Dirty saltwater disposal

[OrionN]

Salt is bad for a lot of the plants, and will select for salt tolerant plants.

 

[royaleFork]

That idea came to me from this thread. Do you find it effective? Does salt and stuff accumulate?

I have found it to be very effective. Keeps the area clear for a while. I don't see any salt leftover after if that is what you are asking.

I dump about 25 gallons of waste water a week.

 

[lonhater]

That idea came to me from this thread. Do you find it effective? Does salt and stuff accumulate?

I have found it to be very effective. Keeps the area clear for a while. I don't see any salt leftover after if that is what you are asking.

I dump about 25 gallons of waste water a week.

Thanks. With spring here I'm gonna try it

 

[winxp_man]

I save it in 55 gallons tots, then take a bath in it once it a while. I don’t make it to the ocean much. So this is the other alternative. :cool:

 

[parclife]

Straight down the gutter to the drain

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

Something to consider if you dump your water in the street and live close to the ocean...
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Species/Caulerpa

 

[Dburr1014]

Old house, iron pipe, bad. Plastic, good.
Septic with cement tank, bad. Plastic, okay.

Lawn, hasn't killed it yet at my house.

 

[carol3]

I'm am on septic amd I've been dumping it down the drain and into the sump crock for 9 years with no problems. Most drains are PVC which is what we use for plumbing our tanks so I wouldn't worry about damaging your plumbing.

EDIT: I just had my septic tank cleaned last year for the first time since we built in 1997 and everything was fine

Interesting... wouldn't the salt kill off the freshwater anaerobic bacteria in the septic system? Maybe it wouldn't matter in systems that get pumped out annually and could possibly be an issue for those of us that only have that done every three years or so. I would love to know for sure, my husband is not a reefer and would not be happy if my hobby messed up our septic.

 

[Rhetoric]

I learned the hard way to dump it down the toilet not a sink. When the drains backed up, the plumber asked why sand would be in the sink....

 

[NC AL]

Might seem like a silly question but where does everyone dispose of their dirty saltwater? Kinda sick of walking my 5 gallon buckets to the property line

Most people won't understand this question. I live in a rural setting with a septic tank. I pour mine out on our gravel driveway. The salt keeps any grass from growing through the gravel as a bonus.

 

[exnisstech]

Interesting... wouldn't the salt kill off the freshwater anaerobic bacteria in the septic system? Maybe it wouldn't matter in systems that get pumped out annually and could possibly be an issue for those of us that only have that done every three years or so. I would love to know for sure, my husband is not a reefer and would not be happy if my hobby messed up our septic.

Like i said we built our house in 1997 and cleaned our septic for the first time last year. The only abnormality was a thick crust on the surface from waiting so long to have it cleaned. Other than that everything was normal. I think people fail to realize the septic tank is to store the solid waste and the liquid is constantly flowing out into the leach bed which in my case is two 2600 square foot sand filters that filter the waste then drain to a creek at the end of our property. There are different types of leach beds but regardless of the type the septic tank is still for solid waste storage and the liquid is constantly flowing through and out so the salt water is not stored in the system. Also the amount of salt water going into the system is very small compared to the total system volume so it is heavily diluted.

This is a better explanation

 

[fish farmer]

I toss a 5 gallon bucket of saltwater out my front yard every couple of weeks, never see much for dead grass. They spread salt/brine here in the winter...I should have a dead front yard, but I have to mow it weekly from May to September.

I don't put it down house pipes/septic because of sand, snail shells, etc.

 

[Reeferbadness]

I dump 10 g 2x a week into our water fountain - the salinity in the fountain must be greater than the dead sea by now but it keeps out all algae and for some reason the pump doesn't clog as much. On my other tank, i dump about 25 g a week under some large bushes i don't particularly like - but for some reason, it doesn't harm them at all (also my RO/DI waste water goes there) - these bushes are like mangroves i guess and the salt water doesn't bother them at all.

 

[carol3]

Like i said we built our house in 1997 and cleaned our septic for the first time last year. The only abnormality was a thick crust on the surface from waiting so long to have it cleaned. Other than that everything was normal. I think people fail to realize the septic tank is to store the solid waste and the liquid is constantly flowing out into the leach bed which in my case is two 2600 square foot sand filters that filter the waste then drain to a creek at the end of our property. There are different types of leach beds but regardless of the type the septic tank is still for solid waste storage and the liquid is constantly flowing through and out so the salt water is not stored in the system. Also the amount of salt water going into the system is very small compared to the total system volume so it is heavily diluted.

This is a better explanation

Thats true but bacteria are especially important in the tank and the drain field to break down the solids. Salt isn't on the bacteria killing list below and your results give me hope (it would be so much easier) but I have to convince my husband and he would require more solid proof. If Randy Holmes-Farley gave me his chemist OK I would start putting in the septic tomorrow!!



Anaerobic bacteria are what’s responsible for breaking down the organic waste solids in your septic tank and keeping them from building up within your tank. These anaerobic bacteria don’t require oxygen to survive in your tank. Since there’s less oxygen inside a septic tank, anaerobic bacteria are mostly responsible for breaking down waste.

There are also aerobic bacteria that require more oxygen to survive, require organic waste as a food source, and break down solid waste. This type of aerobic bacteria often lives in the leach field and treats the waste before the liquids seep into the soil.

