Dumb Idea? Using a Tunze Reef Osmolator to automate refilling of tank with salt water after water change.

[pledosophy]

Stay with me for a minute.

I have an extra of the newer Tunze Osmolator's, the ATO unit. I am trying to avoid lifting water jugs for water changes (shoulder).

Is there any reason why I can not use this unit to refill water from my new SW bin directly to my tank, and have it automated when it stops with the sensor?

Then I don't have to measure how much I take out, I can just have the unit refill to the normal water level, as long as there was enough salt water in the SW storage bin I don't see it being a problem. Maybe a bit slow, but not a problem per say.

Anything I am missing here?

Process would be something like:
Turn on water change mode on Apex (which turns off my fresh water ATO) and turns off my return pump.
Use hose to drain water out of sump, or display.
Have Tunze Osmolator turn on with water change mode on Apex, and start refilling the sump with lost water.
After the water change program on the Apex expires the Tunze Osmolator would stay in off position and my normal ATO for fresh water would resume.

You see any problem with this?

 

[Dooly]

I wonder how much power the tunze brain can handle as far as the pump goes, because the standard osmolator pump isn't meant to deal with any head pressure, distance, or volume.
Would be easier to connect a continuous duty pump and enter a volume number to waste, then move the dump line over to new SW and enter the same volume number to run it in reverse?

 

[pledosophy]

I wonder how much power the tunze brain can handle as far as the pump goes, because the standard osmolator pump isn't meant to deal with any head pressure, distance, or volume.
Would be easier to connect a continuous duty pump and enter a volume number to waste, then move the dump line over to new SW and enter the same volume number to run it in reverse?

BRS states it can handle 20 feet of head pressure in their video on it.

I have never heard of a continuous duty pump. I will look it up. Thanks!

 

[Jimbo327]

Pump is too slow. And Osmolator has a built in timed shut off after 10 mins. This is great for safety when running an ATO so you don't keep pumping fresh water if something sticks on.

 

[drexel]

I agree, I think there are better pumps (peristaltic) that should be used for this purpose. I'm sure the Tunze pump would work, but at the cost of the pump's life span.

 

[DanK.Reefer]

If you are just trying to avoid lifting jug/buckets why not just get a transfer pump and pump the water into the tank and shut it off when you are full? I mix my water in a brute can and pump it into my tank using a transfer pump plugged into a foot switch. I can pump a 30g brute can in about 3min.

My brute cans are on rollers so I can cart them around as needed. I use a cheapo transfer pump from Amazon and a $15 Harbor Freight foot switch. Just step on the switch to pump the water. Easy peasy no picking up water jugs.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[pledosophy]

If you are just trying to avoid lifting jug/buckets why not just get a transfer pump and pump the water into the tank and shut it off when you are full? I mix my water in a brute can and pump it into my tank using a transfer pump plugged into a foot switch. I can pump a 30g brute can in about 3min.

My brute cans are on rollers so I can cart them around as needed. I use a cheapo transfer pump from Amazon and a $15 Harbor Freight foot switch. Just step on the switch to pump the water. Easy peasy no picking up water jugs.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Mainly because I have steps going into the house. I can't just roll a Brute up to my tank, or even within 50 feet of it. 50 feet of the ATO hose is pretty manageable in comparison to 50 feet of a 3/4 hose. Not to different, just trying to make it easy as I can, especially if I end up needing surgery.

I might just drill through my garage walls into the room where the tank is. But then, having an auto off since the pump is in the garage and I am in the house just seemed like a prudent move.

What is a foot switch? Link?

 

[DanK.Reefer]

Mainly because I have steps going into the house. I can't just roll a Brute up to my tank, or even within 50 feet of it. 50 feet of the ATO hose is pretty manageable in comparison to 50 feet of a 3/4 hose. Not to different, just trying to make it easy as I can, especially if I end up needing surgery.

I might just drill through my garage walls into the room where the tank is. But then, having an auto off since the pump is in the garage and I am in the house just seemed like a prudent move.

What is a foot switch? Link?

https://www.harborfreight.com/momentary-power-foot-switch-57199.html

Plug your pump into this then you can just turn the pump on by stepping on the switch while you hold the hose. Depending on how far away the pump is you may need an extension cord. Since I roll my barrel around I just plug the pump straight into it.

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[Discotu]

You can hard plumb 1/2 pvc which would be cleaner but if your mixing station is in the garage on the other side of the tank room then just go through the wall. I did something similar but I had the new salt water feed pump hooked up to Apex. I would drain ~20g from my sump then remotely turn on the feed pump via apex. It took a few minutes to fill back up then I would just toggle the pump tile to off. Easy peasy.

 

[Jimbo327]

Just go through the wall. Super simple and clean.

 

[DanK.Reefer]

Just go through the wall. Super simple and clean.

It's what I would do if I could.

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[Dutch_Roots]

Would just using a python hose make it easier? All you need is a pump with enough head pressure to make the distance. Thats what I use off my mixing station and my tank is about 50’ away. Makes life easy just dealing with the python hose. I use a SICCE pump so I can just turn the pump on and off with the app. There’s a bunch of cheaper pumps though that have apps that can be used too.