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Unread 09/30/2009, 04:43 PM   #26
ethank77
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here is mine ro di in rubber made mixed salt is made in old 55 gal tank


hosed in shed where I have a testing station adn supply room dedicated to my reefs




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Last edited by Misled; 10/30/2017 at 05:10 PM.
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Unread 10/01/2009, 11:06 PM   #27
dipan
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Plumbed to a whole different building ... sweeet ...


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Unread 10/01/2009, 11:08 PM   #28
dipan
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Unread 10/04/2009, 07:46 PM   #29
Los
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I just posted a substantial update on my build thread showing my water change system in substantial detail, walking through a 10 minute water change. So that you don't have to go through the whole build thread, here's a link to the page:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...335781&page=12


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Current Tank Info: 360 reef / 700 system with 4xSfiligoi XR6s, Sfiligoi XR4, BubbleKing 300 Deluxe Internal, Deltec PF601s, PM Kalk, Deltec FR616, Deltec FR509, AquaController APEX, Tunze 6305, 2x6205, 2x6101, 6100, 3xDart Golds, Barracuda, Snapper, 2xOceans Motions
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Unread 10/08/2009, 06:52 AM   #30
dipan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Los View Post
I just posted a substantial update on my build thread showing my water change system in substantial detail, walking through a 10 minute water change. So that you don't have to go through the whole build thread, here's a link to the page:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...335781&page=12
Looks like a sweet setup Los ... I like your inline reservoir, basically a waterchange sump.


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Unread 10/08/2009, 11:46 AM   #31
Los
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Thanks, Dipan. That was the idea. It allows me to take it offline and make a water change without having to disconnect my auto-top-off system or even my return pump. Everything keeps running as normal, with the simple twist of one valve, and I can do the water change with 5 or 10 minutes work. Making chores easy is a good way to make sure they happen regularly!


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Current Tank Info: 360 reef / 700 system with 4xSfiligoi XR6s, Sfiligoi XR4, BubbleKing 300 Deluxe Internal, Deltec PF601s, PM Kalk, Deltec FR616, Deltec FR509, AquaController APEX, Tunze 6305, 2x6205, 2x6101, 6100, 3xDart Golds, Barracuda, Snapper, 2xOceans Motions
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Unread 11/19/2009, 01:39 AM   #32
MrineLfRlz
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here is my simple setup i did for right now
im using just 3/4" pvc and running a MAG18 pump i hope it holds up ok i will be using this setup till i finally get to upgrade my tank upstairs to a much bigger one then i will purchase a 100 tank and us this 55 poly as a fresh water container



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its not a obsession its a way of life!--75g DT/125g sump/40g growout/30g frag/ATI sun power x8/t5 on DT/X2 D120 leds 40g/Sun blaze x4/t5 30g

Current Tank Info: BubbleMagus(calc.,alk/Clearwater CW-300 Scrubber//56wAQUA UV/Reef Oct.SRO6000SSS Protein sk./1/10HP Chiller/GENESIS AWC

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Unread 12/22/2009, 05:45 PM   #33
connecticut cichlids
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I figured it was about time to post a pic of my simple, but effective salt mixing station. Top Brute is 44g which holds the RO/DI, gravity feeds the bottom Brute which is 20g. water and salt are then mixed, and pumped from the 20g brute via a Mag 5 to my sump. Temp and pH of the newly mixed salt water are fully monitored by a dedicated SL1 module connected to my RKE





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Unread 12/23/2009, 03:19 AM   #34
MarkusII
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Hello,

I am just doing an installation (not yet finished). Here is my solution.
It will allow an easy water change in the fish room in the room below the tank.
You just have to stop the circulation pump; then you can open a valve below the sump allowing to drain a 55g chamber of the sump. Then you close again the valve. Now you can pump from another 55g tank fresh saltwater (the tank has a water pipe to fill and a small pump for circulation till the salt has dissolved) to the sump. Then just start the return pump again - water change done within minutes.
It is not yet ready completely (therefore no picture available)
but here is a picture of the sump with some drawings how it will be set up.
(red is the 55g sump part which can be drained via a valve), yellow the position of the tank for preparing the fresh saltwater, blue the return plumbing
quick water change system (on the right side of the sump will be the tank for fresh water to compensate evaporation)

regards

Markus


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Unread 12/23/2009, 07:49 AM   #35
Indymann99
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Quick question. Why does everybody have a separate RO storage tank?

I do the following:
1. Fill mix tank directly with RO.
2. When mix tank is full with fresh RO add salt.
3. Salt mixes for x period of time (days to weeks) Mag pump heater and airstone.
4. Pump water out of mix tank to sump for water changes.
5. Fill mix tank with RO and start all over again.

I just dont see the need for the additional RO storage tank. ???

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSC_0098-1.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...99/MixRoom.jpg


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Unread 12/23/2009, 08:13 AM   #36
connecticut cichlids
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The reason for me having the storage tank is so that I can have a volume of water on hand for emergencies, if they should happen, also to fill up my top-off resavoir.


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Unread 12/23/2009, 08:15 AM   #37
Hawkdl2
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Manual water changes should be a thing of the past. Sophisticated controllers are only a couple of hundred dollars and allow hands-off continual or frequent low volume water changes. It is easy to program and requires nothing more than a couple of float switches and two peristaltic pumps. Mine is set up to exchange about 1.5 gal 4 times per week in a ~120 gal system, though I can set it to exchange any number of times per day or week at up to about 3 or 4 gal at a time (up to the practical head room in the sump). Low volume frequent exchanges means no heater in the NSW tank (less $$$), no PVC plumbing all over the house, no large pumps, no ph, alk, cal or temp swings in the tank, and I don't have to be anywhere near the tank when they happen - i.e. they continue during vacations, etc.

