Wave maker for saltwater mixing

[Frenchie12]

I’m in the process of setting up a saltwater mixing station (77 gallon container). I need some advice about what wave maker to use to mix the saltwater. I’m going to just buy used on marketplace but I’m thinking either one MP40 or using two Nero 3. What is your opinion or advice? The only reason I’m debating the two Nero 3 is I can place them different heights as the tank is decently high.

 

[Jasonak]

I use a jebao at the bottom it works great.

 

[Frenchie12]

I use a jebao at the bottom it works great.

Which one?

 

[bushdoc]

Simple circulation/return pump or Jebao is in my opinion way to go. MP40 is a bit overkill.

 

[mmorrison55]

How are you moving water into the storage tank?

You can just use the same pump to mix your saltwater.

In the below, my rodi storage tank is on the left and saltwater on the right. I use a return pump set between them and change valves to direct the water as needed. When I want to mix salt, I just recirculate the right tank in a closed loop for a few hours. Ive never had the need to add anything inside the tank to mix it up. I just loop it around for a few minutes before I need to actually use it to make sure I nothing has settled.

 

[Frenchie12]

Simple circulation/return pump or Jebao is in my opinion way to go. MP40 is a bit overkill.

Thank you. Always paid someone in the past to do my water changes etc. I’m just starting to mix my own salt and was just worried of the salt settling on the bottom on the barrel, it’s a 77 gallon.

 

[Frenchie12]

How are you moving water into the storage tank?

You can just use the same pump to mix your saltwater.

In the below, my rodi storage tank is on the left and saltwater on the right. I use a return pump set between them and change valves to direct the water as needed. When I want to mix salt, I just recirculate the right tank in a closed loop for a few hours. Ive never had the need to add anything inside the tank to mix it up. I just loop it around for a few minutes before I need to actually use it to make sure I nothing has settled.

This is an awesome setup. I plan to eventually get to this point however I’m terrible with plumbing. Do you have a list on the piping, elbows, bulkhead fitting etc that you used?

 

[Wu Wei Reefing]

I’m in the process of setting up a saltwater mixing station (77 gallon container). I need some advice about what wave maker to use to mix the saltwater. I’m going to just buy used on marketplace but I’m thinking either one MP40 or using two Nero 3. What is your opinion or advice? The only reason I’m debating the two Nero 3 is I can place them different heights as the tank is decently high.

Some big time overthinking. It’s mixing saltwater. Find the cheapest and be done. Probably the last thing I’d spend much money on.

 

[exnisstech]

What ever I have laying around which is currently a 10 yo tunze and an old hydor koralia. I don't recommend the koralia because all but this one left have leaked electricity. I have a hard time spending the money on vortechs for my tanks so they sure aren't going into my mixing barrel which is a simple 32g brute.

 

[Frenchie12]

Some big time overthinking. It’s mixing saltwater. Find the cheapest and be done. Probably the last thing I’d spend much money on.

I’m a huge over thinker haha. I also have been in this hobby for a very long time and at this point I just don’t mind paying for reliable equipment that I won’t have to replace in the near future and equipment I know will get the job done. Also, the thought process is also having a wave maker that can easily be temporarily transferred to my display if I have a failure on one running in the display. So yes big overthinking haha

 

[mmorrison55]

This is an awesome setup. I plan to eventually get to this point however I’m terrible with plumbing. Do you have a list on the piping, elbows, bulkhead fitting etc that you used?

PVC fittings.com is a good resource.

Buy PVC Fittings & Pipe at Wholesale Prices Online

Offering the LOWEST ONLINE PRICES on PVC Fittings as well as Plumbing Supplies – Piping, Valves & More. We Stock Schedule 40, Schedule 80, CPVC & Metal Products.

www.pvcfittingsonline.com

A lot will depend on your storage tanks and their opening sizes, and the pump you will be using and its incoming and outgoing size.

For reference, the valves are called true union ball valves on their website.

If I were to do it over and knowing now what I do, one change I would make would be to have a valve and outlet immediately at the RODI water exit, so that I could dispense clean RODI.

In my current set up, I only have one water outlet (in the middle with the silicone hose) and it’s shared by saltwater and rodi, so I either need to run a lot of rodi through it to ensure all the salt residue has been expelled from the line, or there will always be some minor trace of salt in any RODI water sample I may wish to obtain. So I would have an outlet near the rodi that never has salt water going through.

 

[Frenchie12]

PVC fittings.com is a good resource.

Buy PVC Fittings & Pipe at Wholesale Prices Online

Offering the LOWEST ONLINE PRICES on PVC Fittings as well as Plumbing Supplies – Piping, Valves & More. We Stock Schedule 40, Schedule 80, CPVC & Metal Products.

www.pvcfittingsonline.com

A lot will depend on your storage tanks and their opening sizes, and the pump you will be using and its incoming and outgoing size.

For reference, the valves are called true union ball valves on their website.

If I were to do it over and knowing now what I do, one change I would make would be to have a valve and outlet immediately at the RODI water exit, so that I could dispense clean RODI.

In my current set up, I only have one water outlet (in the middle with the silicone hose) and it’s shared by saltwater and rodi, so I either need to run a lot of rodi through it to ensure all the salt residue has been expelled from the line, or there will always be some minor trace of salt in any RODI water sample I may wish to obtain. So I would have an outlet near the rodi that never has salt water going through.

Thank you

 

[mmorrison55]

Besides the actual pvc pipe and any reducers to make the pipe fit the pump and storage tanks, I have the following in my set up.

4 ball valves

2 T’s

4 elbows

4 unions ( have unions everywhere so it’s easy to make adjustments and take apart as needed)

1 1 way check valve (to ensure no saltwater back flows into the rodi)

 

[TX_REEF]

why would you use an expensive pump just to mix saltwater: I use these: https://amzn.to/4sX9qhA

cheap, powerful and has magnet mount.

 

[Frenchie12]

Besides the actual pvc pipe and any reducers to make the pipe fit the pump and storage tanks, I have the following in my set up.

4 ball valves

2 T’s

4 elbows

4 unions ( have unions everywhere so it’s easy to make adjustments and take apart as needed)

1 1 way check valve (to ensure no saltwater back flows into the rodi)

Wha size in the piping? 1inch? I’m literally doing this asap

 

[Frenchie12]

why would you use an expensive pump just to mix saltwater: I use these: https://amzn.to/4sX9qhA

cheap, powerful and has magnet mount.

I had kind of explained earlier I’m a huge overthinking and the thought process is I always have a a good backup waver maker if my display ones fail. Easily transferable.

 

[mmorrison55]

I had a used spare Ecotech s2, so that’s what I used. It has a 1” opening and 3/4 output. So I made everything 1”. I got a 3/4 to 1” coupler so I could just use 1” everywhere.

But you can make it whatever size you want.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I used a basic Sicce Return Pump, granted I was only mixing 5g buckets

 

[Frenchie12]

I had a used spare Ecotech s2, so that’s what I used. It has a 1” opening and 3/4 output. So I made everything 1”. I got a 3/4 to 1” coupler so I could just use 1” everywhere.

But you can make it whatever size you want.

Thank you again

 

[Frenchie12]

I had a used spare Ecotech s2, so that’s what I used. It has a 1” opening and 3/4 output. So I made everything 1”. I got a 3/4 to 1” coupler so I could just use 1” everywhere.

But you can make it whatever size you want.

Last question, what type of bulkhead should I be getting? Threaded? Slip?