RO/DI system

[NYCxBRVCE]

i'm currently filling up my 120 gallon tank + sump with RO/DI water. My tank is close enough that I can connect everything and have it drip directly in my tank. My question is, is this efficient at all? Its a super slow process as some of you know. I'm worried that it will cause evaporatiom due to the large footprint of the tank and basically making it slower than just dripping it into a 5g and pouring it when its full. This sure does save me time as I dont have to lug around 5 gallon buckets all day, and I can also leave it overnight to fill up even faster.

 

[ahiggins]

lol I can imagine!
I wish I had that when I was filling my dinky 40 gallon! I'm guessing you're going to slowly add salt and mix it later? If your water is on the colder side, evaporation will be slower. If you could somehow cover the top of the tank, you may be able to eliminate it all together.

 

[dragon99]

It should be making way more than evaporation can overcome. Even a 50gpd RODI should make 1-2 gals per hour and the 120g tank shouldn't evaporate more than 1-2gal per day.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Evaporation will be the same regardless if it's a bucket or a tank. If you were aerating or agitating the surface it would be increased.

 

[NYCxBRVCE]

Evaporation will be the same regardless if it's a bucket or a tank. If you were aerating or agitating the surface it would be increased.

So I shouldn't aeriate it? I have a very small pump with airline at the bottom agitating the water and the RO/DI line is also dripping from the top of the tank making small movement, should I remove the airline?

 

[NYCxBRVCE]

lol I can imagine!
I wish I had that when I was filling my dinky 40 gallon! I'm guessing you're going to slowly add salt and mix it later? If your water is on the colder side, evaporation will be slower. If you could somehow cover the top of the tank, you may be able to eliminate it all together.

I add salt about every hour or so, and mix it around in the tank a bit, I also measure the salinity with a refractometer. I dont make sure its perfect but close enough so I just have to make a small adjustment at the end when its full. Its a slow process alright! But I know RO/DI is the only way to go as a reef has to be perfect from the beginning

 

[AZDesertRat]

I would get it full then add a large power head/wavemaker or two with at least one pointed towards the surface then slowly add the salt over a couple hours so it does not flash and settle out.

 

[mtraylor]

Once your water gets deep enough, put power head in there. Also you can upgrade your RODI to 125GPD at bulk reef supply for fairly cheap. It will speed up process.