Salt Water Mixing Stations Let's See Them!!

[EddieM]

Here is mine. I use a Panworld pump to mix the water as well as move it upstairs for water changes. The tank on the left has the fresh RODI water and is also used for top off (via a Spectrapure Litermeter). The tank on the right is my mixing tank.

 

[Scott.h]

Here is mine. I use a Panworld pump to mix the water as well as move it upstairs for water changes. The tank on the left has the fresh RODI water and is also used for top off (via a Spectrapure Litermeter). The tank on the right is my mixing tank.

Where did you get those containers? Been looking for some stand up ones like that.

 

[Scott.h]

Until I find more attractive stand up containers, but I'll admit using gravity to fill trash cans (marked per 5 gal increments on the inside) with the cans on wheels works ok.

 

[radiata]

Is anyone using "IBC Totes" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediate_bulk_container) for water storage?

A 275 gallon container for $50 looks pretty good to me (http://www.ibctoterecycling.com/advert/jersey-city/). The seller is close to me, but there seem to be used IBC sites all over the country...

The above referenced used IBCs were preciously used to ship "Bacto agar". Any potential toxicity doesn't especially concern me - the agar was actually derived from seaweed.

 

[Current Aquatics]

Here is my set up. Could clean up the lines but it works for now.

Here is my set up. Could clean up the lines but it works for now.

It's nice to see a liter meter. A rare item it seems. I have been using one since 2002.

 

[BNR210]

This is what the hubby and I have come up with so far.

The pipe goes through the ceiling and plumbed through the wall into the cabinet where I can fill up my ato reserve tank from the ro/di tank on the left or pump in newly made saltwater into my sump from the tank on the right with a turn of a valve.

 

[EddieM]

Where did you get those containers? Been looking for some stand up ones like that.

http://www.plastic-mart.com/product/15718/duracast-900056

 

[s2nhle]

Wow, very awesome.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Until I find more attractive stand up containers, but I'll admit using gravity to fill trash cans (marked per 5 gal increments on the inside) with the cans on wheels works ok.

I would lose that brass fitting on there!

 

[saltyhog]

This is what the hubby and I have come up with so far.

The pipe goes through the ceiling and plumbed through the wall into the cabinet where I can fill up my ato reserve tank from the ro/di tank on the left or pump in newly made saltwater into my sump from the tank on the right with a turn of a valve.

With this set up will you not pump a significant amount of salt water in to your ATO reservoir? After pumping fresh salt water there could be a gallon or two of salt water in the common line when you change over to RO/DI couldn't there be?

 

[Scott.h]

I would lose that brass fitting on there!

I did. The second membrane fitting was broken out of the box. I rigged that elbow for a few days until they sent me a new one. It still had to go through the DI though. Very perceptive though.

 

[JoeIII]

With this set up will you not pump a significant amount of salt water in to your ATO reservoir? After pumping fresh salt water there could be a gallon or two of salt water in the common line when you change over to RO/DI couldn't there be?

I cannot speak for BNR210, but in my setup I have a fitting at the lowest point that allows me to drain the common lines when switching. I found if I flushed the lines with water it took almost 5 gallons before the output started coming up 0TDS, and my setup is fairly compact.

 

[JessH]

In case anyone is looking for the Ace Roto tanks, Rural king will ship the 55 gallon one for free. I did email them to double check that it did indeed qualify for free shipping.

http://www.ruralking.com/ace-roto-mold-rectangle-utility-tank-sp0055-mm.html

 

[USMA36]

Would you mind explaining your plumbing set up in some detail? I am looking to set up a similar system.

This is what the hubby and I have come up with so far.

The pipe goes through the ceiling and plumbed through the wall into the cabinet where I can fill up my ato reserve tank from the ro/di tank on the left or pump in newly made saltwater into my sump from the tank on the right with a turn of a valve.

 

[saltyhog]

I cannot speak for BNR210, but in my setup I have a fitting at the lowest point that allows me to drain the common lines when switching. I found if I flushed the lines with water it took almost 5 gallons before the output started coming up 0TDS, and my setup is fairly compact.

Thank you, that was my concern.

I think I'm going to go with a very similar set up but move the valves controlling water from the tanks to the pump as close to the pump as possible and then place a "T" in the effluent from the pump as close to the pump as possible and run two lines (one for RO/DI and one for salt water). Two extra valves and and extra line but worth it for me.

What do you do with the water than you drain when switching back and forth?

 

[BNR210]

Thank you, that was my concern.

I think I'm going to go with a very similar set up but move the valves controlling water from the tanks to the pump as close to the pump as possible and then place a "T" in the effluent from the pump as close to the pump as possible and run two lines (one for RO/DI and one for salt water). Two extra valves and and extra line but worth it for me.

What do you do with the water than you drain when switching back and forth?

I do have drains below the level of the pump (see pic below), but I don't use them when I'm switching back and forth. However I didn't really think about saltwater remaining in the pipes because after I do a water change I immediately run/transfer 50-60 gallons of RO/DI from the storage tank into the saltwater tank which I assumed pushed any remaining water in the pipes into the saltwater tank. I have a 210 display tank and a 5 gallon ato reservoir so 1 or 2 gallons of really diluted saltwater in the ato reservoir hasn't affected the level of salt in my display tank.

 

[BNR210]

Would you mind explaining your plumbing set up in some detail? I am looking to set up a similar system.

Yes I would love to however I will have to do it tomorrow. I'm running off a couple hours sleep right now and have to get up early so I have to call it a night.

Thank you for your interest. [emoji16]

 

[Frop]

Step One) Fill the 5 gallon. And manually move waste water into washing machine.

Step Two) Add salt, heater, and power head into bucket.

Step Three) White 5 gallon jugs are waste water only. Remove and then add..

Here are my two Brute trash cans. Do you think they can hold enough water?

 

[s2nhle]

It depends on your tank size. how big are your trash cans?

 

[Finatik]

This is a great thread ! But I have a question...
For those of you using the containers that only have the small little black 6" circular port-hole on top, rather than a full size removable lid, How do you clean the container and keep it free from build up over time ?