Need some ideas on how to simplify water changes

[TheLegendaryBarlowe072]

I did a little write up on my build thread, and there are some pictures
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/im-50-ext-build.1072160/page-2

Lol I tried to make you a diagram

 

[kdx7214]

If you can get the 2 pumps, all you have to do is match inout/output speeds and run them at the same time. I use an apex to control the pumps, and the speeds dont have to be exact, but close. Check salinity weekly to make up for minor salinity changes. Change a small amount daily, like 1% or 1 gallon.
NEed pumps that will run about 20 ml per minute.

I'm working on an esp32 controller pump project, just haven't finished it yet. Received the boards yesterday so I might get that soldered and testing. If it works I'll just have to get two more (my ATO pump died as well). Thanks :)

 

[kdx7214]

Lol I tried to make you a diagram

Thanks for the effort, it really helps! Only one question... how the heck do you get the salt in the bottom bin? :D

 

[TheLegendaryBarlowe072]

Thanks for the effort, it really helps! Only one question... how the heck do you get the salt in the bottom bin? :D

with a scoop lol

 

[TheLegendaryBarlowe072]

with a scoop lol

Actually to begain with I had drilled a small hole in the lid just big enough for the pex to fit through. Hoping to help with evaporation. But lifting it to add salt and check on the water level was a pain so now I leave it off. The Top RODI brute is covered tho.

 

[Troylee]

Set up a mixing station with a pump and garden hose! I can change 120 gallons in less than 20min.

 

[Pistondog]

I'm working on an esp32 controller pump project, just haven't finished it yet. Received the boards yesterday so I might get that soldered and testing. If it works I'll just have to get two more (my ATO pump died as well). Thanks :)

great. Your challenge will be to create a calibration routine that can vary the speed to provide consistent output. I think steppers are most commonly used for dosing pumps that need constant speed. Plenty of stepper driver examples, hopefully you got sheilds for that purpose.

 

[FishTruck]

If you have a neptune and access to the sewar I have an option for you. Automatic WC and Saline control system with zero mixing of salt water... DIY. Requires some rule breaking though.

 

[kdx7214]

Set up a mixing station with a pump and garden hose! I can change 120 gallons in less than 20min.

I've never quite understood the purpose of all the odd plumbing in a mixing station, but then I've never really dug into it either

 

[kdx7214]

great. Your challenge will be to create a calibration routine that can vary the speed to provide consistent output. I think steppers are most commonly used for dosing pumps that need constant speed. Plenty of stepper driver examples, hopefully you got sheilds for that purpose.

Yup. I found a small stepper driven peristaltic pump on Amazon (Amazon product ASIN B0B99ZH9C1) and have an esp32 and an a4988 driver for it. I have it working on a breadboard, but wanted to wait until I had the pcb I designed on hand before going further. Now to motivate myself to get it going lol

 

[ocicilioni]

I have a 75g DT and a 40g sump for a total of about 100g of water. I have a 40g Brute trashcan on the other side of the wall for ATO purposes. Right now I mix new saltwater 5g at a time in a bucket I have, which is a PITA. I need to simplify this somehow but have zero idea of how to go about it. I know I'll need another can for new saltwater, but how do you handle the plumbing and pumps and so on. I do not want or need an automatic water change, just something to keep from having to muck around with heavy buckets all the time.

What's worked for your system?

 

[kdx7214]

Right now, the 5g buckets have worked, but I'm getting older and have a bad back, so just trying to find something easier on the physical side.

 

[topjimmy]

I have a 75g DT and a 40g sump for a total of about 100g of water. I have a 40g Brute trashcan on the other side of the wall for ATO purposes. Right now I mix new saltwater 5g at a time in a bucket I have, which is a PITA. I need to simplify this somehow but have zero idea of how to go about it. I know I'll need another can for new saltwater, but how do you handle the plumbing and pumps and so on. I do not want or need an automatic water change, just something to keep from having to muck around with heavy buckets all the time.

What's worked for your system?

I have a 50g drum of mixed saltwater and a kamora X2 and change out 4 liters a day.

 

[FernBluffReef]

Semi conventional for me. I was performing a 10% water change every other week but now doing 15% every third week as it’s less work and between the two tanks uses just about what fits in my mixing station.

I take six buckets of 3.5 gallons each freshly mixed saltwater and transfer to brute that is in four wheeler which I then drive over to the house. I then drain 6 - 3.5 gallons buckets from the display and dispose

I then use my Sicce zero to transfer from the brute to the display - 50’ python from tank to 4 wheeler. While the water transfers I clean the fins on the overflow and any other minor cleaning.

I also bring along a spare 3.5 gallon bucket for a water change on the smaller tank.

