If you own a saltwater mixing station, please share your pictures & ideas?

[FLSharkvictim]

Here is what I will be trying to replicate in my garage. My containers will be a little smaller but not much! Most likely will have my containers on a stand next to each other. Alos, include how you hard plumbed your system as well.

Tank Info:
120 Mixed Reef
Apex Classic Controller
Ecotech M1 pump
Skimz 163 DC Montzer Series skimmer
Custom sump / Refuge
2 TUNZE Turbelle Nanostream 6055's
2 AI Hydra TwentySix HD LED Fixtures
Celestial C35W Maxspect Refuge Spotlight
Aqua UV Ultraviolet Sterilizer 25w
BRS Dual Media reactor
Eshoops IV Master & Slave Doser
Tunze 3155 Auto Top Off

 

[Bluefish9]

 

[ReefBum]

That's a very nice setup. The only thing I don't like about those containers is that it is difficult to scrub the inside to keep them clean. Salt mixes can leave a residue and I like to give my drums a good scrubbing once a year. This video provides details on my system but there is certainly more then one way to skin this cat and I am really diggin' the setup you posted!

 

[dbl]

You may (or may not) be interested in browsing the thread below for additional ideas. There was also an article written recently discussing the topic. You'll love a well designed mixing station.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/salt-water-mixing-stations-lets-see-them.36873/

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/let’s-mix-it-up-designing-and-using-a-water-mixing-station.77/

 

[FLSharkvictim]

Finally, almost everything has come in and has been assembled except for my two 1'' Spears Gate Vales which will be on each side between the 1'' pipe and the spigot x street 90's. That's where my gate valves will be installed so at any giving point I will be able to grab some fresh RODI water or saltwater from each Brute container. Also, instead of having the Cepex ball Valve where I am going to be connecting my Marine & RV 1/2'' 25ft hose, I will be using a 1/2'' Spears Gate valve with the Cam Lever Quick to Connect my 1/2'' in size hose. Order 1 more spigot to street 45 to put inside my Brute salt container to there is one on each side. Next, I have to Glue everything together. I am going to be using a product called WELD -ON! 1ST I will use there Weld On - Plumbing Primer - then finish up with the Weld -On Heavy Duty PVC Cement Gray to match up with my fittings. Then my last step will be building my stand. I bought 6 cinder blocks and 5 two by 4's for my frame. After I get the frame completed I will just be screwing down a pcs of 1'' thick pcs of plywood and then this operation Saltwater mixing station will be completed. Here a few pixs to show you how it turned out before I start gluing everything together. My total cost ending up being around $1250.00 for my Mixing station! Please feel free to let me know your thoughts?
Many thanks,
FLSharkvictim

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Looks like it's coming along very nicely! Wish I had the space for that kind of setup.

 

[Gustavo Martinez]

Awesome set up, I want to make one in my garage and have it feed upstairs to my sump and ato container...

 

[Engloid]

Awesome set up, I want to make one in my garage and have it feed upstairs to my sump and ato container...

Have you considered not putting the ATO container upstairs? It is easier to run a wire for a float valve down to the garage than to run plumbing up to it.

 

[Gustavo Martinez]

Yeah, I was thinking about that. But if I want to feed fresh RODI and Saltwater to my main display tank/ Sump and ATO. I'd rather pump it up from the garage....

 

[JBradford]

My favorite one!

 

[Bluefish9]

My favorite one!

Thank you!
It sure makes my life a lot easier lol

 

[Vette67]

I didn't get too elaborate with pumps. I just built a stand and put a 40 gallon HDPE tank above my sump. I can fill it with R/O, mix the salt, and once I have the dirty saltwater siphoned out, I just turn a ball valve and fill the sump back up. Much easier than the old garbage can method of water changes....

 

[AndrewNC]

Still a couple more pieces to add.

 

[Elder1945]

I am building this now!



I hope to have it done tonight.

 

[jeff williams]

Here is what I will be trying to replicate in my garage. My containers will be a little smaller but not much! Most likely will have my containers on a stand next to each other. Alos, include how you hard plumbed your system as well.

Tank Info:
120 Mixed Reef
Apex Classic Controller
Ecotech M1 pump
Skimz 163 DC Montzer Series skimmer
Custom sump / Refuge
2 TUNZE Turbelle Nanostream 6055's
2 AI Hydra TwentySix HD LED Fixtures
Celestial C35W Maxspect Refuge Spotlight
Aqua UV Ultraviolet Sterilizer 25w
BRS Dual Media reactor
Eshoops IV Master & Slave Doser
Tunze 3155 Auto Top Off

Good lord dude why would you want to replace that, that station makes me jealous.

 

[FLSharkvictim]

I finally have finished my saltwater mixing station, now I just need to glue all of my fittings and it will be ready to test.

 

[Gustavo Martinez]

Awesome set up FLSharkvictim... I'm making one just like this too... Can't wait.... How many gallons are those Brutes?

 

[FLSharkvictim]

Awesome setup FLSharkvictim... I'm making one just like this too... Can't wait.... How many gallons are those Brutes?

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32 gallons mate, perfect size for my 120 display since I only am doing 10 gallons a week! I will have 30 gallons of Fresh RODI water at all times in barrel 1.
If I want 10 gallons of salt, I will just close a few ball valves and turn on my pump to transfer the RO water to the 2nd barrel and then dump in my salt - let it mix for a few hours and I will be good to go.
After that, I will hook m y hose to the custom made PVC holder that will go over my tank so I don't have to be there to fill up. See pic # 1.

Currently, my setup is where I have to hook up my Marine/ RV hose to fill my tank up with but I am working on something where it will run through 1/2 pipe around the back of my house and in through where my RODI water comes in for my ATO container. I am going to install another bulkhead and let the Mag drive push the water into my sump or tank so it will be full automated. So when it's all said and done, I will just be switching over the fresh RO water to the salt side which is barrel # 2 and let it mix and then let the pump transfer it to my tank. The good thing about just doing 10-gallons at a time is I don't really have to worry about the water temp since it's such a small change. I will make sure my salinity is on the money with a PINPOINT salinity monitor that I will be buying from BRS with my new RODI system. Here are a few pics to show you how I am going to mix my salt and transfer it to my tank. The last few pictures are what my system is looking like..

 

[Homebrwr]

That's a very nice setup. The only thing I don't like about those containers is that it is difficult to scrub the inside to keep them clean. Salt mixes can leave a residue and I like to give my drums a good scrubbing once a year. This video provides details on my system but there is certainly more then one way to skin this cat and I am really diggin' the setup you posted!

Where do you find those types of containers?
Nice set-up

 

[Ravan]

wow some of these are great. I need to set mine up again soon which is just two 55 gal food grade barrels. I had it just set up where I manually moved the water from barrel to barrel and into a bucket to move.
My plan is to now set them up in the garage with the RO/DI barrel setup higher to drain into the saltwater mixing/holding tank which will be setup with a pump to a hose for transfer to the tank as needed. I may try to pump the RO/DI into the hose also. Based off the 120 gal turtle tank I have set up in the house which is in a hotter area of the house and the water evaporation is about 5 gals every three - four days it will not be hard to top off the tank as needed. I will post as I set it up. Thank you for the great ideas I hope to be able to use them