Best way to transfer Salt

chicken · 10/27/2008, 10:25 PM

Hi, I am trying to figure out a way to get salt from the buckets to my mix up tank. Its a 900g tank that sits in an insulated covered bump out on the side of my filter shed for my large system. The problem is that I hurt my back a few weeks ago and today I need to lift up the roof on the bump out covering the mix up tank (~125 lbs) and then haul up 5 buckets of salt. Lets just say my back is hurting every time I have to do this. I was wondering if anyone has any good ideas on how I could transfer the salt from the buckets directly into the tank without having to literally dump them into the tank. I have seen vacuum setups at like Costco where they roast coffee beans and then transfer them from one container to another with a vacuum hose. Anyone seen any setup like this or have any other ideas? Thanks

BeanAnimal · 10/27/2008, 10:57 PM

There are several ways you could do this.

1) use compressed air and a venturi to create suction. The venturi would go at the placement location and the suction hose on the salt bucket.

2) use a modified shop vac to pull the salt up and dump it into the tank. If you want to get crazy, combine 1 and 2 and create a cyclonic type "dust collector" to suck the material up to your level and let it drop out on its own (no bucket to empty at the top).

3) use air pressure to push the salt to the placement location. You likely need a fluffer to get keep it moving and will need to consider safety precautions to prevent catastrophic failure.

4) Build a lifting aid using a block and tackle system. Easier than it sounds really.

BeanAnimal · 10/27/2008, 11:00 PM

Option 1 and 2 are also easier than they sound. A bit of thought and research and you should be fine.

The biggest problem is going to be moisture and somehow cleaning the tools up when you are done so that the do not cake up.

http://books.google.com/books?id=QQ9...sult#PPA225,M1

chicken · 10/27/2008, 11:08 PM

Bean, Thanks for the info. I am also trying to figure out a way to hoist up the roof easier. The buckets are not a big deal, its just the roof. Its about 9'x4' and hinged along the long side against the shed. Between the structure of the roof and the shingles its about 125-150 lbs I suspect. Its not an any thing to open and close, little alone safe. I was originally going to do some sort of rigging to open and close it but have just not been able to find the hardware I need. Any ideas on how I could do that? I'll grab a picture of the shed tomorrow so you have an idea of what I am dealing with. Thanks!

BeanAnimal · 10/27/2008, 11:20 PM

Sure... post some photos. There are plenty of ways to easily automate your roof.

chicken · 10/28/2008, 01:21 PM

Bean,
Here is a quick shot of the side of the bump out where my mix up tank is. The tank is a 900g tank (120" x 36" D x 48" T) The bump out is slightly larger as it is wrapped in 4" of ridged foam for insulation.

I was thinking of trying to use an electric hoist I picked up from harbor freight and mount it on the side of the shed and then run a cable up to a pulley on the upper shed roof but I just don't think I have a good enough angle to up the lower roof. My friend had an idea about building a track inside the bump out on top of the tank that an arm could ride in that could be pulled to push up the roof from the inside. I like that idea but have not been able to find any reasonably priced hardware to do this. Thanks!!

kcress · 10/28/2008, 01:51 PM

How about some lift gate spring/pneumatic rods? The purpose would be to make that roof seem like it weights only 2 or 3 pounds instead of its full weight.

murphysfish · 10/28/2008, 01:53 PM

super cool

chicken · 11/02/2008, 02:17 AM

Anyone know a place that sells life gate rods that list them by size and weight they can lift? All I can seem to find is look-ups based on car models. Thanks!

dots · 11/02/2008, 04:24 AM

I would look into Barn Door track and roll that thing out of your way.

Your salt, to make it as cheap/easy/no lifting as possible.......I would take something like a Brute trashcan on the ground. Add your salt all into the trashcan, pull a siphon off the tank and let gravity work for you dumping the water in the can, set a pump (figure a big Mag or something), lay the pump on the salt with another PH inside the can on top mixing the salt little by little.

As the salt disolves little by little, both pumps drop down to the bottom of the can. By adding the ever popular ball valves, you can play "submarine" and adjust the flow rates of the influent, effluent, and the water level in the can.

With a little tuning you should be able to put all your salt in, turn it on and wait for it to be all transfered and mixed at the same time.

BeanAnimal · 11/02/2008, 08:42 AM

Not a bad idea DOTS...

As far as "lift" options... there are a dozen ways to skin that cat.

Car hood hinges and springs would be an easy mod. You would want to find the cammed style so that the force was not linear (most modern hoods).

Heavy duty linear actuators could also be used.

If there is room on both sides of the lower box. an L shaped lever could be used to gain leverage with simple large springs or full automation with actuators or winch/gear motor.

A torsion spring (garage door, etc) could be used (placed along the top, hinged edge) to assist in lifting.

Etc.

Saboral · 11/02/2008, 09:39 AM

I would just mount a double wheel pulley on the side of the house and a cleat on the side of the shed. I think using a shop vac head mounted to the inlet of your tank would be awesome for throwing your salt into the tank with no lifting at all.