My station is ~70ft away in my garage.



I'm working on a salt hopper so I can program the system to also automatically make NSW, based on conductivity, but until I figure that out, I still have to make NSW once a month.

The system is controllable at the tank or through by cell phone while I'm in the garage or away on vacation.




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Unread 12/23/2009, 08:18 AM   #38
kc350twin
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I have two tanks due to my supply water being on the first floor and I pump it upstairs. I will soon plumb th fish room and won't need to do it.
I think a lot of people use it as top off water for evaporation. I like to have emergency water on hand just incase I need to mix some water fast.


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Unread 12/23/2009, 08:24 AM   #39
Indymann99
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Quote:
Originally Posted by connecticut cichlids View Post
The reason for me having the storage tank is so that I can have a volume of water on hand for emergencies, if they should happen, also to fill up my top-off resavoir.
Having volume of RO to fill up the top off reservoir makes sense.

I have a 15g pressure tank connected to my RO (as it also serves the drinking water for the house) so I fill up my 5g ATO reservoir from that.

By filling my Mix tank and mixing salt after every water change I always have mixed, heated, and aged SW ready for an emergency.

Thanks for the info.


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Unread 12/23/2009, 10:40 AM   #40
dwhanc00
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Wish I had the room!


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Unread 12/23/2009, 05:37 PM   #41
Hartdude
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Here's mine. I have two containers, the one on the left is the freshwater, the one on the right is the saltwater. They are linked in the middle with a check valve that only allows the water to flow from left to right. In the SW container, I have a airstone, and two Koralias for circulation. Exiting the SW container, I have a Mag 12 to pump it all upstairs (I connect a Python hose). Rudimentary, but serves the purpose.





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Unread 12/23/2009, 05:41 PM   #42
Hartdude
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Indymann99 View Post
Quick question. Why does everybody have a separate RO storage tank?

I do the following:
1. Fill mix tank directly with RO.
2. When mix tank is full with fresh RO add salt.
3. Salt mixes for x period of time (days to weeks) Mag pump heater and airstone.
4. Pump water out of mix tank to sump for water changes.
5. Fill mix tank with RO and start all over again.

I just dont see the need for the additional RO storage tank. ???
I have two tanks so I can have both FW and SW ready at a moments notice. I need FW for top-offs, mixing Kalk, etc. I need SW for waterchanges. It's always good to keep a backstock of water for emergency changes and the things you don't/can't forsee.

Edit: I didn't see the response above already. Sorry.


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Unread 01/04/2010, 10:51 PM   #43
captain7359
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Here's what I've got rigged up.

My ro/di goes into the left barrel via the white poly line. The red tubing coming out goes to my dosing pump which feed my kalk reactor for all my topoff water.
With one bag of salt I can mix up a 45 gallon change or max it out at a 55 gallon change. Between filling, mixing, draining, and refilling a 55 gallon change took me less than 30 minutes combined over the last 2 days.



With the bottom left valve I can pull ro/di water and pump it into the right mixing barrel. Close the ro valve and open the bottom right and top valve on the salt barrel and I can recirculate for mixing and heating.


With the bottom middle valve I can hook the vinyl tubing up via the union and pull water from any one of my 3 tanks in the sump system or my 40 frag tank and pump it right to the sewer drain.



Above the topmost tee and valve at the ceiling are the last pair of valves that either let me pump tank water to the sewer or back to the sumps with fresh mix.

I've got to add one more valve on the discharge of the pump to allow me to pump just ro for random use.

Besides the spare ro valve the only regret I have is not putting the middle valve coming off the bottom of the pipe so I could use it as a drain for the pump when I've got to pull it.

And here's my double ro setup that feeds it all.





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Unread 01/05/2010, 08:01 AM   #44
lwolfe44
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trying to talk the wife into one of those reef sheds....lol


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Unread 01/05/2010, 11:38 AM   #45
johnd651
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i love all the pictures...if only i had the room, time, and money

well, this is all I have for a poor college student, renting an apartment

its a bucket, with a heater, and 160gph submersible pump.

ahh....dreaming about a shed or garage like that


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Unread 01/05/2010, 06:39 PM   #46
psteeleb
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normally I'll have water from the main return flow into this tank and overflow back to the sump

when it's time for a water change I shut off the flow, put a plug in the overflow and this tank becomes issolated from the system

then I'll pump out the water and refill the tank with RO/DI, mix the salt, let it run for 24 hours, check parameters and if everything is good, open the valve and start the flow again


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Unread 01/05/2010, 06:53 PM   #47
connecticut cichlids
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very nice guys......i love seeing all the different setups that we are using


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Unread 01/05/2010, 07:37 PM   #48
jimzin15754
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This is a great thread! I am totally impressed with all the ingenous plumbing you all have come up with to make life easier! I think Im gonna have to start doing my water changes from the basement instead of lugging buckets and dripping all over the place!


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Unread 01/09/2010, 08:14 PM   #49
mklukas
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Bumping this back up. I'd love to see some more setups as I've been spending some time planning out how I want to handle water changes when I eventually get another tank setup. Some of these systems are simply wonderful!

It would be really nice to see some setups from more space-limited folks.


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Unread 01/10/2010, 01:43 AM   #50
cmacld
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i dont know what counts as limited space..
but here is mine. the drawing doesnt show the closed loop which is used to churn the salt.
it is very simple and gravity fed. just takes a couple minutes for a water change.
i just drain some water into my mixing tank from the RO tank. Add salt..wait for salt to mix..
then i shut down my system, allowing my return section to fill up fully, i then turn a valve which drains my return section.
once empty, i turn another valve to add the new batch of SW to the return tank.
restart... rinse and repeat!



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