Mixing Station operation

[PPBlimpy]

Got some question for people that run mixing stations

I am setting up my first mixing station. 2 x 65G poly tanks, mag12 pump and will be monitored by my spare apex A2

I plan to do 50G or 20% water changes weekly on Saturday mornings with this for the next couple months, then transition to daily 2-3G WC

I plan to keep RO always full as this will be my ATO reservoir also, pump RO to the salt side , ad salt and let mix with heat to get to proper salinity etc.

But then what? Mixing station is in our utility / laundry room on the back of the house. This room does not have heat. It gets cold.

Do you turn your heater and pump off and let it sit for 5 days, night before your water change kick pump and heater back on, make sure the mix is good and use it come Saturday morning?
Do you keep it circulating and heated for the week?
Maybe a small efficient powerhead in the salt side to keep water moving for a heater during the week and not run the main mixing pump full time?
Anyone wrap their Saltwater side with a hot water heater insulation blanket to help keep heat in?

any suggestions would be great.
I don't really want to run a mag12 full time and a 300w heater to keep mixing station warm all week. Only pro to this is in case of emergency I can do a water change immediately and not have to wait for it to warm up.

appreciate any advice and how you all run yours

crummy photo, still finalizing the plumbing

 

[BriansBrain]

Once your saltwater is mixed into solution there’s no need to keep mixing/heating it continuously. I have the same mixing containers and I mix either overnight or make a batch the morning of.

Most manufacturers will list in their instructions mixing temp and how long it stores for. BRS also did a video on that between brands a while back.

If you do store it for a week, check salinity before a water change because those norwesco containers vent from the top allowing evaporation. Just turn on the pump to circulate and heat up to the aquariums temp before a water change and you’re golden.

 

[PPBlimpy]

I run Fritz RPM blue box. Will need to see how it stores.

I have a spare Apex A2 that will be on it monitoring Temps and Salinity. will double check via refrac before use.

Need to find another power bar to automate it a bit more, at least be able to turn pump on and control heater the night before.

 

[BriansBrain]

I run Fritz RPM blue box. Will need to see how it stores.

I have a spare Apex A2 that will be on it monitoring Temps and Salinity. will double check via refrac before use.

Need to find another power bar to automate it a bit more, at least be able to turn pump on and control heater the night before.

Been using these Govee WiFi/bluetooth controllable outlets to turn on/off inkbird controlled heaters and the mixing pump from my phone. Much much cheaper than buying a new eb832.
They also have leak sensors that connect to the same app and will send alerts and make audible siren.

 

[PPBlimpy]

I will look into those.

 

[Kooma]

For the 50 gallon change I would just do as above and add in smart switches to turn on the day before. For the 2-3 gallon daily WC I wouldn’t even bother heating it. I expect you’ll be using a dosing pump to do the change in which case, it won’t matter as the flow is slow and your tank heater will cover you.

 

[PPBlimpy]

For the 50 gallon change I would just do as above and add in smart switches to turn on the day before. For the 2-3 gallon daily WC I wouldn’t even bother heating it. I expect you’ll be using a dosing pump to do the change in which case, it won’t matter as the flow is slow and your tank heater will cover you.

For the daily WC it will be mixed in the station and then pumped to a 55g poly drum that is next to my tank and will refill it every 2 weeks from the mixing station. I wasn’t planning on heating the 55g and will be running a dos to do the daily WC

I have acquired enough items to have some options on how to run it. I have never done daily WC and going to do it for a while as an experiment and see how it goes. Hoping it can slowly pull my nitrates and phos down.

I have always believed weekly water changes are more efficient but can see daily being better for stability.

 

[Reeferbadness]

no need to worry about heating - my 2 50g drums are outside (in CA - so low temps in low 50's in the winter). I do have a pump in my salt drum - to keep the water flowing.

 

[PPBlimpy]

no need to worry about heating - my 2 50g drums are outside (in CA - so low temps in low 50's in the winter). I do have a pump in my salt drum - to keep the water flowing.

Doesn’t salinity fluctuate with temp? I need to at least heat while initially mixing I would think.

I am in Va. getting below freezing right now and the utility room is enclosed but is drafty and has horrible windows and no insulation. Probably gets down to the low 40s when freezing out

 

[petcellar]

I run Fritz RPM blue box. Will need to see how it stores.

I have a spare Apex A2 that will be on it monitoring Temps and Salinity. will double check via refrac before use.

Need to find another power bar to automate it a bit more, at least be able to turn pump on and control heater the night before.

Thats what I use. Honestly doesn't store the best and has a fair amount of precipitate.

However, I still use it for my AWC for well over a year now and no major problems.

Other than being a bit messy I think you will be fine.

 

[PPBlimpy]

Thats what I use. Honestly doesn't store the best and has a fair amount of precipitate.

However, I still use it for my AWC for well over a year now and no major problems.

Other than being a bit messy I think you will be fine.

Appreciate the response. I have been mixing night before up to this point.

I don’t think I will be storing more than 7days in theory. Not sure in practice though but again there is no real reason I have to mix right away other then having 60g ready to go in case of emergency.

It does mix well and fast in case I have an emergency could have it ready in a matter of hours.

I just read on their website that they suggest a bubbler to be running when you mix. I have never done this.

