Salt Water Mixing Stations Let's See Them

[Redman88]

Originally Posted by lnevo

So, my current station does RO on the left and SW mixing on the right. I'm working on sending my RO right to the ATO reservoir on my tank and therefore will have no need for a dedicated RO container. I plan on switching the RO output to both barrels with a diverter valve so I can mix new water in one barrel while the other acts as the feed for my auto water change system. Another diverter valve will switch the input for the new saltwater. I'm glad I'm already plumbed to mix in either barrel

Why not set it up so your tank tops of directly from the RO container.

[lnevo]

The setup is in the basement. By sending the RO line upstairs I can leverage that its already under pressure and head height won't make a difference.

[Deton8it]

This is probably a dumb question but please bear with me, I swear I am not trolling. Since I am off this week I am thinking of setting one of these up. Right now I just have 2 Brute cans out in the garage. One is empty, the other is full of RODI. I don't have a powerhead, heater, or anything in there. It's just water. I pull out about 2-3 gallons a day to top off my 5 tanks.

What is the pump for on all of these setups?
What is the benefit of having a powerhead in the Brute? Is circulation really needed in a tank of clean water?
Is the heater just to ensure your top-off water is close to tank water?

[lnevo]

The pump is for mixing salt water, moving between barrels and/or pumping water to tank for water changes.

[Redman88]

My RO sits on my unheated porch all year no heater. If your not making large volume changes the cold water isn't a problem. My pump can circlute between two tanks or top off my three tanks. Since I don't premix my salt water currently I have two tanks of RO that I use for top off on my three tanks two fresh and one salt.

[lapoolboy]

This is not my setup, but I am building one virtually identical and wanted feedback....

I initially thought I should add a valve and short section of hose from a tee at each tank outlet so that I can gravity drain water into buckets/jugs if I needed to.

Now that I think about it more, I can just use the valve and hose on the pump discharge pipe to deliver RODI or saltwater to the buckets/jugs under pressure if I wanted to.

My question is....if I was mixing/recirculating saltwater in the mixing tank before and I needed to fill a bucket with RODI for topoff, wouldn't a portion of the plumbing then be "contaminated" by saltwater if I dispense it this way?

That's why I originally wanted to install two valves at the tank outlets with short hoses on them. Of course, this would mean I would have to elevate the entire system up off the floor and onto some sort of stand. Thoughts?

[homebrewdude]

First try.
Not sure this is the pump I want to use.

[skeeter_ca]

Originally Posted by lapoolboy

This is not my setup, but I am building one virtually identical and wanted feedback....

I initially thought I should add a valve and short section of hose from a tee at each tank outlet so that I can gravity drain water into buckets/jugs if I needed to.

Now that I think about it more, I can just use the valve and hose on the pump discharge pipe to deliver RODI or saltwater to the buckets/jugs under pressure if I wanted to.

My question is....if I was mixing/recirculating saltwater in the mixing tank before and I needed to fill a bucket with RODI for topoff, wouldn't a portion of the plumbing then be "contaminated" by saltwater if I dispense it this way?

That's why I originally wanted to install two valves at the tank outlets with short hoses on them. Of course, this would mean I would have to elevate the entire system up off the floor and onto some sort of stand. Thoughts?

I have a gravity feed outlet for both my RO/DI reservoir and my saltwater mixing station. The platform is raised slightly off the floor to do this on the saltwater barrel and the RO/DI is stacked above it. I made sure I could use gravity because what if the pump goes out and I really need water for some reason. Gravity will never break so I can depend on it.

[jbm421]

All I can say is that there are tons of awesome creative ideas here for mixing stations. I will add mine as soon as it's completed! This site now that I have started utilizing it has helped me out a ton more than my local club. Thanks to everyone for sharing

[themaddhatter]

Anyone have a source for the containers here in Canada?

[reefjunkie86]

Originally Posted by themaddhatter

Anyone have a source for the containers here in Canada?

Here's a couple places I know of.

http://plastictanks.ca/catalog.php

http://www.ontarioagra.ca/products.html

Hope that helps.

Eric

[Redman88]

Originally Posted by themaddhatter

Anyone have a source for the containers here in Canada?

Find a place that does water filtration system and get a couple of used water softener brine tanks.

