Barrel Calibration

[RichT]

Anyone who was lucky enough to get one or more of these (http://www.njreefers.org/forums/index.php/topic,797.0.html) barrels quickly realized they don't have volume marks. So for those of you who haven't marked yours yet, hopefully this will help.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a349/RichTyn/Main/BarrelCalibration002.jpg

Inches from Floor / Gallons
32-1/2"....= 60g
29-3/4"....= 55g
27"..........= 50g
24-1/2"....= 45g
22"..........= 40g
19-1/4"....= 35g
16-3/4"....= 30g
14-1/4"....= 25g
11-3/4"....= 20g
9"............= 15g
6-5/8"......= 10g
3-3/4"......= 5g
Floor........= 0g


Method:
•calibrated 1 gallon jug with measuring cup
•calibrated 5 gallon bucket with 1 gallon jug
•calibrated barrel with 5 gallon bucket

I had anticipated an even 3" per 5g but I guess the ribs and deflection of the barrel side caused the unevenness in the measurements.

HTH

[panmanmatt]

Thanks Rich. I as gonna try to do that myself but you just saved me all the trouble.

The raised bottome probably has a lot to do with the difference from what you had thought. The bottom is about 1 -1/2 inches from the floor on the inside.

[blange3]

That's great Rich, but you really got too much time on your hands!

Gotta love these barrels though!

[RichT]

Glad to help guys.
I had to fix 2 #'s though.
Typo on the 5g mark and re-rounded the 55g mark.

Bill, I only had like 2" of snow to shovel today so I had some spare time. :lol:

[concept3]

guess that's what I'll be doing as soon as I finish my 2 hour commute home!

I'm closing the store an hour early today.... I hope I don't get fired tomorrow for that, LOL

[Reefdrumz]

Awesome Rich! That's going to come in handy.

[tony13]

Wow,Thanks Rich. You saved me alot of time.
Tony

[momof6kids]

Thanks a lot Rich, you just saved me some time.

We had about 18" of snow and Doug is not allowed to shovel anymore, with just having the angioplasty done. So, the kids and I shoveled our 180' driveway. We really need to get a snowblower. But, you know snow only comes in the winter, stuff for the fish tank you can appreciate all year long. :D

[Phyl]

Thanks for posting that Rich. I'm pleasantly suprised that they hold more than the stated 55g.

We just guestimated that each of the bands was roughly around the 10g mark and that getting to the top was about the 55g spot.

Why the need to be so accurate?

And speaking of the snow... what's with schools being closed almost 24 hours after a snowfall?! We're home today. Looks like I'll get a chance to run that snowblower after all.

[RichT]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6729166#post6729166 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Phyl
Why the need to be so accurate?


Repressed Engineer I guess.

[Hef]

I guess this is a reason to Read that Other Forum. Sure wish I had a big white bucket. :(

[Phyl]

The big white buckets RULE! I have 2 now.

[RichT]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6730268#post6730268 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hef
I Sure wish I had a big white bucket. :(

Keep an eye on the "other forum". Jess said he will post when he gets more. You should get in line now. His last batch seemed to go fast once we were on to him.

[tony13]

Fruits of Rich's labor.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c307/tonyhibert13/IMG_1215.jpg

[RichT]

You know your a member of a "special" group when you get excited over plastic barrels with magic marker marks. :lol:

VIVA LA REEF!!!!!!

[Hef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6741201#post6741201 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichT
You know your a member of a "special" group when you get excited over plastic barrels with magic marker marks. :lol:

VIVA LA REEF!!!!!!

Or when you get bummed when you simply dont have one.

[concept3]

I'd give you mine, Hef, but I live in it, LOL

[whitesquall]

u da man.

[jer1198]

don't worry hef,i don't have a bucket either,and i'd like a bucket or too also, im dreaming of the day.......

[Hef]

Got me a 55 gallon Bucket in the back seat of my Bonneville.
Oh Happy Days.

[Hef]

So how is everyone using their Buckets. Just got mine in place yesterday, got about 30 gal. in it so far, still filling.

I guess if I had a perfect situation here, I would use it to just store clean RO water. I'm very limited with space, so I would like to mix salt in with it, and have 50 gallons of stored salt water. I like to do smaller water changes, maybe 15 gallons. I would then fill it back up and add enough salt to bring it back to 1.025, and continue that process. I figure I would always have enough for that quick emergency Big Water Change.

The only down side I see to this is putting salt into that nice clean barrel.

Anyone have an opinion.

So if anyone is wondering, if you've been to my house, the barrel is right behind the wall behind the Tank. Where the Washing/Dryer used to be. The Wife was quite surpised when she came home yesterday to see this big barrel permanently placed in the house. I just told her it's better than the Rubbermaid Garbage Can I bring into the living room every week.
I need to contruct a small cabinet around the barrel somehow. Any good ideas on that?

[blange3]

I use mine to mix salt in. I mix it a full batch at a time and empty and clean between each batch to get rid of any buildup of undissolved stuff and that famous Reef Crystals slime!

I bought 2 of Rosko's 14 gallon drums. I'm going to use one for RO for my freshwater and one for RO/DI. I'll keep those topped off. I'm thinking of putting them on a shelf above the 55 gallon and plumbing them right to the filter unit. I'll use uniseals at the bottom to put a drain to run RO/DI right into the 55 when I need to mix.

[JohnS_323]

I have one of them filled with RO/DI that is just there for emergencies. The other one is tied to a float switch in my sump and is used for auto top-offs. It is also tied to my RO/Di unit so that it remains full.

I do all of my salt mixing in garbage cans. I have one of them tied to my RO/DI as well. It automatically fills with water. I salt it and heat and use it for regular water changes.

[radiata]

RichT,

Thank you for your efforts...

What media did you use to write on the Barrels with? Was it something special (I have a marker somewhere that writes on Nalgene) or just a plain vanilla Magic Marker?

TIA,
Bob D.

[RichT]

I used a red sharpie aka a cherry magic marker :D

[Hef]

Black Sharpie here.
Update on the use of my Barrel.
What a great thing it is. I decided to mix the salt in it, so I keep 55 gallons of clean Salt Water in it. I keep a Mag 9 sitting at the bottom, it's on a timer and turns on Twice per day, and runs for about an hour each time.
WATER CHANGES -
Down to about 10 minutes total for an approx 20 gallon change. And Get This....Not a drop of water on the living room floor. The wife is happy, AND there are no Garbage cans in the living room!

I turn a valve on the Closed loop to drain 20 gallons, then turn on a power head in the Barrel that is plumbed to the sump. Takes a few minutes to fill, I had to learn to break the siphon after turning off the pump, it just kept flowing.

I then refill the barrel with RO/DI Water, add a premeasured amount of salt and get it ready for next weeks water change.

I no longer put off the water changes because it's so easy now.

A Happy Barrel Owner:)