Water Change question for RANDY

CliftonArbogast · 04/19/2012, 09:32 AM

Randy prefered, others welcome as well,
I am low on space and want to automate water change, i am thinking i can use my auto top off ( float switch connected to RO system) an a 5G bucket of brine ( made by dumping much more salt than saturation can handle).

For instance: I would remove 7 gallons tank water over 24 hrs with peri pump. over same time i would add 1 g brine and let the auto top off make up the rest.

I know i will have to fine tune the ratio so salinity does not swing but is there any issue with this taht you can see? Would something preferentialy remain undisolved in the mix bucket and throw off cal, alk or mag?

If anyone else has done this please give me experience.

CliftonArbogast · 04/19/2012, 09:34 AM

Oh I also was planning on making fresh water up to the brine tank so it could stay full with float switch, as long as i keep solid salt in bottom with agitation i should be at same concentration of salt (assuming house temp does not swing much)

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/19/2012, 01:00 PM

What do you mean by brine? You cannot make seawater a lot more concentrated than it is without risking precipitating things like calcium carbonate.

CliftonArbogast · 04/19/2012, 02:18 PM

Thanks, thats not the answer I was looking for but it will save me lots of time and headache. . . .

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/19/2012, 02:32 PM

Sorry.

Good luck.

04/19/2012, 09:32 AM	#1
CliftonArbogast Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston TX (south side) Posts: 165	Water Change question for RANDY Randy prefered, others welcome as well, I am low on space and want to automate water change, i am thinking i can use my auto top off ( float switch connected to RO system) an a 5G bucket of brine ( made by dumping much more salt than saturation can handle). For instance: I would remove 7 gallons tank water over 24 hrs with peri pump. over same time i would add 1 g brine and let the auto top off make up the rest. I know i will have to fine tune the ratio so salinity does not swing but is there any issue with this taht you can see? Would something preferentialy remain undisolved in the mix bucket and throw off cal, alk or mag? If anyone else has done this please give me experience.

04/19/2012, 01:00 PM	#3
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	What do you mean by brine? You cannot make seawater a lot more concentrated than it is without risking precipitating things like calcium carbonate. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/19/2012, 02:32 PM	#5
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Sorry. Good luck. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/19/2012, 09:34 AM	#2
CliftonArbogast Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston TX (south side) Posts: 165	Oh I also was planning on making fresh water up to the brine tank so it could stay full with float switch, as long as i keep solid salt in bottom with agitation i should be at same concentration of salt (assuming house temp does not swing much)

04/19/2012, 02:18 PM	#4
CliftonArbogast Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston TX (south side) Posts: 165	Thanks, thats not the answer I was looking for but it will save me lots of time and headache. . . .