Both of these kinds of bacteria found in your septic tank are important to the health of septic systems. Their main job is to break solids down into liquids so that the liquid can drain out of the septic tank.

In addition to the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, septic tanks also have powerful enzymes working inside of them. The enzymes come from the bacteria in your tank and their job is to help the bacteria break down the organic waste in your tank.

Here are four enzymes commonly found in septic tanks:

• Cellulase – this enzyme works to break down toilet paper and some solid food
• Lipase – this type of enzyme breaks down fats in your tank
• Protease – this is an enzyme that breaks down organic matter like protein
• Amylase – this enzyme is responsible for breaking down starches

If too much solid waste settles in the bottom of your tank, it can cause clogs when the liquids are trying to leave the tank and go into the drain field. Your septic system relies on these bacteria and enzymes to treat human waste.

Without these naturally occurring beneficial bacteria and enzymes in your septic tank, the solids won’t be properly broken down and you won’t have a healthy septic system. As they float to the top of the tank over time, those pieces of waste can cause clogs as liquid leaves the tank through the drain pipes.

How Do You Care For the Bacteria in Your Septic Tank?​

The naturally occurring bacteria and enzymes in septic tanks need solids to survive. You can find a variety of septic tank treatments both in stores and online. Many septic systems don’t need a septic tank treatment if you have your tank pumped and maintenance is done on a regular basis.

Just like there are things to put into your septic tank to help bacteria grow, there are also toxic substances you should not put down your drains because they can hurt the septic tank bacteria:

• Antibacterial soaps
• Bleach
• Antibiotics
• Harmful chemicals
• Too much toilet paper
• Other chemical additives

 

[exnisstech]

Thats true but bacteria are especially important in the tank and the drain field to break down the solids. Salt isn't on the bacteria killing list below and your results give me hope (it would be so much easier) but I have to convince my husband and he would require more solid proof. If Randy Holmes-Farley gave me his chemist OK I would start putting in the septic tomorrow!!



Anaerobic bacteria are what’s responsible for breaking down the organic waste solids in your septic tank and keeping them from building up within your tank. These anaerobic bacteria don’t require oxygen to survive in your tank. Since there’s less oxygen inside a septic tank, anaerobic bacteria are mostly responsible for breaking down waste.

There are also aerobic bacteria that require more oxygen to survive, require organic waste as a food source, and break down solid waste. This type of aerobic bacteria often lives in the leach field and treats the waste before the liquids seep into the soil.

Both of these kinds of bacteria found in your septic tank are important to the health of septic systems. Their main job is to break solids down into liquids so that the liquid can drain out of the septic tank.

In addition to the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, septic tanks also have powerful enzymes working inside of them. The enzymes come from the bacteria in your tank and their job is to help the bacteria break down the organic waste in your tank.

Here are four enzymes commonly found in septic tanks:

• Cellulase – this enzyme works to break down toilet paper and some solid food
• Lipase – this type of enzyme breaks down fats in your tank
• Protease – this is an enzyme that breaks down organic matter like protein
• Amylase – this enzyme is responsible for breaking down starches

If too much solid waste settles in the bottom of your tank, it can cause clogs when the liquids are trying to leave the tank and go into the drain field. Your septic system relies on these bacteria and enzymes to treat human waste.

Without these naturally occurring beneficial bacteria and enzymes in your septic tank, the solids won’t be properly broken down and you won’t have a healthy septic system. As they float to the top of the tank over time, those pieces of waste can cause clogs as liquid leaves the tank through the drain pipes.

How Do You Care For the Bacteria in Your Septic Tank?​

The naturally occurring bacteria and enzymes in septic tanks need solids to survive. You can find a variety of septic tank treatments both in stores and online. Many septic systems don’t need a septic tank treatment if you have your tank pumped and maintenance is done on a regular basis.

Just like there are things to put into your septic tank to help bacteria grow, there are also toxic substances you should not put down your drains because they can hurt the septic tank bacteria:

• Antibacterial soaps
• Bleach
• Antibiotics
• Harmful chemicals
• Too much toilet paper
• Other chemical additives

I raised three daughters along with my Gal so I have no doubt too much toilet paper went in. Everything else you listed also goes into our septic as well. The fact that I went 27 years without having my tank pumped tells me I have some darn good bacteria lol I get it tho you have to convince the hubby. Good luck

 

[carol3]

I raised three daughters along with my Gal so I have no doubt too much toilet paper went in. Everything else you listed also goes into our septic as well. The fact that I went 27 years without having my tank pumped tells me I have some darn good bacteria lol I get it tho you have to convince the hubby. Good luck

It's those non-reefing spouses, they are the hardest to convince of anything relating to saltwater, LOL

 

[exnisstech]

It's those non-reefing spouses, they are the hardest to convince of anything relating to saltwater, LOL

And there is no lack of misinformation online that they can use to defend their position :crying-face:
I overcome the objections by being responsible for all bills and giving her a new truck once in a while. I think I'm getting the better part of the deal :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

 

[Steven Garland]

Down the bathroom sink drain or the toilet depending in how much water I change.

 

[Badblackdog]

I have no weeds growing on the side of my house or in the cracks in my driveway.

 

[reefingtexas]

Wife wanted a plant dead, so its been going on that plant for a while.

It is indeed dead.

Otherwise street, down the drain

If you plan on planting something else there or want grass to grow, then this is not a solid plan. If there is a tree nearby and it’s in the drip line then bye-bye tree too.