Tunze--what's this?!?!

[watchguy123]

I don't know what the discoloration is inside the bottom of my Tunze osmolator pump. But it doesn't make me feel very safe. Just replaced it but wow......

What do you think it is? I'm throwing the pump out regardless. I am not willing to risk sps over a $23 pump although I don't know what the discoloration is. The pump is working flawlessly but it is out of my ATO

Anyone seen this before?


I was seeing a slow but steady decline in coral health over an extended period of time. Parameters were stable and in the range (alk 8-8.5 dkh, ca @420 and both checked weekly, phosphates around .04, nitrates 2.5-10, mag around 1300, temp 77.5-79.1, lots of flow 2x Tunze power heads, metal halides radium 20 k 250"watts changed out annually, t5's blue plus ATI changed 9-12 month cycle, ca reactor, regular weekly water changes of 5-10%). First noticed reduced polyp extension, slight loss of color over time, then stn at both base and tips. Triton test normal,except,for low iodine and low phosphate. Lots of fish and feed one to two times daily. No carbon dosing, activated carbon but not much. Gfo in reactor and changed out about every eight weeks. Tank electrically grounded. Good skimmer 24/7. Sand bed about 3 inches. Refugium with chaeto. Utilize multiple test kits for redundancy, Hanna checkers for ca, and alk and ultra low phosphorous. Red Sea test kit for ca, mag, alk and phosphates. Api and salifert for nitrates.

Replaced every pump, power head, recirculating pump, ca reactor pump although I could not find evidence of failure or rust or corrosion in any of them. Not suggesting the osmolator pump,was the culprit. Just surprised to see that orange discoloration.

 

[watchguy123]

Here is the picture

 

[pstank1]

That looks like rust to me, but it's hard to tell in that picture.

 

[M007]

Rust, they do that over time. Cheap to replace so replace it. I doubt it's causing the problems you describe tho.

 

[williewilliams]

Rust, Mine never last long enough to do that I'm on my sixth one in 2 yrs have them running on two tanks. Luckily they are really cheap

 

[M007]

I not only use them for my ATO but my auto WC. Usually survive about 2 months in salt water, keep 2 or 3 on hand at all times. Wish they made a SS version :hammer:

 

[GroktheCube]

Interesting. I use an Elos ATO, which has a nearly identical looking pump, but after several years of use I see no signs of rust, even though I often keep a small amount of kalk in the ATO reservoir.

 

[Reefvet]

phosphates around .04... Triton test normal,except,for low iodine and low phosphate. ... Gfo in reactor and changed out about every eight weeks.

The Triton test gave you the .04 level ?

I'd take the GFO out of the system for a few weeks and see what happens with the corals. I'd bet they improve.

And FWIW, GFO is rust. The tiny bit on the pump isn't enough to affect anything.

 

[sahin]

My Tunze pump has been running for years no problem. Mine doesnt have the rust. I guess a small amount of saltwater must have come into contact with the pump or the container the pump was kept in. RODI otherwise wont cause rust like this.