 

[Reeferbadness]

Doesn’t salinity fluctuate with temp? I need to at least heat while initially mixing I would think.

I am in Va. getting below freezing right now and the utility room is enclosed but is drafty and has horrible windows and no insulation. Probably gets down to the low 40s when freezing out

salinity measurements need to be calibrated to temps but the actual salinity remains the same. I do a 10 g water change with 55' water to my 200g tank and it's also fine - barely changes the overall temp. IMHO it's a waste of energy and $ spent on a heater to heat this water.

 

[PPBlimpy]

salinity measurements need to be calibrated to temps but the actual salinity remains the same. I do a 10 g water change with 55' water to my 200g tank and it's also fine - barely changes the overall temp. IMHO it's a waste of energy and $ spent on a heater to heat this water.

Appreciate you!

My thought process is to have water to temp 75-77* while mixing. Once mixed and salinity is good 1.025-1.026 I turn the heater and pump off and let sit. As long as the salinity was proper at temp I don’t care when it comes back down.

I will have to match temp at first while doing 50g water changes. 260g system

I don’t care about temp when I get the daily water change going but will ad a small powerhead to the 50g drum to keep anything that may settle but that’s a different story and not happening for a while.

 

[bob88884]

Once your saltwater is mixed into solution there’s no need to keep mixing/heating it continuously. I have the same mixing containers and I mix either overnight or make a batch the morning of.

Most manufacturers will list in their instructions mixing temp and how long it stores for. BRS also did a video on that between brands a while back.

If you do store it for a week, check salinity before a water change because those norwesco containers vent from the top allowing evaporation. Just turn on the pump to circulate and heat up to the aquariums temp before a water change and you’re golden.

I keep a tank of RO/DI water at all times, not heated. I transfer it to my mixing barrel, add salt, and keep the heater and pump running at all times. I do a constant water change. 3.8 gallons out, 3.8 gallons in over a 24-hour period. That said, my electric bill is crazy this month; it wasn't out of hand until now. I am considering wrapping my barrels with that reflective insulation to see if that helps. I may have to change my water change schedule, so I don't have to keep it mixed and at the correct temperature all the time.

 

[oakcityreefer]

I keep a hygger gyre in my 55 gallon drum for salt. I try to only run the heater a day before water change. But it’s been so cold here in NC that I’ve had it running all the time for the last week because it was taking about 36 hours to get to temp.

 

[oakcityreefer]

I measure in PPT instead of SG. It was my understanding that PPT isn’t affected by temperature.

 

[bob88884]

I keep a hygger gyre in my 55 gallon drum for salt. I try to only run the heater a day before water change. But it’s been so cold here in NC that I’ve had it running all the time for the last week because it was taking about 36 hours to get to temp.

You are correct about it being cold here in North Carolina. My power bill went through the roof last month, and it's even higher this month. Surely my heater and pump aren't using that much more electricity than last year.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

no need to worry about heating - my 2 50g drums are outside (in CA - so low temps in low 50's in the winter). I do have a pump in my salt drum - to keep the water flowing.

Doesn’t salinity fluctuate with temp? I need to at least heat while initially mixing I would think.

I am in Va. getting below freezing right now and the utility room is enclosed but is drafty and has horrible windows and no insulation. Probably gets down to the low 40s when freezing out

Salinity (e.g., 35 ppt) does not change. Specific gravity varies with temperature. If you measure in specific gravity (e.g., 1.026) you must correct for the temperature. I use this:

Salinity Conversion Calculator — Capital City Aquatics

This calculator converts Salinity from Specific Gravity (SG) to Parts Per Trillion (ppt) and others. Best Salinity Converter!

www.capitalcityaquatics.com

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

no need to worry about heating - my 2 50g drums are outside (in CA - so low temps in low 50's in the winter). I do have a pump in my salt drum - to keep the water flowing.

Doesn’t salinity fluctuate with temp? I need to at least heat while initially mixing I would think.

I am in Va. getting below freezing right now and the utility room is enclosed but is drafty and has horrible windows and no insulation. Probably gets down to the low 40s when freezing out

Salinity (e.g., 35 ppt) does not change. Specific gravity varies with temperature. If you measure in specific gravity (e.g., 1.026) you must correct for the temperature. I use this:

Salinity Conversion Calculator — Capital City Aquatics

This calculator converts Salinity from Specific Gravity (SG) to Parts Per Trillion (ppt) and others. Best Salinity Converter!

www.capitalcityaquatics.com

 

[BriansBrain]

I keep a tank of RO/DI water at all times, not heated. I transfer it to my mixing barrel, add salt, and keep the heater and pump running at all times. I do a constant water change. 3.8 gallons out, 3.8 gallons in over a 24-hour period. That said, my electric bill is crazy this month; it wasn't out of hand until now. I am considering wrapping my barrels with that reflective insulation to see if that helps. I may have to change my water change schedule, so I don't have to keep it mixed and at the correct temperature all the time.

Are your mixing vats outside and very cold? Just curious why you’re always heating them. If you’re exchanging 3.8 gallons/day, it’s probably a large system. That’s not going to fluctuate temp in your tank especially over a 24 hour transfer period.

I drip about 2 gallons/day of room temp (65*F) Kalkwasser over 12 hours in my roughly 220g system.

Just throwing it out there. I’m cheap and energy’s expensive.