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View Full Version : Please show off your water storage/mixing stations!!


Z-Man07
04/16/2007, 03:52 PM
Hey, all!! Let's spit out the humble pie and show off!!

I have no possibility of an equipment room. I want to build a shelf in my garage just to house my extra supplies and to create a dedicated space for water storage and mixing. I am going back to the big sandbox soon and I want to make things as simple as possible for my wife.

So here I am phishing for ideas. I have an old scratched up 55gal acrylic tank that could be incorporated into the works.

Please show your stuff!!!


Thanks,

cward
04/16/2007, 08:36 PM
Here's mine. It's a 55g drum with a Little Giant pump used for mixing. There's a drain on the bottom that dumps directly into the sump and a ball valve on the opposite end of the sump that drains into my floor drain. I have a float valve on the top tied into my RO/DI system.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/586/30741equipment-room-004-med.jpg

fio1022
04/16/2007, 08:56 PM
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y255/fio1086/CIMG0091.jpg

BrainBandAid
04/16/2007, 09:09 PM
~100 gal tank, 12 gal trashcan. (still in progress, obviously)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brainbandaid/Aquarium%20Pictures/DSCF0610.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/brainbandaid/Aquarium%20Pictures/DSCF0613.jpg

There's a float switch connected to a relay, so when I flip one switch, it fills the can with RO/DI water until it gets to the fill float, turns the water off, and turns on a heater and powerhead. Small valve at the bottom dumps it into the sump.
The piece of grey 8in. sch80 PVC next to it is the RO/DI top-off reservoir connected to a float valve in the sump. It has two float switches in it for filling automatically.

hahnmeister
04/17/2007, 12:59 AM
I forgot... what about that trashcan thing where there is a tube in the center... the whole idea is that the two chamber design prevents the constant on/off every time the ATO kicks in.

Z-Man07
04/17/2007, 04:59 AM
Thanks for the replies! I am also interested to see how everyone is plumbing the two vessels together. Quite ingenious from ones that I have seen earlier.

RENE
04/17/2007, 09:12 PM
WOW!! keep them commin

Matt Rise
04/17/2007, 09:21 PM
My salt water mixing trash can. $10 Rubbermaid can at Wal Mart (32 gallons) The Mag 7 will mix it, and pump it to the tank.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/matt_rise/HPIM0489.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/matt_rise/HPIM0490.jpg

RokleM
04/17/2007, 09:35 PM
http://mad-skillz.com/aquarium/03.22.2007-2.jpg

RO/DI is on the left with a ball valve on the bottom. One small line at the top is RO/DI feed, the second is the topoff (line goes all the way to the bottom of the 55 gallon), which goes to my GEO kalk, which goes to a float switch in my sump.

On the bottom by the ball valve, there is a T. One goes down a few inches (not shown) with another ball valve and stops. This lets me manually grab a small amount of RO/DI whenever I need it. The second half of the T goes through the clear tube and to a Maxi-Jet which shoots the water via a flick of a switch into my salt mixing container on the right.

The salt mixing container is then gravity feed via dual ball valves for safety (with another manual tap just like the RO/DI for a small amount of water) via 1/2" spaflex directly into the sump.

All in all, took little to no time to put together and less than 60 seconds of work for water changes.

Z-Man07
04/18/2007, 06:53 AM
Thanks a lot. This is exactly what I was looking for.

RokleM: Where did you get those storage tanks? Those are nice!! Where they very expensive? I had thought about a system to let me extract small amounts of water also. Thank you.

Keep them coming!! The more ideas the better.

RokleM
04/18/2007, 07:12 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9755344#post9755344 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Z-Man07
RokleM: Where did you get those storage tanks? Those are nice!! Where they very expensive? I had thought about a system to let me extract small amounts of water also. Thank you.

