What’s Your Preferred ATO?

[malacoda]

Spectrapure Litermeter ATO and Avast

 

[rtparty]

Apparently not in Canada . I had to deal with the Canadian distributor and they only offer two years . I don't really understand how they can do this but that's what they told me.

It’s the Osmolator 3 and not the older 3155, correct?

The new version is absolutely a 5 year warranty

 

[rtparty]

double post

 

[Scoob]

I run a SpectraPure ATO and I wouldn't hesitate to go with Tunze

 

[Double monti 61]

A gallon of distilled water above the tank with a 1/4 inch air tube and a small plastic adjustable valve that would be used to adjust the air from an air pump but I use it to regulate the amount of water I think the tank might need and that usually depends on current humidity levels more during the winter and obviously less in the summer works well for a small tank like my 15 gallon not that precise but If I see that the tank needs more makeup water I can increase the flow without adding the water to quickly.

 

[B&CinB.C.]

It’s the Osmolator 3 and not the older 3155, correct?

The new version is absolutely a 5 year warranty

It is definitely the Osmolator 3 . I spoke to a US rep on the phone first , (not sure if it was @rvitko on here or someone else) but he told me he couldn't help me and I had to go through a company in eastern Canada. It was them that told me it only had a two year warranty

 

[Midnightdragoon]

Tunze, true and tested. Never let's me down

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Tunze osmolator-3 with hydros sensor backup.

Be careful with this, we have seen people back up a 3151 (Osmolator 3 Nano) with another optic sensor system and the result is total chaos, you have two optic sensors emitting infrared and cycling each other off and on. The 3154 already has true redundancy, 2 completely independent sensor systems and a time limit of 10 minutes.

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Our osmolator 3 sensor quit working at about a year and a half , (and got very hot, which I was told by a rep it could not do) . It was replaced under warranty . Now at two years , (just after the warranty is up ) , the pump has gotten very noisy . Not sure if I should get a new pump or a new ATO . It has always worked really well when it's working though

Have you disassembled the pump? Noise is generally going to mean something is in the pump. It is a serviceable pump, you remove the 4 T-10 Torx screws, inside is a removable impeller. You can get just the small parts like impeller, bushing, o rings, screws. Noise is usually going to be repairable and would not be warranty if a foreign object entered and caused damage but you can get just an impeller for example. Noise is also amplified by hard containers and air in the pump, the pump will be quietest in a plastic bucket, loudest in a glass or acrylic tank as this basically serves as a resonating chamber/amplifier, especially if it is in a corner in contact with the glass or acrylic. It has a 5 year warranty but noise is a vague issue that needs more research, odds are very good only service is needed, not replacement.

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Apparently not in Canada . I had to deal with the Canadian distributor and they only offer two years . I don't really understand how they can do this but that's what they told me.

My hunch is there is some confusion, the older 3152 and 3155 had a 2 year warranty.

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

I’ve heard some complaints about having to replace tunze osmolator sensor yearly. Anyone have experience with this?

This would be unlikely/unusual but we believe in just laying it out the way it is and this gives me a chance to address some misconceptions.

1) The 3155 (older and now discontinued Osmolator) had a replaceable sensor, frequent failures can have a couple reasons but one of the reasons this product was discontinued is it used an infrared LED that is virtually obsolete, this system came to market in 2001, it used a bipin infrared LED, at the time, such an LED was on the front of virtually every TV remote, they were readily available from multiple suppliers. When was the last time you got a remote with the small protruding LED at the front? Technologically speaking this LED is a dinosaur, one company still makes them, if it sucks, it sucks, you have no alternative. Truthfully, they went from usually lasting 6-8 years to currently lasting 2-3 but there is no alternative. If they are lasting a really short time, I would suspect one of two issues, the customer is buying the part but installing it on a much older unit that needs firmware updates and a stronger resistor to be compatible with sensors made since late 2019 or, I have seen people that just don't get that the sensor needs cleaning, they either go crazy with something abrasive and destroy the sensor (just soak it in vinegar and wipe it off) or they just don't even bother and replace it. They need a prolonged vinegar soak every 6 months at least.

2) The 3154 specifically was made to address every failure point of the old unit. Most 3155 failures were from water damage, the new unit is waterproof. The pumps on the old unit were loud and failed generally after 2 years, it was a pump we purchased that was made for windshield washers. The 3154 is built around a new pump we make in house, the pump is the achilles heal of most ATOs so we built one that is serviceable and extremely reliable and very quiet and they keep evolving quieter with small changes. The 3154 has the exact same operating principle, the safety is a heater though instead of a float. It is a small bulb that is maintained at about 90F if water touches it and takes away the heat it trips a safety. This was changed to get rid of the bulk from the float switch, customers wanted less wires and less bulk. We have had failures of the safety, water can enter this capsule and short the heater, this was our fault, we replace them and they always fail off and do not fill. Failure is never a great thing but everything has worked as it should, the materials are completely fire proof, the safety trips and does not fill. From an operational perspective it is the same as the old 3155 in terms of redundancy, safety sensor and time limit and we worked step by step to improve the safety, every 6 months or so a design change improved the reliability and this steadily became less likely to fail but basically we had tiny microfractures in the bulb that were letting water in, to work and be responsive this chamber is very thin plastic and is filled with air and completely isolated from the rest of the controller.

