New Equipment Ordered... Finally

[sweatervest13]

I finally have been able to order a few new things for the tank. I have been saving up money for months and months only to have things come up in life to steal the money away. I had a birthday in March and got a few extra bucks, and the wife (I think she felt guilty for taking the fish tank money in the past) told me to just put in the order.
I ordered from BRS a Tunze 3155 Osmolator Universal (Auto Top Off) *NEW* w / magnet . And Dual BRS GFO and Carbon Reactor . I also ordered 2 lbs of GFO for the reactor. I have some carbon at home that should make it a while.
I am super stoked for this order to come in. The UPS tracking said it should be delivered by end of day Friday!!
Does anyone use the Osmolator?? I need to figure out what kind of container to use for the top off water. I have a little space next to my sump in the fish room, or I could put the container on top of the sump stand. I think next to the sump would be better.

This is an older pic of the sump set up in the fish room.
I think that I can fit a 20g tall next to the sump. I keep my water mixing bins next to the sump usually and that is decent size. We will see.
As for the Dual Reactors does anyone run these?? Is it easy to set up? I have a MJ1200 pump already that I don't use to run the reactors.
I can't wait to get these new toys in and start to play with them. Plus I will be real happy not to top the tank off twice everyday. Or forget and get bubbles blowing everywhere in the tank. LOL.

 

[flower]

Hi,
New stuff is a joy isn't it!
For my ATO holding tub I used a giftwrapping container, took less space. I used it for over a year and no weird leach of anything (it isn't food grade plastic) but it worked great for a holding tub...I put eggcrate over the top with a tablecloth. It allowed the water to breath, kept the dog hair and little children out and it looked good. My tank is in the living room.
I also run the duel reactor from BRS. I attached mine to a wood base (leans flush against the wall) so that I can take the whole thing to the sink for maintenace, because any bending over kills my back. The instructions say to attach it low next to the sump water level. The hoses that come with it are really stiff, some folks change them out for a softer hose, but I kept them on and managed to find just the right spot for them to rest.
I really like the unit...the only complaint, it is noisey. There is a humming of the pump when it is dialed down, but that is the same noise I get on the two little fishies reactor I have on the 56g tank too. It gets a little better if the pump is suspended in the sump and not touching anything. If you find a way to lower that noise...please share it with me.
Oh and most inportant...my phosphate reading went from 1 to 0 in a few weeks.

I always ran carbon, but having it in a reactor is much better than trying to find a good flow area in the sump to hang a stocking full of carbon...LOL, so I'm very happy with it overall.

 

[sweatervest13]

Thanks for the feed back Flower!!!
I love the idea of the eggcrate over the holding tank with a table cloth. I might do that. I have a couple of Rubbermaid totes that I use for WC's, I think that they are 15g. I am going to price out 20g tall tanks. I was about to pick one up when that store runs their $1.00/gallon sale. But for some reason did not. Oh well.
As for the reactor. I don't mind if it makes a bit of noise as it is in a separate room, but if I figure out how to make it run quiet I will definitely let you know. I think they use the same hard plastic hoses on their (BRS) RO/DI unit that I have as well and yes they are a little hard to work with. But it can be done. I will have to post a pic of how I mount the reactor.
I love hearing that it works. Right now I have the mesh bags (for carbon and GFO) that I place in a media container where the overflow drains to. But I don't feel that is efficient at all. This new set up should make me very happy.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by sweatervest13 http:///t/391151/new-equipment-ordered-finally#post_3467406
Thanks for the feed back Flower!!!
I love the idea of the eggcrate over the holding tank with a table cloth. I might do that. I have a couple of Rubbermaid totes that I use for WC's, I think that they are 15g. I am going to price out 20g tall tanks. I was about to pick one up when that store runs their $1.00/gallon sale. But for some reason did not. Oh well.
As for the reactor. I don't mind if it makes a bit of noise as it is in a separate room, but if I figure out how to make it run quiet I will definitely let you know. I think they use the same hard plastic hoses on their (BRS) RO/DI unit that I have as well and yes they are a little hard to work with. But it can be done. I will have to post a pic of how I mount the reactor.
I love hearing that it works. Right now I have the mesh bags (for carbon and GFO) that I place in a media container where the overflow drains to. But I don't feel that is efficient at all. This new set up should make me very happy.
My space for a holding tank is only 12 inches wide...thats why a giftwrapping container was ideal for me, a room to put the extra tank, now that would be sweet.

 

[acrylic51]

I used the Osmolator on my last setup and loved it......Compared to other ATO's very accurate, but your pay a price for optical sensors.....Any container will work with the unit.....Congrats on the purchase!!!!!!

 

[sweatervest13]

Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/391151/new-equipment-ordered-finally#post_3467515
I used the Osmolator on my last setup and loved it......Compared to other ATO's very accurate, but your pay a price for optical sensors.....Any container will work with the unit.....Congrats on the purchase!!!!!!

Thanks Shawn!!! The more I think of it, I think that I will go with a 20g tall tank. It should fit perfectly right next to my sump.
The redundancy of the osmolator was the reason I was okay with spending the extra money (two different technologies, float and the optical sensor). Most every review I have read say that it is an awesome unit.
From the UPS tracking the shipment should be in before the end of the day today. I might need to stop and get a tank on the way home.