That leaves 4-5 gallons of water in the mixing station for Phyto, pods or if I get any critters.

I would not mind if came up with a better means of accurately measuring the water exchange but for now 3.5 gallon buckets full is the allowance.

After about three weeks I’m also out of RODI so I then make 65 gallons of water over night and start a new

 

[n2585722]

i have my DI and fresh saltwater reservoirs in the garage with a mix tank and my RODI. The tank is 35ft away and the tubing between the garage and the tank run through insulated PVC conduit in the attic. My controller system has full control of the RODI, AWC, ATO and refill of reservoirs. When the DI reservoir goes lone the controller turns on the RODI unit to refill the DI reservoir. when the fresh saltwater reservoir goes low and the contents of the mix tank is ready to use the controller transfers the contents of the mix tank to the fresh saltwater reservoir. It then refills the mix tank from the RODI unit. All I have to do is add the salt mix and press a button when the contents in the mix tank is ready to use. I have photos, screenshots and a write up of how I did in my built thread here on R2R. Just click on My Tank Thread banner to get to it. I was using a Archon to control the tank and mixing station but switched to Hydros. The Hydros information starts near the end of page 6 I believe. That was over 4 years ago. As new features were addd and I started using them I would go through them. So there have been several changes on the control side. Right now I do 4 changes a day that are 950ml each time. It is a 42 gallon tank. My nitrates were starting to increase so I increased the amount I was changing. The nitrates started to drop now so I backed off a little starting tonight. I do use 3 dosing pumps for ATO and AWC and have since the tank was setup over 8 years ago.

 

[Dburr1014]

When I did manual water changes, I had my tank drain tee'd off and used a ball valve. I would open the valve and water would drain into a bucket while I'm pouring new water into the sump.
This can be done with brutes. One draining and new water pumped in instead.

 

[Joe.D]

I have a 20 gallon brute on wheels. I fill with RODI and salt. Mix with a powerhead and heater for about a day. Then roll it to the sump and replace water that is removed. Using 5 gallon buckets

This is what I do too. I have marks in my saltwater Brute that I measured at 5, 10 and 15 gallons. My set-up is same as OP - 75g display, 100g total volume.

I have 2 Brutes, one for RODI and the other for mixing salt water. I have wheels on both, but have since realized that I really only need wheels on the salt as I only move that one around to fill the tank.

I also weigh the salt as I add it. I’ve found it to be more consistent that way. For me, I use Tropic Marin Pro and 1350grams of salt in 10g of water gives me 1.025 salinity.

Each of my Brutes has its own pump. I use the one in the RODI to fill my ATO and to fill the salt water Brute. The one in the salt Brute mixes and fills the tank.

If I clean glass/seams and water test the prior day - water change, cleaning the skimmer, ATO top off and clean up only takes about 40 min. If I test and everting else along with water change it’s an hour and a half.

I’m working toward spreading things out through the week and not leaving it all to when I do the water change so I don’t have a big project on Saturday.

 

[tzabor10]

This is what I do too. I have marks in my saltwater Brute that I measured at 5, 10 and 15 gallons. My set-up is same as OP - 75g display, 100g total volume.

I have 2 Brutes, one for RODI and the other for mixing salt water. I have wheels on both, but have since realized that I really only need wheels on the salt as I only move that one around to fill the tank.

I also weigh the salt as I add it. I’ve found it to be more consistent that way. For me, I use Tropic Marin Pro and 1350grams of salt in 10g of water gives me 1.025 salinity.

Each of my Brutes has its own pump. I use the one in the RODI to fill my ATO and to fill the salt water Brute. The one in the salt Brute mixes and fills the tank.

If I clean glass/seams and water test the prior day - water change, cleaning the skimmer, ATO top off and clean up only takes about 40 min. If I test and everting else along with water change it’s an hour and a half.

I’m working toward spreading things out through the week and not leaving it all to when I do the water change so I don’t have a big project on Saturday.

Jason Fox always sings the praises for water changes

 

[Frenchy]

I have a 75g DT and a 40g sump for a total of about 100g of water. I have a 40g Brute trashcan on the other side of the wall for ATO purposes. Right now I mix new saltwater 5g at a time in a bucket I have, which is a PITA. I need to simplify this somehow but have zero idea of how to go about it. I know I'll need another can for new saltwater, but how do you handle the plumbing and pumps and so on. I do not want or need an automatic water change, just something to keep from having to muck around with heavy buckets all the time.

What's worked for your system?

The key is a transfer pump so you never have to do any lifting. About $90 on Amazon. Runs on a DEWALT lower amp rechargeable 20 volt battery. Use 2 Rubbermaid cans and a Tunze utility pump as others have suggested. Works great for this old geezer.