If anyone was curious how these are made, I made one at the factory and I can tell you it is not easy, a lot of hand labor is involved and the working space is rather tight.

 

[B&CinB.C.]

Have you disassembled the pump? Noise is generally going to mean something is in the pump. It is a serviceable pump, you remove the 4 T-10 Torx screws, inside is a removable impeller. You can get just the small parts like impeller, bushing, o rings, screws. Noise is usually going to be repairable and would not be warranty if a foreign object entered and caused damage but you can get just an impeller for example. Noise is also amplified by hard containers and air in the pump, the pump will be quietest in a plastic bucket, loudest in a glass or acrylic tank as this basically serves as a resonating chamber/amplifier, especially if it is in a corner in contact with the glass or acrylic. It has a 5 year warranty but noise is a vague issue that needs more research, odds are very good only service is needed, not replacement.

Thanks very much . I don't think anything got to the pump but i'm not positive . I didn't realize I could take the pump apart so i'll do that. It is in a glass ato container but it has been running for two years with no noise . As posted it is still pumping fine
Thank you again for your help

 

[JBNY]

I have been using a float switch I bought from mcmaster and an ehiem pump for 15+ years, Ive never had a problem. I've had the logic set up with Apex/Hydros for how long, when not to run, etc. But I have never had a failure.

 

[B&CinB.C.]

This would be unlikely/unusual but we believe in just laying it out the way it is and this gives me a chance to address some misconceptions.

1) The 3155 (older and now discontinued Osmolator) had a replaceable sensor, frequent failures can have a couple reasons but one of the reasons this product was discontinued is it used an infrared LED that is virtually obsolete, this system came to market in 2001, it used a bipin infrared LED, at the time, such an LED was on the front of virtually every TV remote, they were readily available from multiple suppliers. When was the last time you got a remote with the small protruding LED at the front? Technologically speaking this LED is a dinosaur, one company still makes them, if it sucks, it sucks, you have no alternative. Truthfully, they went from usually lasting 6-8 years to currently lasting 2-3 but there is no alternative. If they are lasting a really short time, I would suspect one of two issues, the customer is buying the part but installing it on a much older unit that needs firmware updates and a stronger resistor to be compatible with sensors made since late 2019 or, I have seen people that just don't get that the sensor needs cleaning, they either go crazy with something abrasive and destroy the sensor (just soak it in vinegar and wipe it off) or they just don't even bother and replace it. They need a prolonged vinegar soak every 6 months at least.

2) The 3154 specifically was made to address every failure point of the old unit. Most 3155 failures were from water damage, the new unit is waterproof. The pumps on the old unit were loud and failed generally after 2 years, it was a pump we purchased that was made for windshield washers. The 3154 is built around a new pump we make in house, the pump is the achilles heal of most ATOs so we built one that is serviceable and extremely reliable and very quiet and they keep evolving quieter with small changes. The 3154 has the exact same operating principle, the safety is a heater though instead of a float. It is a small bulb that is maintained at about 90F if water touches it and takes away the heat it trips a safety. This was changed to get rid of the bulk from the float switch, customers wanted less wires and less bulk. We have had failures of the safety, water can enter this capsule and short the heater, this was our fault, we replace them and they always fail off and do not fill. Failure is never a great thing but everything has worked as it should, the materials are completely fire proof, the safety trips and does not fill. From an operational perspective it is the same as the old 3155 in terms of redundancy, safety sensor and time limit and we worked step by step to improve the safety, every 6 months or so a design change improved the reliability and this steadily became less likely to fail but basically we had tiny microfractures in the bulb that were letting water in, to work and be responsive this chamber is very thin plastic and is filled with air and completely isolated from the rest of the controller.

If anyone was curious how these are made, I made one at the factory and I can tell you it is not easy, a lot of hand labor is involved and the working space is rather tight.

So do you recommend cleaning the osmo 3 sensor (3154) with vinegar ? I have been cleaning mine with a very soft toothbrush

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

It is plastic, it can scratch, since it is optics any scratches are a big problem. A soft brush is unlikely to be a problem but its best to just soak it in vinegar and water 50/50 for a couple hours and wipe it off. The biggest cause of problems I have seen is using a magic eraser, magic eraser is basically 2000 grit sand paper, I have even seen it scuff the glass in a tank, the "cleaning" is basically sanding off the surface layer.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Tunze osmolator-3 with hydros sensor backup.

Be careful with this, we have seen people back up a 3151 (Osmolator 3 Nano) with another optic sensor system and the result is total chaos, you have two optic sensors emitting infrared and cycling each other off and on. The 3154 already has true redundancy, 2 completely independent sensor systems and a time limit of 10 minutes.

Thank you for the heads up I will keep this in mind during set up.

 

[KenO]

I've been using the Spectrapure ATO devices since 2014. I have 4 of them. They work off of pressure. No floats or optical sensors. You can set the amount of water height change when you install the device. I set mine to the minimum which is 1/10th of an inch. My oldest one from 2014 had a motor burn out after 12 years of continuous use. I ordered the replacement motor, which is their latest and greatest motor with the new style pump head. I was able to remove and replace the motor/pump head myself.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

TUNZE osmolator. Never once have I had issues with mine