First mixing station build - questions

[Idech]

I’m trying to improve stability in my tank and I’ve decided to get au Automatic water change system (Kamoer X2SR). The tank is upstairs and the mixing station would be downstairs. I would use John Guest tubing to get there.

I don’t do dyi so I am going to have someone install it for me.

My question : for a mixing station, can I just use 2 brute cans side by sides without all the usual plumbing between the two ? I would fill one with rodi, mix salt in it and transfer it immediately to the second brute where it would be kept with a power head and heater, ready for use with the Kamoer.

I’ve looked at different set-ups on YouTube but I just don’t see the pros of having plumbing between the two. But I’ve never had a mixing station so I have no experience using one at all.

Thanks for your help.

 

[JGT]

How do you plan to transfer the water from the 1 to the 2nd brute? Plumbing makes this easy.

 

[Idech]

How do you plan to transfer the water from the 1 to the 2nd brute? Plumbing makes this easy.

I have a return pump with a hose attached. Just drop it in freshly mixed bin and clamp the other end to the other bin.

How does it work when it’s plumbed ?

 

[JGT]

I have a return pump with a hose attached. Just drop it in freshly mixed bin and clamp the other end to the other bin.

How does it work when it’s plumbed ?

Similar but it’s already in place so just turn the pump on and transfer begins. Unless you do like I did and mount the Brutes vertically. Then gravity does the work.

 

[Idech]

Similar but it’s already in place so just turn the pump on and transfer begins. Unless you do like I did and mount the Brutes vertically. Then gravity does the work.

Gotcha !

 

[Idech]

Similar but it’s already in place so just turn the pump on and transfer begins. Unless you do like I did and mount the Brutes vertically. Then gravity does the work.

@JGT I’m thinking about doing a gravity set-up with my 2 brutes. Would you share pictures of your set-up and any tips you might have ?

 

[JGT]

@JGT I’m thinking about doing a gravity set-up with my 2 brutes. Would you share pictures of your set-up and any tips you might have ?

Sure, for a fee. Kidding. Let me dig up some pics to start. Please hold.

 

[Euphyllia098]

Are you going to do continuous water change or an occasional Auto water change? If you're going to do continuous water change there's no need to heat it.

If it were me I would just spend the money and get a proper mixing station, with sealed bins and properly plumbed. It makes life easier.

When I built my first setup I put a lot of effort into a mixing station and it's one of the things that a very glad that I did. Having a way to easily make water makes Reef keeping much easier and you're more likely to take better care of your tank because it's less of a pain.

 

[Idech]

Are you going to do continuous water change or an occasional Auto water change? If you're going to do continuous water change there's no need to heat it.

I have an AWC system and do daily water changes. I don’t heat the water except before mixing.

If it were me I would just spend the money and get a proper mixing station, with sealed bins and properly plumbed. It makes life easier.

Do you have an example of what a proper mixing station is because I have no idea. Pictures or video ? I already have 2 x 32 gallons Brute can so this is what I will use. Right now I’m just using a pump to transfer but figured a gravity set-up would be easier.

 

[JGT]

Sure, for a fee. Kidding. Let me dig up some pics to start. Please hold.

OK, here’s a few pics. So I have it where the top is RODI and the bottom is FSW. I have a float valve on the top Brute and this is tee’d off with my ATO which also has a float valve. When I turn my RODI it fills my ATO and then my top RODI brute then shuts off.
I have a pump in the FSW that I use for mixing the FSW and sending to my sump for water changes. On both Brutes I have a ball valve connected to about 15’ of flexible hose. I use this to do one offs of RODI and FSW water. Sump and mixing station are in basement. Tank is up on next floor. Let me know if you have any questions or want to see more pics.

 

[Idech]

OK, here’s a few pics. So I have it where the top is RODI and the bottom is FSW. I have a float valve on the top Brute and this is tee’d off with my ATO which also has a float valve. When I turn my RODI it fills my ATO and then my top RODI brute then shuts off.

Thanks, that’s pretty close to what I want to do.

I notice you have a big gap between the two brutes. Do you think less than that would be okay or is it needed ? I was thinking maybe 8-10 inches.

Anything you would do differently if you had to start over again ?

 

[USN74NMCB]

You want on comtainer that only jas rodi water in it and transfer to the container that you mix your saltwater that would feed your X2SR which is the same one i have for my AWC from across the room. I have 2 poly 100 gallon tanks one with rodi plumbed to the secong that has saltwater when it gets down i close one valve and open the one on the rodi tank and that fills my mixing tank once filled i close the rodi valve and open saltwater valve tomix the saltwater and start adding salt to get salinity to where it needs to be

 

[JGT]

Thanks, that’s pretty close to what I want to do.

