Mixing Saltwater Advice

[k3nnyp]

Newbie to the forum and 5 months into the hobby. I'm looking to get some advice on creating my own water. For starters, I ordered a RODI unit from BRS yesterday and wanted to get some feedback as to my decision. I know, it's a little late now.

Additional information I'm looking for is advice on water capture drum setup, what salt mix is best and any other advice you might want to offer.

My setup is a 5 month old 75 gallon reef/fish tank. I'm doing 15 gallon water changes every other week.

I'm hoping this post will start a useful thread for other newbies like myself or just point me to the search screen for finding one that might already be out there.

Edit: Here are the details on the unit I ordered from BRS.

Build Your Own RO System
Stage One</em>
5 Micron Sediment Filter
Stage Two </em>
5 Micron Carbon Block (cto/2)
Stage Three
</em>Deionization Resin (color Changing)
Stage Four (Membrane)</em>
75 Gallons Per Day (98% Rejection)
Stage Five (on it's own bracket)</em>
None
Accessories</em>
Dual TDS Meter (DM-1),
Auto shut off valve - Required to use a float valv,
Float Valve,
Ball Valve ,
Pressure Gauge (oil),
Flush Kit
Water and Drain Supply
</em>Self piercing Valve (Up to 5/8" pipe)

 

[rjrgroup]

Can't beat a brute on wheels. I don't think so anyway? Throw a maxi-jet and a heater in it. Reef crystals is good and cheap.

 

[hnguyen]

Looks like your in the right course. As for salt. I really like the instant ocean reef crystals. It has a good amount of alk, cal and mag. Ive been using it for over a year now and really like it.

As for water changes. I think you should up your wc a little. I do a 15 gallon wc on my 93 every week. But that's just me, I know of others that do the same wc as you and are very happy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[k3nnyp]

Thanks for the quck reply.

I intended on plumbing it so that I can fill my jugs. Will the Brute handle that? Additionally, I don't believe I need wheels, I was thinking more along the lines of building a stand to get it off the floor high enough to fill my jugs plus some underneath storage. My thoughts are that worst case I can drain it if I need to move it.

Edit: I'll consider increasing my water changes when I'm making my own water

Thanks for the advice on the Reef Crystals (2 for 2)

 

[rjrgroup]

If you don't need to move it then go the cheaper route and pick up a CLEAN 45-55 gal barrel on craigslist. Brutes are way more expensive. Check out Jeff Muse's thread on his 65 gal build. He shows a simple and easy mixing set-up and he only paid $20 for the barrels, I believe.

 

[rsuddath3]

Your DI should be after your membrane. And since you have an open spot, I don't think it would be a bad idea to put a 1 micron carbon block in it. Since it would be third in line (you'd need to route it like that for it to be beneficial) you wouldn't have to change it as often as the first 2. I think that might be their standard 5 stage setup. 5 mic sediment, 5 mic carbon, 1 mic carbon, membrane, then DI. DI always comes last though. You use the 98% rejection of the membrane to extend the life of the DI. Pre-membrane DI would be a total waste of money.

 

[k3nnyp]

Thanks

 

[rsuddath3]

Ah, you posted as they described it. I thought stage 5 none (on it's own bracket) meant that you had ordered a 5th stage canister and just not a filter. BRS will surely send it to you properly configured, but it never hurts to check.

 

[ralph atl]

I use Salinity, and it's just a great salt for keeping my parems in line. I only need to dose Calcium & Alk, with an occasional mag...

 

[rsuddath3]

And Imagine Ocean is running a special on Salinity this month. Check the Sponsors forum.

 

[jeffmuse]

rjrgroup;667914 wrote: If you don't need to move it then go the cheaper route and pick up a CLEAN 45-55 gal barrel on craigslist. Brutes are way more expensive. Check out Jeff Muse's thread on his 65 gal build. He shows a simple and easy mixing set-up and he only paid $20 for the barrels, I believe.

Here is the setup that I came up with. I bought 2 55 gallon rain barrels, a mag 5 pump, and a couple of feet of 3/4" and 1/2" pvc to put together my salt water mixing station.

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[k3nnyp]

2 x 55g drums seems overkill. Do you go through that much or am I missing something? Do you use one for salt and one for fresh?

Also, what about waste water? What is it and how much will it produce? Should I run the line outside or is bucket enough?

 

[rsuddath3]

You'll definitely need more than a bucket. I think waste to product water is around 4:1 so there's gonna be a lot of waste water. If you have a garden, you could run it to a barrel and save for watering. Otherwise, a lot of people just run the waste line to the nearest drain.

 

[k3nnyp]

RSUDDATH3;669067 wrote: You'll definitely need more than a bucket. I think waste to product water is around 4:1 so there's gonna be a lot of waste water. If you have a garden, you could run it to a barrel and save for watering. Otherwise, a lot of people just run the waste line to the nearest drain.

Thanks, valuable information for the Newbie. A little confused about 80% waste water??? I have a garden and have been contemplating a rain barrel. One downside I see is the winter, no drains near where I intended on putting the barrel. I'm sure I could tee the line with a rolled up line and run to a nearby bathroom during the really cold days I'm trying to make water.

 

[rsuddath3]

RO is pretty wasteful when it comes down to it. But it's necessary to keep the membrane functioning. Otherwise all the tiny pores would clog pretty quickly. Rain barrels are great. That's where I run my waste line. If you put it in a shady corner of the house, you can keep goldfish in it for mosquito control. Just make sure the water doesn't get too hot. The RO waste water has a higher TDS than the tap does, and this can be bad for the fish possibly. Not sure what your tap TDS is. But the carbon block will take care of the chlorine. Freshwater fish are though. I just bought a couple feeder goldfish and threw them in there. They've been doing just fine on their own

 

[k3nnyp]

Laugh at my expense.

1st time making water. 15 gallons in a brute on wheels in my garage. Temp in the morning was boiling so I brought it inside to chill down in the ac for a few hours.

I have three things to say about what happened next. First, glad I'm on a slab. Second, happy to have tile throughout most of my first floor. Third, always secure your drain line if you have yet to install a valve.

15 gallons of saltwater in the dining room. My daughter loved the indoor kiddie pool. Luckily I own a shop vac and a mop.

 

[k3nnyp]

On a more serious note the filter is up, although still deciding on a permanent waste line solution. Brute on wheels works nice and doubles for the water drain.

Marine Designs sold me on Salinity and so far, after one water change, I am happy. I'm controlling my specific gravity a little closer now and my corals have perked up.

 

[jeffmuse]

k3nnyP;668956 wrote: 2 x 55g drums seems overkill. Do you go through that much or am I missing something? Do you use one for salt and one for fresh?

Also, what about waste water? What is it and how much will it produce? Should I run the line outside or is bucket enough?

The system that I run uses one 55 gallon bucket for freshwater and another 55 gallon for salt water that circulates via a pump. As for the RODI waste water, I run a "waste" line that goes out of my garage out into the yard.

If you are setting up an RODI system, I would suggest that you avoid a barrel for the waste water and find a way to direct it into your yard or flower garden.

 

[k3nnyp]

Thanks.

I'm thinking about routing my waste water to a rain barrel my wife has been wanting for 3 years. Funny how priorities change. It will ultimately water our vegetable garden.

 

[rasbora]

k3nnyP;671607 wrote:

15 gallons of saltwater in the dining room. My daughter loved the indoor kiddie pool. Luckily I own a shop vac and a mop.

A shop vac is a requirement for this hobby I think. I can't think of anyone who hasn't had a spill at some point.