Tunze Nano Stream 6020

marinelife · 07/15/2017, 07:15 PM

Great little pump but the impeller seems to stop running every few days. Can anything be done to keep it running?

rvitko · 07/17/2017, 09:57 AM

Clean it well and place it where it cannot take in sand or debris. The pump is very low power, it will stop when jammed as it isn't a big motor that could grind on with some debris inside. Usually the cause will be fine sand getting in or some built up calcium and if it is just calcium a thorough cleaning will solve it. Otherwise raise it so it cannot take in sand that gets stirred up.

marinelife · 07/18/2017, 07:24 PM

Thanks, It's sad it stops so easily. It did it right out of the box. I almost returned it.

rvitko · 07/19/2017, 08:14 AM

It is an unfortunate trade off and it may be that the root issue is the propeller fits too tight. To get the energy efficiency and low heat, the low power means the motor does not have much oomph. If you had this problem since new and you don't have reason to believe it is due to fine sand and debris, I would guess the propeller fits too tight and I can send a replacement.

marinelife · 07/24/2017, 10:55 AM

seems to fit ok but if you want you can send me a propeller to try I would be more than happy to pm you my address

rvitko · 07/24/2017, 11:19 AM

Please, PM me your address.

marinelife · 07/24/2017, 11:23 AM

sent, thanks!

SumptyDumpty · 03/14/2018, 05:31 PM

I have ordered a second 6040 after the 6020 series mishaps.
We really like that the 6040 series have not had an issue.

As for the new 6020, I had issues with it out of the box this month.
We did a full inspection of the two blue rubber items near the output to make sure they were clear, and we inspected the impeller and other parts.

When running, it seems good to go on the 6020 until unplugged to simulate a water change procedure.
The pump does not come on most of the time when plugged back in.

The 6020 is very quiet as well as the 6040.

I'm sorry I have to return the new 6020 pump, but I am very pleased with the two 6040 pumps even though they cost 3x more per unit.
As long as they (6040) stay quiet and serve well over time, the price should not be an issue.
Both of the controllable 6040 units have worked 100% without failure, have literally almost zero noise and function fully as intended.

I did add a video of the 6020 issue.
Its a long test video with a few good starts and a few stoppages.
- the 6020 pump has to be manually disassembled to get it to be operational again.
The parts seem fine. No imperfections or binding of out-of-spec parts rubbing.
I could not figure out what was going on with the 6020 unit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnWYTIyFGaE

jeromeit · 08/20/2018, 08:00 PM

Were you able to find a fix for this? The same thing is happening with my unit.

rvitko · 08/21/2018, 08:15 AM

The 6020 issues will generally come down to one of 3 causes.

1) The rubber stops in the front cover are missing or not fully seated (hanging down).

2) The motor is only about 4W, the analogy I would use is it is like an old VW Beetle with about 40hp, it won't overcome many obstacles, any debris in the pump will cause it to stop, fine sand, calcium deposits etc must not get in the pump or it will stop, cleaning is all that is needed. The critical space is that the drive unit can spin freely on the shaft, the shaft and hole in the drive

3) The drive unit is wrong, either it fits too tight due a defect or in the US/Canada, a larger 50Hz drive unit was mistakenly installed. In this case it will run dry but chatter and not run in water.

07/15/2017, 07:15 PM	#1
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	Tunze Nano Stream 6020 Great little pump but the impeller seems to stop running every few days. Can anything be done to keep it running? __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

07/17/2017, 09:57 AM	#2
rvitko RC Sponsor Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Austin Texas USA Posts: 35,785	Clean it well and place it where it cannot take in sand or debris. The pump is very low power, it will stop when jammed as it isn't a big motor that could grind on with some debris inside. Usually the cause will be fine sand getting in or some built up calcium and if it is just calcium a thorough cleaning will solve it. Otherwise raise it so it cannot take in sand that gets stirred up. __________________ Roger Vitko Tunze USA "He's for every one of us, stands for every one of us, he'll save every man, woman and child in a mighty Flash!" Current Tank Info: 210 gallon planted tank with Altum Angelfish

07/18/2017, 07:24 PM	#3
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	Thanks, It's sad it stops so easily. It did it right out of the box. I almost returned it. __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

07/19/2017, 08:14 AM	#4
rvitko RC Sponsor Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Austin Texas USA Posts: 35,785	It is an unfortunate trade off and it may be that the root issue is the propeller fits too tight. To get the energy efficiency and low heat, the low power means the motor does not have much oomph. If you had this problem since new and you don't have reason to believe it is due to fine sand and debris, I would guess the propeller fits too tight and I can send a replacement. __________________ Roger Vitko Tunze USA "He's for every one of us, stands for every one of us, he'll save every man, woman and child in a mighty Flash!" Current Tank Info: 210 gallon planted tank with Altum Angelfish

07/24/2017, 10:55 AM	#5
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	seems to fit ok but if you want you can send me a propeller to try I would be more than happy to pm you my address __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

07/24/2017, 11:19 AM	#6
rvitko RC Sponsor Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Austin Texas USA Posts: 35,785	Please, PM me your address. __________________ Roger Vitko Tunze USA "He's for every one of us, stands for every one of us, he'll save every man, woman and child in a mighty Flash!" Current Tank Info: 210 gallon planted tank with Altum Angelfish

07/24/2017, 11:23 AM	#7
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	sent, thanks! __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

03/14/2018, 05:31 PM	#8
SumptyDumpty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Royalton Posts: 105	I have ordered a second 6040 after the 6020 series mishaps. We really like that the 6040 series have not had an issue. As for the new 6020, I had issues with it out of the box this month. We did a full inspection of the two blue rubber items near the output to make sure they were clear, and we inspected the impeller and other parts. When running, it seems good to go on the 6020 until unplugged to simulate a water change procedure. The pump does not come on most of the time when plugged back in. The 6020 is very quiet as well as the 6040. I'm sorry I have to return the new 6020 pump, but I am very pleased with the two 6040 pumps even though they cost 3x more per unit. As long as they (6040) stay quiet and serve well over time, the price should not be an issue. Both of the controllable 6040 units have worked 100% without failure, have literally almost zero noise and function fully as intended. I did add a video of the 6020 issue. Its a long test video with a few good starts and a few stoppages. - the 6020 pump has to be manually disassembled to get it to be operational again. The parts seem fine. No imperfections or binding of out-of-spec parts rubbing. I could not figure out what was going on with the 6020 unit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnWYTIyFGaE Last edited by SumptyDumpty; 03/23/2018 at 05:18 PM. Reason: add video

08/20/2018, 08:00 PM	#9
jeromeit Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 81	Were you able to find a fix for this? The same thing is happening with my unit.

08/21/2018, 08:15 AM	#10
rvitko RC Sponsor Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Austin Texas USA Posts: 35,785	The 6020 issues will generally come down to one of 3 causes. 1) The rubber stops in the front cover are missing or not fully seated (hanging down). 2) The motor is only about 4W, the analogy I would use is it is like an old VW Beetle with about 40hp, it won't overcome many obstacles, any debris in the pump will cause it to stop, fine sand, calcium deposits etc must not get in the pump or it will stop, cleaning is all that is needed. The critical space is that the drive unit can spin freely on the shaft, the shaft and hole in the drive 3) The drive unit is wrong, either it fits too tight due a defect or in the US/Canada, a larger 50Hz drive unit was mistakenly installed. In this case it will run dry but chatter and not run in water. __________________ Roger Vitko Tunze USA "He's for every one of us, stands for every one of us, he'll save every man, woman and child in a mighty Flash!" Current Tank Info: 210 gallon planted tank with Altum Angelfish