Tunze Osmolator pump seized, WD40 reside safe for reef tank?

[skuttduck]

I've not had much luck with my Tunze Osmolator pumps. I've gone through two of them. My check valve is fine and no Kalk has been drawn back into the tank.

I managed to free up a pump by using WD40.

If any of this residue gets into the reef tank, what would happen?
My guess is it would get skimmed, and I've heard it is a form of fish oil. Anyone have any experience with that?

[BriGuy31+]

No, but that would make me very nervous. Rinse it out a few dozen times with vinegar water. For the $22 new or a possible problem with your corals/fish, I would just buy a new one.

[ReeferRob]

Use PAM cooking spray to lubricate anything reef related. I use it to free up sticky or seized pruning/fragging shears.

But like Brian said, it's not worth the risk.

[skuttduck]

I had some cooking spray I suppose I could have tried that.

It really irks me because this pump was pretty much new when I got it, and I bought another one because it squeeled a bit. Now when I turn it on (after WD40) it moves water around rather well in the bucket.

I suppose if WD40 would release the ingredients I could know if it was safe, but that is a trade secret.

[ReeferRob]

It is a kinda a pain in the butt, rather ear, that the Tunze pump for that thing is really loud. Mine included.

WD40 is a rust inhibitor thru water displacement. It is not water soluble and the skimmer would most likely pull it out. But like I said it not really worth risking the entire reef over $22.

[jimsflies]

Being a new pump, Tunze would probably replace it under warranty. Not sure I would risk it. Can't your wife get one on an employee discount? If you have to I would rinse and look for any sheen on the water in a bucket before placing it in service. Perhaps a chlorine soak and a thorough freshwater/sodium biosulfate rinse would be the way to go.

[skuttduck]

Yes I can get the pumps with the employee discount.

Now completely unrelated, I had a patch of Halimeda die off, and cloud the tank this morning. I didn't put the pump in the top off water at all. I merely manually put the top off water in the tank.

So I definately don't want to risk that. I have a 10 gallon water change on standby, and changed the carbon.

[adalius]

and I've heard it is a form of fish oil.

That's bunk. Common wives tale. You can't get the exact ingredients list, but the MSDS sheet for it lists:


3 - Composition/Information on Ingredients
Ingredient CAS # Weight Percent
Aliphatic Hydrocarbon 64742-47-8 45-50
Petroleum Base Oil 64742-58-1 <25
64742-53-6
64742-56-9
64742-65-0
LVP Aliphatic Hydrocarbon 64742-47-8 12-18
Carbon Dioxide 124-38-9 2-3
Surfactant Proprietary <2
Non-Hazardous Ingredients Mixture <10

So the bulk of it is petroleum products, which given the result of oil on the gulf I'm not keen on dumping in my tank.

[skuttduck]

That's bunk. Common wives tale. You can't get the exact ingredients list, but the MSDS sheet for it lists:


3 - Composition/Information on Ingredients
Ingredient CAS # Weight Percent
Aliphatic Hydrocarbon 64742-47-8 45-50
Petroleum Base Oil 64742-58-1 <25
64742-53-6
64742-56-9
64742-65-0
LVP Aliphatic Hydrocarbon 64742-47-8 12-18
Carbon Dioxide 124-38-9 2-3
Surfactant Proprietary <2
Non-Hazardous Ingredients Mixture <10

So the bulk of it is petroleum products, which given the result of oil on the gulf I'm not keen on dumping in my tank.

It's not like I was going to be putting in a gallon of Water Displacement Formula 40 into my 75 Gallon reef tank. Since the Halimeda died off and clouded the water, I won't be doing that either.

I've heard of it being used on Fishing Lures and other such stuff, and thought the minimal amount that made the Tunze osmolator pump work better would not be any cause for concern *IF* someone had done that already.

[adalius]

Understood, I'm just trying to dispell the WD-40/fish-oil myth one forum at a time. :)

[skuttduck]

Ok, but Rustoleum has fish oil in it!

[jimsflies]

I knew when I responded to this thread I would jinx myself. I've gone through several pumps in the 7 or 8 years. Your post made me reflect on the fact that the current one had "lasted quite a while". Well sure enough...it died yesterday! :duh: I knew I should have knocked on wood or something! :stupidme:

[skuttduck]

I replaced it, the new pump seems to run slower, and I am eventually going to have to strip back the main wires, as there is some corrosion on them. I of course used WD40 on the wires :)

I would like to know why my halimeda has been dying off. I removed most of it this morning, as my tank was cloudy and I had to a water change.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Hi Tim! long time to talk to. We should get together soon and talk tanks. Need any hammer coral:big_grin:.


I would like to know why my halimeda has been dying off. I removed most of it this morning, as my tank was cloudy and I had to a water change.

First guess is calcium and alkalinity. If either is low then that could cause halimeda to do poorly. If that's not it then lighting spectrum (old bulbs?) would be my next guess.

HTH,
Tom

[henry hill]

If theres an oil slick, just call BP and see if you can get a little dispersant. LOL I know I spelled that wrong.