I notice you have a big gap between the two brutes. Do you think less than that would be okay or is it needed ? I was thinking maybe 8-10 inches.

Anything you would do differently if you had to start over again ?

I wanted enough headroom so gave myself the extra room. When I mix the salt, although I have the pump, to get it close to 1.026 from the get-go I like to go in with a 3’ composite stirrer to manually stir it up . The headroom allows for that. Could probably do with 8-10” but might be tight as you are dumping in bags of salt.
Nothing different I would do. I have a heater in the FSW to keep the water around 75. I also have a pump in my sump, plumbed to my utility sink. To do WC, I run Kasa scenes. Scene 1 turns everything off and DT drains into sump. Scene 2 turns on on pump in sump and pumps out about 50 gallons into utility sink. Scene 3 turns off sump pump and turns on FSW pump and pumps 50 gallons back into sump. Scene 4 turns off FSW pump and turns everything back on again . I can do a 50 gallon water change in 15 mins.

 

[Michael Hughes]

I have a return pump with a hose attached. Just drop it in freshly mixed bin and clamp the other end to the other bin.

This is how I do it. No hard plumbing between them. I have the FW to SW pump plugged into a power strip with push buttons. Just push the button to transfer water.

Another benefit is easily moving the soft tubing to a five gallon bucket if needed.

Bit of a mess at the moment (still installing shelving and whatnot) but this is the overall setup.

I have a return pump in the SW bin with tubing long enough to reach the tank around the corner. Love being able to refill after a water change without ever lifting a bucket. To me that push button power strip is a game changer. No more plugging and unplugging cords to do water transfers.

 

[Euphyllia098]

Here's a whole thread of them. Mines in there somewhere. The main thing I did different with my setup is that I kept my rodi and salt bins completely separate. It's impossible in all of these setups where you pump water from one barrel to the other not to slightly contaminate your rodi water with saltwater. It's probably not enough combination to matter in most cases, but I wanted 100% pure rodi. Both containers are hooked up to my rodi filter via float valves. So I just turn on which one I want to fill.

Here's my current setup:



Thread 'Calling ALL MIXING STATIONS!... Lets see YOUR setup!' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/calling-all-mixing-stations-lets-see-your-setup.827842/

 

[Idech]

I have 2 poly 100 gallon tanks one with rodi plumbed to the secong that has saltwater when it gets down i close one valve and open the one on the rodi tank and that fills my mixing tank once filled i close the rodi valve and open saltwater valve tomix the saltwater and start adding salt to get salinity to where it needs to be

I wish I had room for 100 gallons bins. Mine are 32 gallons and I find them too small but just bought them and they are expensive. Oh well.

I wanted enough headroom so gave myself the extra room. When I mix the salt, although I have the pump, to get it close to 1.026 from the get-go I like to go in with a 3’ composite stirrer to manually stir it up . The headroom allows for that. Could probably do with 8-10” but might be tight as you are dumping in bags of salt.

Good point, I also like to stir the bottom of the brute so I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks. How many inches between do you figure you have ?

This is how I do it. No hard plumbing between them. I have the FW to SW pump plugged into a power strip with push buttons. Just push the button to transfer water.

That’s a smart way to do it. I’ll have to find something too.

Here's a whole thread of them. Mines in there somewhere.

Thanks ! I’ll check it out.

 

[JGT]

Probably close to 2 ft.

 

[Chasman]

This is my set-up just to add some ideas for you. Works well. The Kamoer is a challenge to calibrate, but it can be done. This is in the basement and the DT(50 gal) is in my kitchen/dining area, above. My ATO is a Red Sea and the pump is in the tank on the right. (RODI water). Changes 2L at 10am and 2L at 7pm. Pretty hands off. Once a month I replenish the salt tank on the left. Tanks are 40gal each.

 

[Idech]

This is my set-up just to add some ideas for you. Works well. The Kamoer is a challenge to calibrate, but it can be done. This is in the basement and the DT(50 gal) is in my kitchen/dining area, above. My ATO is a Red Sea and the pump is in the tank on the right. (RODI water). Changes 2L at 10am and 2L at 7pm. Pretty hands off. Once a month I replenish the salt tank on the left. Tanks are 40gal each.

Nice set-up ! I found a way to calibrate the Kamoer and its been a charm since.