous doing on a running aquarium. I suppose that might be the best/only option though.

 

[Dave_Buffalo]

That does seem like a difficult situation to resolve. I'm a very visual/hands on person when it comes to trouble shooting things like this so, without seeing it in person, I'm not sure what else to suggest.

IF you were able to continue to push the obstruction, where would it eventually end up? Would something like this be able to push it all the way through?

That might be perfect! I have something like that for my dryer vent but it's not long enough. I went and bought a plumber snake and I'll see if that will push it through. It will end up in the filter sock if successful. I am going away for the weekend and don't want to leave it clogged, though water is running through it OK. I also might also try a different pump and see if it has a slower return rate. Attached is the one I have and at lowest "speed" it's still putting out more water than I want.

 

[Uncle99]

Great pump for most 40-70 gallon systems IME.
Runs silent.