The left one is from usplastics, the right one I can't remember the name. I originally had two of the one on the right (25 gallons), but needed more RO/DI due to the rate of topoff. The one on the left from usplastics hold 60ish. Expensive, not really. More expensive than a brute trashcan, yes. I wanted to maximize the amount of water storage (just enough room to get the lid off the left one), almost completely seal the container, and retain the ability to see through the unit since I can't really open the top and look in. My freezer is actually underneath the stand ;)

Z-Man07
04/18/2007, 07:33 AM
Thank your very much, RokleM. With having to make my station remote (in the garage) I want to make it really simple since I will still be carrying the water to and from. I simply don't have the room near my tank to plumb in to the sump I will have. (I am upgrading to a 120g DT with a 75g sump this week.) -It will be a few weeks before it is up and running though.

My main goal right now is to make things as simple as possible for my wife while I am deployed. I have a few friends that can check up on the tank, but I don't want to burden them with doing all my top off and water changes too.

Thanks again!

Ausie_fish
04/18/2007, 08:03 AM
Here is a Picture of my NSW (Natural salt water) storage tank, it is plumbed directly into my sump

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/382451449_6f939f9729.jpg

It's capacity is 3000 litres (about 660 Imperial gallons)

medic29
04/18/2007, 10:02 AM
Good thing it doesn't get cold there. Wow!!!

hahnmeister
04/18/2007, 10:48 AM
C'mon guys... doesnt anyone remember what I am talking about with the ATO bucket that has a two chamber design... one is designed to float inside the other, and the effect is that the R/O doesnt keep kicking in every time the ATO pump runs?!?!? I know there is a site selling these things... cant remember the name though. Cool idea, simple to make.

FuzzyLogic
04/18/2007, 11:29 AM
Are you talking about Weatherson's ATO system? Linky (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=275455)

hahnmeister
04/18/2007, 11:55 AM
Thats a good one, but thats not it. Its a large drum, with a smaller drum inside... The water gets drawn from the smaller, inner drum or something, so it floats, but the main float doesnt come on until one of the chambers is empty, so rather than the ATO valve going on and off all day, it only comes on once a week. I forget exactly how it works, but I mention it because I was hoping someone might remember.

hahnmeister
04/18/2007, 12:02 PM
Ahhh.... weatherson did provide pics of the style unit Im talking about though within his thread on his design... thanks FuzzyLogic, that helped me out...
http://www.weatherson.com/photos/AWI-AntiTDSCreep.jpg

But now that I see how both work, I like weatherson's idea better! Thanks again Fuzzy... youve helped simplify my new system.

Pbrown3701
04/18/2007, 12:19 PM
i never really understood how the 2 drum one above works. It's hard to tell from the pics. care to explain han?

Pbrown3701
04/18/2007, 12:27 PM
My ATO/mixing "station" (don't have pics) consists of 2 reservoirs. One is a 15gal rubbermaid for RO/DI water ATO. THe other is a 40gal-ish rubbermaid for SW mixing.

THere is a float valve in both and the RO/DI filter feeds both containers so they are always full.

When the SW container is full, i add the salt and do the water change by pumping new SW out into the sump. THen the reservoir refills automatically so i just wait until it's full and start again.

The ATO reservoir simply sits beside the tank and water is automatically pulled from it and forced through the Kalk reactor on its way to the tank.

I really like having both hooked directly to the filter though so that i never have to worry with it. THe only thing that is hard about my setup is knowing how the filter is performing as i almost never see it running. THus, when flow is decreased, I usually don't know imediatly which causes me to waste some water when it becomes time to change the filters. I try to stay on a strict schedule of filter changes to avoid this issue

Z-Man07
04/18/2007, 12:35 PM
Yes, please explain Hahn. I don't understand at all how that system works.

Thanks,

Bebo77
04/18/2007, 12:44 PM
here is mine.. its a 25g water change chamber that is built into my sump... i dont have a fish room like all you other people so i had to make it all work under my tank...

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a60/Bebo77/FinalSump-1.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a60/Bebo77/sump11.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a60/Bebo77/sump10.jpg

kenny77
04/18/2007, 02:25 PM
Bebo77this you made your self that sump? that is a piece of art right there. it look that you plan it very well.

If I have a Ro/DI unit, All I need is to can and a pump for each one. the RO water wil go to the firt can for storage then the second one for mixing and the to the sump? is that it??

hahnmeister
04/18/2007, 03:48 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9757647#post9757647 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Z-Man07
Yes, please explain Hahn. I don't understand at all how that system works.

