Tunze Osmolator / Kalk Reactor Issue

[static69static]

I have a Precision Marine Kalk Reactor and hooked this in line with my Tunze ATO. It has been working great until I got home today.

I had purchased a Tunze check valve to use during the setup but came home to see it failed and a siphon was created that took kalk out from kalk reactor and put it into my top off container.

I've attached a picture of how it is setup.

Did I place the check valve in the wrong position? Does it have to be right off the output of the Tunze pump? Or was this just a fluke / failed check valve?

 

[rvitko]

Likely a failed check valve. Which check valve did you purchase and when? It could be broken or it could be a piece of debris has jammed the valve open and you just have to flush it out.

 

[static69static]

Roger,

I purchased it from Tunze a week or so ago. It was 5074.010 as per your recommendation. It was brand new when I placed it in line with the reactor. I also tested it by blowing into it both ways, and it worked. I did just look at the picture online under spare parts and the one I received wasn't blue. It was white and unable to see through it.

The debris is unlikely since it was brand new and is in line with RO / DI water only.

Another question, once a Tunze ATO pump meets Kalk Water, how long do you think it has before it fails due to build up / etc?

 

[rvitko]

The debris would most likely be kalkwasser, just a small piece of precipitation jamming it open. You have the latest valve we offer, it is a US made valve that should be about the best you can possibly get for kalkwasser. It can also happen that the pressure is equal on both sides so it fails to close. The pump does not fail from a single incident, the failure is caused by solids jamming the impeller or more commonly, long term exposure to an alkaline solution destroying the seals, but this takes months and one or two incidents will not harm the pump.

 

[hredder]

I just purchased the Tunze Calcium Dispenser which came with part number 5071.01. Is 5071.010 different from the one that came along with this?

 

[rvitko]

5017.010 is the part number of the check valve, 5017.01 is the same thing but we always use a xxxx.xxx part number configuration in formal print like in the catalogue. There have been 4 check valves with part number 5017.010 over the years so they do change without the part number being changed as they are interchangeable.

 

[hredder]

Ok so the one I just got with mine is it the older version or the newew version. I just don't want this to fail and have a bunch of kalk in my tank

 

[rvitko]

If it is white/natural polypropylene plastic it is the new one, the old one was black and clear.

 

[static69static]

It also depends on how you have your system setup. With mine, the output from the reactor is above the pump / reservior. So when it shuts off, it doesn't create a syphon into the tank. What mine does is the valve failed and created a syphon backwards, thus taking water / kalk out of the reactor and putting it into the topoff container.

I did buy two check valves, so once my topoff gets pretty much empty, I will clean it up and the pump to remove the kalk residue and then put the second valve in line right at the pump output. I hope this resolves the issue.

Roger,

You think I should remove the one that failed (positioned at the input to the kalk reactor) or leave it? I'm thinkign about leaving it, in case it was debris and it clears on it own later.

 

[rvitko]

I would remove it and try flushing vinegar through it, the internals are 302 SS ball, 316 SS spring and Buna N rubber seals, it should be very durable and difficult to lock up or damage.