Salt Water Mixing Stations Let's See Them

[rjjr1963]

I'm plumbing my salt water station this weekend. I've seen some set up's that have the recirculating pump set up with a return to the RO/DI tank. What is the purpose of doing it that way?

Also, how long can you let water sit in the tanks without going bad?

Thanks.

[Redman88]

Originally Posted by rjjr1963

I'm plumbing my salt water station this weekend. I've seen some set up's that have the recirculating pump set up with a return to the RO/DI tank. What is the purpose of doing it that way?

If to mix large batches of water quickly.

[shifty51008]

Originally Posted by rjjr1963

Also, how long can you let water sit in the tanks without going bad?

Thanks.

rodi water can be stored forever, SW I try to use within a month of makeing it. always a good idea to check the sw parameters and adjust just before useing it though.

[Fishbulb2]

Quick question for everyone. I am about to glue my plumbing. I got the classic red PVC ball valves from Home Depot, and they are just so tight to turn. Is there any way to loosen them or should I ditch them and got with something better. Could I put silicone grease in there or is that a bad idea?

FB

[rjjr1963]

Originally Posted by Fishbulb2

Quick question for everyone. I am about to glue my plumbing. I got the classic red PVC ball valves from Home Depot, and they are just so tight to turn. Is there any way to loosen them or should I ditch them and got with something better. Could I put silicone grease in there or is that a bad idea?

FB

I bought the schedule 80 union ball valves with the larger handles and they turn with very little force. They were only about $7 each and well worth the extra money.

http://www.pvcfittingsonline.com/val...all-valve.html

[shifty51008]

Originally Posted by Fishbulb2

Quick question for everyone. I am about to glue my plumbing. I got the classic red PVC ball valves from Home Depot, and they are just so tight to turn. Is there any way to loosen them or should I ditch them and got with something better. Could I put silicone grease in there or is that a bad idea?

FB

no way to adjust them, they are tight and i have broken the handles off a few of them. check out cepex brand valves, you can adjust them and work great but are more spendy.

[Fishbulb2]

OK, sounds like it's worth spending the extra money on better valves. I always see the red home depot valves in people's posts, so I thought they might loosen up over time. As tight as they are now, I find them useless. I think I'll eventually break my plumbing with the strength needed to turn them. I'll just order Spears valves or Cepex.

Thanks,
FB

[don_chuwish]

I went through the entire bin at Lowes, discarding at least 80% of the valves as either too tight or too sloppy before finding the few I liked. I wouldn't put these on the tank but figured they were ok for the mixing station. Time will tell. PVCFittingsonline is nice - good site organization, easy to find things and be sure of what you're getting. They don't offer free shipping but that's reflected in their low pricing. I ordered some of the adjustable sch80 ball valves from them (not Cepex) but don't have them in hand yet.

[_E_]

I used some of the sch40 true union valves from my local Lowes. They're much cheaper than the Cepex, but still have adjustable internals. I believe the brand was American Valve.

[_Snuffles]

Originally Posted by _E_

I used some of the sch40 true union valves from my local Lowes. They're much cheaper than the Cepex, but still have adjustable internals. I believe the brand was American Valve.

you're correct, i use these too.

[rjjr1963]

WIP on my saltwater station.

My stand is done and I only mis-cut one board. The plumbing is run through the ceiling. This was the toughest part and I got bloody knuckles to prove it, lol. Finally the RO/DI unit is mounted and two 20 AMP electrical circuits have been wired up. The station is in a spare bedroom and the RO/DI unit is in a utility room behind the tank. Today is plumbing day and if all goes well I'll be filling water tanks.

[rjjr1963]

Everything is plumbed and I'm happy with the results. One little screw up. I ordered the wrong size uniseal. Should be here early this week and we will have WATER! lol

[don_chuwish]

Very tidy! I'm crazy jealous of all that space!

[rjjr1963]

No kids, that helps tremendously.

[rjjr1963]

Do I need to clean my water tanks before I use them?

[soulpatch]

I ran some vinegar water through mine just to get any oil or shipping films off of them. Drained, dried out, and started to use as normal.

[don_chuwish]

I was gonna come up with some typically reefer overblown 5 stage cleaning process that you absolutely MUST do over a 4 week period or all your livestock will die slow agonizing deaths... but I'm just too tired for that level of creativity.

[rjjr1963]

lol

[zachts]

[QUOTE=rjjr1963;24311498]WIP on my saltwater station.

My stand is done and I only mis-cut one board. The plumbing is run through the ceiling. This was the toughest part and I got bloody knuckles to prove it, lol. Finally the RO/DI unit is mounted and two 20 AMP electrical circuits have been wired up. The station is in a spare bedroom and the RO/DI unit is in a utility room behind the tank. Today is plumbing day and if all goes well I'll be filling water tanks.



One structural comment:
Before you get water in there, I would add additional verticals at the four corners, 4 pocket screws supporting each corner is asking for a failure down the road, that's a heck of a lot of weight for 4 screws to support, assuming they never get wet and start to rust out..........

Not saying it necessarily will fail just it could and that's a lot of water.

An additional front to back horizontal on the top might not be bad either seeing how you have the containers positioned in order to prevent the plywood from sagging over time from the weight and as it gets wet, and it will. Which could cause the tanks to lean forward enough to break your plumbing. I'm full of doom and gloom tonight

[rjjr1963]

I knew someone would rain on my parade.


40 gallons tanks so maybe some additional reinforce is needed.

[zachts]

sorry to be the buzz kill......was just running the math and the average screw can support around 50lbs give or take before breaking........granted that's going to be distributed to more than just the four screws in the back corners but still thats around 333lbs of water in each tank..........cutting it rather close, too close for comfort even if over half the weight gets taken up by other points, which it probably does, but I'm not an engineer.......screws will rust especially fast near salt water unless you sprung for heavy 316 grade stainless......rather than deck screws or the like.

I'd consider skinning the back and sides while your at it also, increases the rigidity and stability of the stand many times over. you don't wan't it to be wobbly with tall tanks like that, granted no kids around but........

[don_chuwish]

Yeah it doesn't have to be much though - rip some 2x4s in half and attach to the other vertical, snugged up tight to the cross piece.

[rjjr1963]

I used glue when I assembled it so that's going to help some but the load at the two back corners could overwhelm the 4 screws. Easy enough to put some support in there for peace of mind.

[Mrs. Music]

Originally Posted by rjjr1963

I used glue when I assembled it so that's going to help some but the load at the two back corners could overwhelm the 4 screws. Easy enough to put some support in there for peace of mind.

Yep, easy peasy addition at this point. Looks fantastic!

[soulpatch]

Originally Posted by rjjr1963

I knew someone would rain on my parade.


40 gallons tanks so maybe some additional reinforce is needed.

The bigger issue is that the vertical pieces are not carrying the weight. Typically we put the top frame on top of the vertical braces so that the weight is easily transferred down and carried by the wood. The way you have done it is to carry the weight by the glue and screws except in the center where you do carry it on the vertical brace.

I would simply add 2 vertical braces on the sides in the framing to carry the weight.