Thanks,

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9757362#post9757362 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
... I forget exactly how it works, but I mention it because I was hoping someone might remember.

Z-Man07
04/18/2007, 05:39 PM
I disticntly remember reading that part too. p)

Well, Hahnmeister... you have piqued our curiosity now. We just need someone who knows how it works to chime in.

H20ENG
04/18/2007, 06:07 PM
Weathersons design holds a volume of water in a sealed suspended chamber inside the main reservoir, like holding your thumb over a straw full of water. When the water level in the chamber drops enough to allow the siphon to break, the water drains out, allowing the inlet float valve to open, and refill the container.

Walters design fills a small inner pipe via a float valve. This inner pipe has a float on the bottom to release it into the outer larger chamber. The lower float holds closed as the outer tank drains. This maintains the upper fill float in the closed position. Once the outer tank drains enough to open the lower float, the inner pipe drains out the lower float and this allows the upper fill float to open.

Clear as mud? :lol:

Both very smart setups though!

Mine will use my PLC and some float switches, only because I already have it and like to tinker:

The DI reservoir will have 2 floats and an overflow standpipe that flows to my salt mixing tank.

The normal operation will turn on the DI system when the lower float switch makes, and turn it off when the upper switch makes.

When I want to make salt, I'll push one button and this will override the upper float and turn on the DI. The DI tank will overflow and thus fill the mixing tank.

When the mixing tank upper float switch makes, it will turn off the DI, and turn on the mixing pump and heater. Then I add the salt.

When ready to transfer the mix, I open the valve to the sump. Once the lower float switch opens in the mix tank, the pump and heater shut off.

Any other suggestions?
Chris

Pbrown3701
04/18/2007, 06:27 PM
that makes perfect sense. I couldn't see the bottom float valve on there....

mflamb
04/18/2007, 07:30 PM
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p117/mflamb/132223Step3CompleteBarrelConnection.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p117/mflamb/DSC00197.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p117/mflamb/DSC00191-1.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p117/mflamb/DSC00190.jpg

hahnmeister
04/18/2007, 08:21 PM
Ahh... there are two float valves... forgot that part. Yeah, I like weatherson's method... less moving parts and you can impliment the mechanism in any size/shape container.

BrainBandAid
04/18/2007, 09:45 PM
I use the two float switch method... I'll admit my logic may be flawed, but I didn't like the idea of relying on one of those cheap air-line check-valves.
Also, using float switches (and a relay) allows me to use a solenoid valve on the inlet to my RO/DI to further reduce TDS creep. Two more solenoid valves allow me to automate both ATO reservoir and water change bucket.

H20ENG
04/18/2007, 09:51 PM
Brain,
I got a lot of good control panel components during my stint at the WWTPs :) Once I even got a full case of brand new 42" UVC lamps from a pilot study. One mans trash...

BrainBandAid
04/18/2007, 10:51 PM
Yeah, I may actually have to rename my aquarium the "<Town> Public Aquarium" with all the time and materials I've.. ah.. acquired.


(municipality name withheld to protect the innocent)


and hahnmeister, that's the quote of the month!

Rich_1833
04/18/2007, 11:07 PM
Im lost . I might be doing it wrong but I have One 55g drum that I fill with RO/DI water, I have a float in there but turn it off after it filled. Then I mix my salt, then I add as needed and to my water changes. Why does everyone have two tanks of water. And it sounds like people are topping of with just RO/DI water and not salt.

hahnmeister
04/18/2007, 11:12 PM
One for mixing fresh saltwater and letting it sit for 24 hours or so, and the other for the RO/DI top-off.

BrainBandAid
04/18/2007, 11:21 PM
When water evaporates from your tank, it leaves the salt behind.
The amount of salt in your tank will never change, basically (unless it's physically removed, by either a water change or when it's dried and you throw it away).

When you replace the evaporated pure water with salt water, you're pretty much increasing the percentage of salt. Maybe you don't lose enough water between water changes to notice.

Rich_1833
04/18/2007, 11:27 PM
So you use RO/DI water for top off and Saltwater for water changes.

I have been useing saltwater for top off's but I guess Im wrong.

