PVC Tube for Chemical Storage

brittonv · 01/29/2015, 11:09 AM

I am going to be 2 part dosing my tank. I am looking for a way to store said chemicals.

What I am thinking is to get some 6" PVC from HD and make tubes out of them with Caps, then I can drill and tap

a 12" Section will give me about a gallon and a half storage.

Is there any concern in doing this. Do I need to worry about storing, Magnesium, Soda Ash or calcium Chloride in solution in this manor.

Will these solutions remain in solution or will it need to be agitated before dosing? Also would Float switches installed in to these containers work/last correctly considering the chemicals involved?

Thanks

woodnaquanut · 01/29/2015, 11:27 AM

Are you talking about dry chems? They come in nice plastic containers.

Are you talking about the mixed chems? I just use one gal. containers from BRS. Clear and a lot thicker and tougher than a milk container. There are also 'space saver' skinny one gallon containers if you need that.

Float switches? Why are you using these?

sleepydoc · 01/29/2015, 01:50 PM

+1 to aquanaut's comments. What are you hoping to gain by using a PVC pipe?

brittonv · 01/29/2015, 01:58 PM

Mixed Chemicals.

The BRS Containers I have are too big, but the space savers may be an option but may be expensive at $10 each and I wish they held more than a gallon.

Float switches was my plan to make a gallon at a time. Have float switches let me know when I had used a gallon and when it was close to being empty. (since it held a gallon and a half.)

Looking to gain, it's inexpensive and easy to work with...

sleepydoc · 01/29/2015, 07:58 PM

Check and see how much 6" pvc pipe and fittings cost. I bet you don't end up saving any money. Plus the containers have the advantage of being transparent so you can see how much is left!

As far as float switches go, once you get your system set up, the dosing shouldn't change much, so you should know exactly when you will run out.

woodnaquanut · 01/29/2015, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepydoc

As far as float switches go, once you get your system set up, the dosing shouldn't change much, so you should know exactly when you will run out.

Or at least within a couple of days.

I seem to look under the stand at least once every day.

ATO OK - check
2 part level - check
skimmer cup - check

woodnaquanut · 01/29/2015, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepydoc

As far as float switches go, once you get your system set up, the dosing shouldn't change much, so you should know exactly when you will run out.

Or at least within a couple of days.

I seem to look under the stand at least once every day.

ATO OK - check
2 part level - check
skimmer cup - check

brittonv · 01/30/2015, 11:03 AM

Yup, that was my experience on my last tank, looking to automate this on as much as possible. Nothing stopping from putting float switches in the brs tanks either. However I did find some 5 L space saver tanks from us plastics too

01/29/2015, 11:09 AM	#1
brittonv Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 227	PVC Tube for Chemical Storage I am going to be 2 part dosing my tank. I am looking for a way to store said chemicals. What I am thinking is to get some 6" PVC from HD and make tubes out of them with Caps, then I can drill and tap a 12" Section will give me about a gallon and a half storage. Is there any concern in doing this. Do I need to worry about storing, Magnesium, Soda Ash or calcium Chloride in solution in this manor. Will these solutions remain in solution or will it need to be agitated before dosing? Also would Float switches installed in to these containers work/last correctly considering the chemicals involved? Thanks

01/29/2015, 11:27 AM	#2
woodnaquanut Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 2,727	Are you talking about dry chems? They come in nice plastic containers. Are you talking about the mixed chems? I just use one gal. containers from BRS. Clear and a lot thicker and tougher than a milk container. There are also 'space saver' skinny one gallon containers if you need that. Float switches? Why are you using these? __________________ John DT 120G. mixed reef w/ lots of automation + assorted FW and SW tanks.

01/29/2015, 01:50 PM	#3
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	+1 to aquanaut's comments. What are you hoping to gain by using a PVC pipe? __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

01/29/2015, 07:58 PM	#5
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	Check and see how much 6" pvc pipe and fittings cost. I bet you don't end up saving any money. Plus the containers have the advantage of being transparent so you can see how much is left! As far as float switches go, once you get your system set up, the dosing shouldn't change much, so you should know exactly when you will run out. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

01/30/2015, 11:03 AM	#8
brittonv Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 227	Yup, that was my experience on my last tank, looking to automate this on as much as possible. Nothing stopping from putting float switches in the brs tanks either. However I did find some 5 L space saver tanks from us plastics too __________________ Current Tank Info: 65 Gallon with Corner Overflow \| EShopps R110 Reefugium running Chaeto and Miracle Mud Apex Neptune Controller with WXM Module \| Echotech XR30 & XR15 Pros with Dual MP10

01/29/2015, 01:58 PM	#4
brittonv Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 227	Mixed Chemicals. The BRS Containers I have are too big, but the space savers may be an option but may be expensive at $10 each and I wish they held more than a gallon. Float switches was my plan to make a gallon at a time. Have float switches let me know when I had used a gallon and when it was close to being empty. (since it held a gallon and a half.) Looking to gain, it's inexpensive and easy to work with...