10/27/2008, 10:25 PM	#1
chicken Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Ramon, CA (SF Bay Area) Posts: 750	Best way to transfer Salt Hi, I am trying to figure out a way to get salt from the buckets to my mix up tank. Its a 900g tank that sits in an insulated covered bump out on the side of my filter shed for my large system. The problem is that I hurt my back a few weeks ago and today I need to lift up the roof on the bump out covering the mix up tank (~125 lbs) and then haul up 5 buckets of salt. Lets just say my back is hurting every time I have to do this. I was wondering if anyone has any good ideas on how I could transfer the salt from the buckets directly into the tank without having to literally dump them into the tank. I have seen vacuum setups at like Costco where they roast coffee beans and then transfer them from one container to another with a vacuum hose. Anyone seen any setup like this or have any other ideas? Thanks

10/28/2008, 01:53 PM	#8
murphysfish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tyler, TX Posts: 52	super cool __________________ 55g reef / 280g under construction/ hex45g hospital/ those that dont try, never fail and are truly losers.

11/02/2008, 04:24 AM	#10
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	I would look into Barn Door track and roll that thing out of your way. Your salt, to make it as cheap/easy/no lifting as possible.......I would take something like a Brute trashcan on the ground. Add your salt all into the trashcan, pull a siphon off the tank and let gravity work for you dumping the water in the can, set a pump (figure a big Mag or something), lay the pump on the salt with another PH inside the can on top mixing the salt little by little. As the salt disolves little by little, both pumps drop down to the bottom of the can. By adding the ever popular ball valves, you can play "submarine" and adjust the flow rates of the influent, effluent, and the water level in the can. With a little tuning you should be able to put all your salt in, turn it on and wait for it to be all transfered and mixed at the same time. __________________ ~Doug Last edited by dots; 11/02/2008 at 04:30 AM.

10/27/2008, 10:57 PM	#2
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	There are several ways you could do this. 1) use compressed air and a venturi to create suction. The venturi would go at the placement location and the suction hose on the salt bucket. 2) use a modified shop vac to pull the salt up and dump it into the tank. If you want to get crazy, combine 1 and 2 and create a cyclonic type "dust collector" to suck the material up to your level and let it drop out on its own (no bucket to empty at the top). 3) use air pressure to push the salt to the placement location. You likely need a fluffer to get keep it moving and will need to consider safety precautions to prevent catastrophic failure. 4) Build a lifting aid using a block and tackle system. Easier than it sounds really.

10/27/2008, 11:00 PM	#3
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Option 1 and 2 are also easier than they sound. A bit of thought and research and you should be fine. The biggest problem is going to be moisture and somehow cleaning the tools up when you are done so that the do not cake up. http://books.google.com/books?id=QQ9...sult#PPA225,M1

10/27/2008, 11:08 PM	#4
chicken Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Ramon, CA (SF Bay Area) Posts: 750	Bean, Thanks for the info. I am also trying to figure out a way to hoist up the roof easier. The buckets are not a big deal, its just the roof. Its about 9'x4' and hinged along the long side against the shed. Between the structure of the roof and the shingles its about 125-150 lbs I suspect. Its not an any thing to open and close, little alone safe. I was originally going to do some sort of rigging to open and close it but have just not been able to find the hardware I need. Any ideas on how I could do that? I'll grab a picture of the shed tomorrow so you have an idea of what I am dealing with. Thanks!

10/27/2008, 11:20 PM	#5
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Sure... post some photos. There are plenty of ways to easily automate your roof.

10/28/2008, 01:21 PM	#6
chicken Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Ramon, CA (SF Bay Area) Posts: 750	Bean, Here is a quick shot of the side of the bump out where my mix up tank is. The tank is a 900g tank (120" x 36" D x 48" T) The bump out is slightly larger as it is wrapped in 4" of ridged foam for insulation. I was thinking of trying to use an electric hoist I picked up from harbor freight and mount it on the side of the shed and then run a cable up to a pulley on the upper shed roof but I just don't think I have a good enough angle to up the lower roof. My friend had an idea about building a track inside the bump out on top of the tank that an arm could ride in that could be pulled to push up the roof from the inside. I like that idea but have not been able to find any reasonably priced hardware to do this. Thanks!!

10/28/2008, 01:51 PM	#7
kcress Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Central California Coast. Posts: 5,383	How about some lift gate spring/pneumatic rods? The purpose would be to make that roof seem like it weights only 2 or 3 pounds instead of its full weight.

11/02/2008, 02:17 AM	#9
chicken Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Ramon, CA (SF Bay Area) Posts: 750	Anyone know a place that sells life gate rods that list them by size and weight they can lift? All I can seem to find is look-ups based on car models. Thanks!

11/02/2008, 08:42 AM	#11
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Not a bad idea DOTS... As far as "lift" options... there are a dozen ways to skin that cat. Car hood hinges and springs would be an easy mod. You would want to find the cammed style so that the force was not linear (most modern hoods). Heavy duty linear actuators could also be used. If there is room on both sides of the lower box. an L shaped lever could be used to gain leverage with simple large springs or full automation with actuators or winch/gear motor. A torsion spring (garage door, etc) could be used (placed along the top, hinged edge) to assist in lifting. Etc.

11/02/2008, 09:39 AM	#12
Saboral Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Blacksburg, Va Posts: 368	I would just mount a double wheel pulley on the side of the house and a cleat on the side of the shed. I think using a shop vac head mounted to the inlet of your tank would be awesome for throwing your salt into the tank with no lifting at all.