Matt Rise
04/18/2007, 11:33 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9762597#post9762597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rich_1833
So you use RO/DI water for top off and Saltwater for water changes.

I have been useing saltwater for top off's but I guess Im wrong.

Dang! Check the salinity of your tank! :eek:

Rich_1833
04/18/2007, 11:43 PM
Its right on the money. I add a little on Wed. and do a water change every Sunday.

Z-Man07
04/19/2007, 05:32 AM
Does wet skimming remove saltwater? I think that it would. You would need to top off with a very low salinty mix to replace the amount skimmed and the amount that evaporated. Could this be true? Opinions?

H20ENG
04/19/2007, 03:01 PM
Does wet skimming remove saltwater?

Yes:)

FishyBiz
04/19/2007, 04:05 PM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/FishyBiz/0802061522.jpg

Pbrown3701
04/19/2007, 04:32 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9762655#post9762655 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rich_1833
Its right on the money. I add a little on Wed. and do a water change every Sunday.

Rich - it would be better to go ahead and start using RO/DI for top off water - which should be obvious now.

However, if you are doing fairly large and consistant water changes, then you will always be bringing the tank back to the proper salinity. You basically are concentrating the salt throughout the week and then diluting it back when you do your water change. It will work this way but it's better for system stability to use RO/DI.

Some folks use 2 peristaltic pumps (dual head rather) and constantly remove and add saltwater to their system and never worry with ATO. The idea is that over time, the salinity of the tank will converge towards the salinity of the water being added.

xinumaster
04/19/2007, 05:04 PM
My project for next month is to install my continuous swc system that I planed.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r83/xinumaster/fish-tank/continuous-water-change-system.jpg

clekchau
04/19/2007, 06:10 PM
love the design xinumaster

Fishie Nut
04/20/2007, 11:13 AM
GREAT DESIGN!

luv my garden
04/21/2007, 06:58 AM
Very informative thread. Thanks everyone.

Xin, is there a reason for the sump return to main tank to be on the same side as the inlet from the main? I have mine returning from the same side as the skimmer. Does it matter? Of course I don't have auto anything yet.

xinumaster
04/21/2007, 11:28 AM
Both main drain (using durso pipe) and return pipes are connected to their on bulkhead in the same overflow box but are totally seperate from each other. water in the overflow box goes in the main drain durso pipe to sump. While return pipes traverse thru the overflow then water goes out and into the main tank.

JeffSBCA
04/21/2007, 06:30 PM
I apoligize for the slight OT question...

BrainBandAid... I see you are using an Oceanus RO/DI filter. I have the same unit that I bought a few years back from ARS. Where do you get your replacement micron/carbon/DI filters from? I can't seen to find ARS on the web anymore.

-Jeff

just dave
04/21/2007, 07:24 PM
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/59396Jason_making_water.JPG


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/59396water_11.JPG

BrainBandAid
04/21/2007, 07:48 PM
And I thought my water bill was high! :eek2:
Very nicely done, dave.


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9782507#post9782507 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JeffSBCA
I apoligize for the slight OT question...

BrainBandAid... I see you are using an Oceanus RO/DI filter. I have the same unit that I bought a few years back from ARS. Where do you get your replacement micron/carbon/DI filters from? I can't seen to find ARS on the web anymore.

-Jeff

I believe ARS is no more... but the filters are all standard 10" sizes. I haven't replaced mine yet, (bought it on ebay) but plan on just getting a standard kit from somewhere.

JeffSBCA
04/21/2007, 10:09 PM
just dave... impressive! How big is your tank? I can't seem to find your tank stats posted. I love big setups.

just dave
04/21/2007, 10:46 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9783869#post9783869 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JeffSBCA
just dave... impressive! How big is your tank? I can't seem to find your tank stats posted. I love big setups.


Tank?

Did we have to have an aquarium to be in this thread?

I just have the water system.:smokin:



I have a store in this is the system I use at the shop.

virginiadiver69
04/22/2007, 02:48 PM
Thanks for starting this thread. I am just getting ready to set my water making/mixing station and you guys have given me some great ideas.

HBtank
04/22/2007, 05:17 PM
^^ same here, thanks