[UFO8MyCow]

You can always send an email to the tank manufacturers and ask for local distributors.

I was going to use Brine tanks but after their half way full they bow out so bad I didn't trust them

[Redman88]

Originally Posted by UFO8MyCow

You can always send an email to the tank manufacturers and ask for local distributors.

I was going to use Brine tanks but after their half way full they bow out so bad I didn't trust them

Haven't seen any bowing in my tanks

[themaddhatter]

Originally Posted by reefjunkie86

Here's a couple places I know of.

http://plastictanks.ca/catalog.php

http://www.ontarioagra.ca/products.html

Hope that helps.

Eric

Thank you, I'll try them out.

[themaddhatter]

Originally Posted by Redman88

Find a place that does water filtration system and get a couple of used water softener brine tanks.

That's actually going to be my likely outcome. I can get them for free because my company actually just started installing softeners. I like the look of the sealed containers and the premounted bulkheads. If I can get the 25 gal vertical polytanks for a decent price, I'll buy them. So far, around 110 each is what I'm getting.

[Pwnm30rdi3]

You guys have some awesome looking set-ups. Right now I'm just using 1 Brute container for both RO collection and Salt Mixing. The more I see in this thread, the more I want to make my own mixing station!

[Redman88]

Originally Posted by Pwnm30rdi3

You guys have some awesome looking set-ups. Right now I'm just using 1 Brute container for both RO collection and Salt Mixing. The more I see in this thread, the more I want to make my own mixing station!

Mine is up for sell. Needs new inter-tubes

[Tautoga]

Stupid question but how much volume of salt water do you guys think is best to have on hand? Enough for a 50% H2O change enough or should you have more?

Thanks

[themaddhatter]

Originally Posted by Tautoga

Stupid question but how much volume of salt water do you guys think is best to have on hand? Enough for a 50% H2O change enough or should you have more?

Thanks

I'd say that's a good guideline. More is better but the realities of available space may dictate how far you can go. I have a 93 cube (total volume probably around 100) , and I'm planning to go with 2 25 gallon Poly tanks. One for mix and one for RODI. In a pinch I can use the 25 gallons of salt water and immediately prepare another 25 to dump in . it won't be aged but chances are if the eventuality has arisen, that's the least of my worries...

[chilli_reef]

I'm pressed for space. (Live in a trailer)
So I use a 35g rubber made trash can for my rodi holding.
A small pump to pump that into a rubber made mixing tote (15g)
Same small pump to pump it to the DTS or sump. Same pump to put from the DTS or sump.
When I'm done the can stays put under the bar and the tote goes back in the closet.
The sink is in the bar right next to the tank so no buckets ! Just a 3/4" hose.

I make up what I need when I need it.
May not be the best but gotta do what I have to due to space.

[lapoolboy]

Finished mine today. Just need to get a GFCI receptacle installed so I can plug in and configure Apex Jr.

[Johnbarmy]

Looking to do something like these soon

[bboersma79]

Guys, thanks for all the info in this thread I am 99% complete with my mixing station and had two questions.

I have two stacked 32g brutes, top is RODI water bottom is salt water, feed the tank with Litermeter 3.

1)For the guys who dose Kalk, do you just let any excess calc water run into your salt mixing bucket if any is left at the time you need to make new saltwater? (I presume the mixing in the salt container would evaporate most of the Kalk anyways but wanted to make sure?

2) I have an Air Water Ice Typhoon RO/DI with ASOV, when my solenoid closes the clean water valve my Aquatec 8800 also turns off (I have the booster pump on the same power line with a splitter as the solenoid). pressure with pump on is 65-80PSI when pump is off the feedline pressure is ~40PSI, my ASOV does not seem to be working as I am still getting waste water after the solenoid closes and the booster turns off? Any ideas did I accidentially blowout the ASOV, is the best solution just to replace the ASOV (or perhaps the air water ice fast flush valve is the culprit?).

Thanks!

[Pwnm30rdi3]

I picked up two 55 gallon drums with removable lids today from Craigslist for $25 a piece. They were used for green pepper storage and fermentation, so food grade.

Going to order some plumbing and a panworld pump from BRS. Now I don't have to use the same trashcan for RO/DI and Salt.