Mixing station lay out help

[riche]

I have watched a ton of videos and this one is the set up I want to go with since you can also use it to change water

For some reason I can not wrap my head around how to set up a system like his as his storage tanks are one on top of the other, mine will be side by side

I can build pretty much anything but reverse engineering isnt my strong suit lol

I appreciate all the help this site has provided, and when I committed to this new build, I told myself i am doing it right and not cutting corners

Here is the Video



Here is a screen shot of the Plumbing

 

[Reefer1978]

Don't overcomplicate it. Here's a basic design (I am using a similar one, just moved the tanks closer, and added drips on each side).

 

[JTP424]

Mine are side by side as well, both have their own downspout, one has a pump that lifts the RO up and over into the other.

 

[riche]

Don't overcomplicate it. Here's a basic design (I am using a similar one, just moved the tanks closer, and added drips on each side).

Thanks, thats how my tanks will be, I want to be able to drain and fill my display tank like the video

 

[Reefer1978]

Thanks, thats how my tanks will be, I want to be able to drain and fill my display tank like the video

On the vertical pipe that goes into the mixing tank and a tee and 2 gate valves. That way you can turn off the flow to the mixing tank and turn on flow to the DT. That’s exactly how I have it.

 

[Reefer1978]

Found a picture in my phone.

 

[Reefer1978]

I don’t know why you want to drain the tank through this system, you don’t want dirty water to go though these pipes. But you would need to add another look on pump intake with 2 more valves and a tee.

 

[danreef55]

Take a look at this
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/mixing-station-plumbing-pictorial.1089400/

 

[riche]

I don’t know why you want to drain the tank through this system, you don’t want dirty water to go though these pipes. But you would need to add another look on pump intake with 2 more valves and a tee.

In the video he has it where the dirty water goes out to his yard, it doesnt go into the storage tanks

 

[riche]

I don’t know why you want to drain the tank through this system, you don’t want dirty water to go though these pipes. But you would need to add another look on pump intake with 2 more valves and a tee.

You hit the nail on the head, I am over thinking it. I forgot when i plumbed my tank I added a valve on the manifold to hook up a hose to drain water from the sump for water changes. Since my total volume is around 60 gallons, doing a 10 gallon water change weekly will be so easy and the bathroom is less then 15 feet so i can just drain the water in the sink.

 

[Reefer1978]

In the video he has it where the dirty water goes out to his yard, it doesnt go into the storage tanks

You hit the nail on the head, I am over thinking it. I forgot when i plumbed my tank I added a valve on the manifold to hook up a hose to drain water from the sump for water changes. Since my total volume is around 60 gallons, doing a 10 gallon water change weekly will be so easy and the bathroom is less then 15 feet so i can just drain the water in the sink.

The reason I mentioned why you would want dirty water to go through the system, yes, I know you are dumping it, but it's still going through the pump, there will be some contamination, which can potentially create algae growth in your tanks with sitting water. You want it as sterile as possible.

I am personally using a $15 pump from amazon to drank the tank, works pretty well.

 

[Reefer1978]

Take a look at this
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/mixing-station-plumbing-pictorial.1089400/

Pictorial seems over-engineered, one of those top sections is unnecessary. You don't need to circulate RODI water.

 

[danreef55]

Pictorial seems over-engineered, one of those top sections is unnecessary. You don't need to circulate RODI water.

It is there in case I need to make salt water in both vats due to an unanticipated problem. They are only 55gals each and I am dealing with 370gal of system water volume (sump included at actual level).

 

[Reefer1978]

It is there in case I need to make salt water in both vats due to an unanticipated problem. They are only 55gals each and I am dealing with 370gal of system water volume (sump included at actual level).

That seems reasonable, but you should mention that when you share this design because it might be too much for everybody else

 

[danreef55]

That seems reasonable, but you should mention that when you share this design because it might be too much for everybody else

good point I will explain if I send others to the link

 

[Reefer1978]

good point I will explain if I send others to the link

Morning DanReef. One more thought I had last night, but wasn't able to get back online. Most folks with a mixing container use one for top-off water storage (clean water), and second for mixing. I am not sure if you are doing the same, and dual-mix usage is a one in a while thing, but if you do use it for top-off water at times, be careful if it's exposed to salt water. There will be some salt in the water left-over, and when using it as top-off your salinity will slowly creep up.

 

[danreef55]

Morning DanReef. One more thought I had last night, but wasn't able to get back online. Most folks with a mixing container use one for top-off water storage (clean water), and second for mixing. I am not sure if you are doing the same, and dual-mix usage is a one in a while thing, but if you do use it for top-off water at times, be careful if it's exposed to salt water. There will be some salt in the water left-over, and when using it as top-off your salinity will slowly creep up.

Hi reefer1978,
The two ball valves in the front of the vats are used to flush the freshwater vat if salt had to be made in that vat. It isn't perfect but as I stated this is only done in unforeseen incidents. It would rarely be used for salt. Appreciate the input please continue with input so I can make this write up clearer. Thanks