Osmolator and Precision Marine Kalk Reactor

[bluespotjawfish]

I have an osmolator for my auto-topoff and recently added a Precision Marine Kalk Reactor. Well I turned everything on today, and the kalk reactor flooded. The pump that came with the osmolator has a soft black tubing that gots to the quick-connect ports of the reactor. This doesn't seat correctly. Do I need to use the semi-rigid tubing like the output for the entire setup? And, is the osmolator pump setup compatible with that? Those pumps are a pain to attach tubing to, so I only want to do it if it is going to work.

[meandean45]

Hi Bluespot!
That looks like a "John Guest" fitting. If it is , It needs the semi-rigid type plastic tubing to work right ( and the tubing needs to be set ALL THE WAY into the fitting (don't ask, just picture about 12 fittings spouting water all at the same time!). If it were mine, I'd try to use the semi-rigid tubing.
Hope that this helps you (Floods suck!).
Regards,
Dean

[DaveK]

If the fitting in the reactor is not glued in, it can be replaced by something different. This is an alternative solution.

Looks like yet another trip to the store. (grin)

[bluespotjawfish]

Thanks guys,

My flood was fortunately a small one. Today I did another one with my airline tubing that back siphoned. Mrs. Flood-A-House is working overtime!

The fitting is glued, but I could probably get it out. Just don't know what I would replace it with. The black tubing is soo soft and flexible. I don't think it is made to handle any back pressure. I have some semi-rigid tubing at the house, so I think I will try and make that work on the pump.

[Dentoid]

Lorraine did you know that Tunze makes a kalk appliance that works with the Osmolator?

[BoomerD]

An airline back-siphoned? Sounds like you needed one or more of these:
Aquarium Aip Pumps & Plumbing: Hagen Precision Check Valve

You should always have a check valve in your airline to prevent such things. NOT having one can create lots of problems, as you just found out. Not only floods, but saltwater doesn't mix well with the electricty used to power air pumps...

[Dentoid]

Thanks BoomerD, I need one of these!

[bluespotjawfish]

I was just trying to use the line to acclimate some fish. I had one end in the tank and then other on top of the tank until I was ready for it. It fell off the top of the tank onto the floor. I do like these from F&S much better than the one I bought a while ago for my ozone.

[BoomerD]

Ah, gotcha...I don't think those are ozone safe...you have to pay particular attention to products used with ozone.

[bluespotjawfish]

Good point. I haven't figured out how to get the ozone setup right yet anyway, so it is just an expense piece of equipment sitting on the shelf. Where would you get one that is ozone safe?

[BoomerD]

Well, unless it's a different model, it appears the one I linked to may be ozone resistant. I find a very similar one on MarineDepot that is listed as such:
Hagen Air Pump Accessories - Check Valve, Control Valves & Tee - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store

[mps9506]

It'll work fine with ozone. You still will end up wanting to replace it after a couple of years however as the plastic parts still get brittle. It just shouldn't die on you overnight

[bluespotjawfish]

did you know that Tunze makes a kalk appliance that works with the Osmolator?

Yes, it just looked cheap to me, so I chose this one instead. The leak is fixed, but now I am having a problem with the pump not shutting off. I have the osmolator plugged into the Reefkeeper (which I have for a few months now). I turned the outlet off through the reefkeeper, then changed the tubing, then turned on the reefkeeper and the pump worked. However, when I turned off the Reefkeeper channel, it kept pumping (I think this is the kalk reactor curse that everyone talks about). No worries, I didn't pump into the tank, I set up a temporary bucket to test it all out. On with the story... The osmolator is still on (plugged into the Reefkeeper 2 that says on the front of it that the channel is turned off). I disconnected the adaptor plug from the osmolator and it shut off, plugged it back in and it stayed off. Turned on the Reefkeeper channel again and went through the same process three more times with the same result. I have an e-mail into Digital Aquatics, but I would assume with the holiday that it will be Tuesday before they return my call. I'm going to switch channels around tomorrow and see if it makes a difference. Lights, etc are all running normally on the Reefkeeper. As far as I know it is the only time this has messed up. Glad I realized it was still running.

[meandean45]

Hi Bluespot!

It looks like Murphy (as in "Murphys' law) has taken up residence at your house! I'm glad to hear that you got the leak fixed, was a little"amused" about the airline thing (I thought that I was the only one to do that), but I'm mystified as to why your relay seems to stick on your Reefkeeper. the only two things that come to mind would be arc burning actually welding the contacts in the relay shut ( this should cause a "constant on" situation), or that the Osmolator is drawing enough current to keep the solenoid switch in the reefkeeper on (closed circuit whenever it's drawing electricity). It looks more like the latter than the former from your description. Please check the load rating of your Reefkeeper (Maximum draw in Amps), and the actual load (Amps) used by the Osmolator. If the Osmolater exceeds the rating of the reefkeeper, you will need to change to a different controller for your' Osmolator. Hoping that I'm incorrect, and this is a warranty issue for you and the reefkeeper people to work out, but if you're drawing more power than the reefkeeper is rated for, you could potentiallly be risking a fire.
I hate to even mention such things (fire), but after putting out an electrical fire twice at work and once under my reef at home (Glad we "ate-in" that night!) in the last ten years, I thought it worth mentioning.
Sorry you're having so much trouble, ( Ask Murphy to leave).
Regards,
Dean

[bluespotjawfish]

Thanks Dean. Yes, Murphy lives rent free in my spare room! I have ran the Osmolater for a few months before without any hiccup. However, I have not ran it since I added my MH's to the Reefkeeper. BINGO! I just tried to run the Osmolator without the MH's on and didn't have the issue.

PS - Thanks Boomer for the link for the ozone thingymabob!