Mixing Station / Automatic Water Change

[merfish101]

This thread is great. I'm working on building my AWC setup now. Received my DOS Saturday. I'm using your build as a template. Great job.

 

[sdreef]

This thread is great. I'm working on building my AWC setup now. Received my DOS Saturday. I'm using your build as a template. Great job.

Thank you. It has made my life a lot easier and the tank has also greatly benefited. My 60 cube is a little more sensitive to fluctuations in the water chemistry. I maintained relative stability with my previous weekly water changes, but I noticed my corals seemed to appreciate the transition to the continuous water changes. I'm only 9 months in, but so far I've been happy.

 

[sdreef]

I'm adding a link for the parts list for the mixing station.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/sdreefs-330g-cda-acropora-dominant-mixed-reef.778823/post-8344856

 

[Jason Scalise]

Mixing a new batch of saltwater in preparation for arrival of the new tank! I love the whirl pool effect of the cone bottom tank. There is a 1" pipe extending down into the tank and a 90 degree elbow directing the flow.

I've been using Tropin Marine Pro. There are some light brown streaks. I think it may be some light algae growth, but not sure I need to do anything to clean this at this point. I'll see how things progress and if I need to perform any type of maintenance down the road.

g

Great setup.

I have noticed the same "streaks" in my NSW reservoir.
I have the same tanks...although they are a different shape.
I use the same salt, Tropic Marine.
Let me guess... you have those streaks in the NSW but they are absent in the fresh RODI tank, correct??

Also, several months ago, I broke mine down and did a thorough power wash and bleach clean. it was spotless when done. reassembled and within about 2 months, the streaks returned. again, same tank for RODI water and it is pristine.

Here are my thoughts as I have not seen others discuss it specifically.
it does not look like algae growth to me. I would think that would not be 'streaky' but more round-ish....kind of like what coraline growth looks like on the glass....or bacteria growth on a petrie dish. growing colonies..not streaky.

yours (and mine) look more like rust stains to me. I know, I cant explain that either and not claiming it is 'rust' but that is what it looks like to me.

Probably like you, I have tested the water and all seems fine. So I am not doing much more about it. clearly something in the NSW 'reacting' with the plastic...somewhat regularly spaced and parallel linear streaks along the plastic....perhaps impurities in the wall of the tanks?


would love to hear your thoughts on this or if you have found any further info. thanks.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I didn't know you can use hot water through an rodi system

 

[KStatefan]

I didn't know you can use hot water through an rodi system

As temperature goes up production will go up but rejection rate will go down.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

As temperature goes up production will go up but rejection rate will go down.

I thought it would burn through the filters quicker. So it's ok to use hot water or does it need to be temperature controlled with cold water before going through the rodi system?

 

[KStatefan]

I thought it would burn through the filters quicker. So it's ok to use hot water or does it need to be temperature controlled with cold water before going through the rodi system?

The max temperature rating on a Filmtec membrane is 113 F. I would never use hot water.

 

[sdreef]

I didn't know you can use hot water through an rodi system

I put a T off of the cold water input that goes to the hot water heater. It's a normal temperature water input for the RO unit. I don't think you are supposed to use hot water for a RODI unit either. I wanted to locate everything in the garage and that was the easiest water supply.

 

[sdreef]

Great setup.

I have noticed the same "streaks" in my NSW reservoir.
I have the same tanks...although they are a different shape.
I use the same salt, Tropic Marine.
Let me guess... you have those streaks in the NSW but they are absent in the fresh RODI tank, correct??

Also, several months ago, I broke mine down and did a thorough power wash and bleach clean. it was spotless when done. reassembled and within about 2 months, the streaks returned. again, same tank for RODI water and it is pristine.

Here are my thoughts as I have not seen others discuss it specifically.
it does not look like algae growth to me. I would think that would not be 'streaky' but more round-ish....kind of like what coraline growth looks like on the glass....or bacteria growth on a petrie dish. growing colonies..not streaky.

yours (and mine) look more like rust stains to me. I know, I cant explain that either and not claiming it is 'rust' but that is what it looks like to me.

Probably like you, I have tested the water and all seems fine. So I am not doing much more about it. clearly something in the NSW 'reacting' with the plastic...somewhat regularly spaced and parallel linear streaks along the plastic....perhaps impurities in the wall of the tanks?


would love to hear your thoughts on this or if you have found any further info. thanks.

Here are the current pictures of my salt and fresh water reservoirs. My tank and it's inhabitants have been doing well and I haven't found anything concerning regarding the water quality and I haven't cleaned the reservoir. I have noticed more deposits with time.

I agree with your observations regarding the pattern of the deposits. The streaks don't grow the way you would expect with algae and it's clearly related to addition of the salt.

It's possible it's related to some impurities in the salt mix or, as you suggest, there may be some type of oxidative reaction occurring. Perhaps the unevenness of the surface of the plastic leads to the specific pattern of deposition of the dirt / impurities / oxidation when I mix new batches of salt and the water is spinning. I'm not familiar with the process for fabricating these tanks, but it's possible part of the manufacturing process could produce a regularly spaced, parallel, linear pattern of unevenness in the surface of the plastic.

After mixing a fresh batch of water and circulating overnight, I don't circulate the water at baseline. For the time being, I don't have any plans to clean the inside of the tank as it's out of sight and out of mind. The deposits do seem to wipe off easily and so I may wipe down at some point.

 

[aaron186]

I have a stupid question as I’m building a similar setup. The water from the salt container is pulled from the bottom. You’re adding salt which I assume settles at the bottom before dissolving. Does the pump then pull a ton of solid salt into the pump before it mixes completely?

 

[sdreef]

I have a stupid question as I’m building a similar setup. The water from the salt container is pulled from the bottom. You’re adding salt which I assume settles at the bottom before dissolving. Does the pump then pull a ton of solid salt into the pump before it mixes completely?

Prior to mixing salt, the pump is on and circulating the water continuously. I typically mix 80 gallons of water at a time, and this quantity of the salt mix gets added to the circulating water over a minute or so. Some undissolved salt does get pulled through the pump, but it has not been an issue. I mix the batch overnight and then verify the salinity, make any necessary adjustments, and use it the following day.

 

[kiran]

I really want to make an automated mixing station, but I don't know anything about plumbing or pumps. This looks so nice.

Did you follow any guides or anything to make your station?

 

[homer1475]

Theres actually a huge thread here somewhere......

Lets see of we can find it!

 

[homer1475]

Found it!

Salt Water Mixing Stations Let's See Them!!

I am currently looking to set up a RO/DI storage and salt mixing station in my house and I'm interested in the way other folks are doing it. So if you have any good photos of your systems don't be shy lets see them.:bigsmile:

www.reef2reef.com

 

[kiran]

Found it!

Salt Water Mixing Stations Let's See Them!!

I am currently looking to set up a RO/DI storage and salt mixing station in my house and I'm interested in the way other folks are doing it. So if you have any good photos of your systems don't be shy lets see them.:bigsmile:

www.reef2reef.com

Ayy thank you man. I appreciate it.

 

[sdreef]

I really want to make an automated mixing station, but I don't know anything about plumbing or pumps. This looks so nice.

Did you follow any guides or anything to make your station?

I looked at several designs and watched a couple videos to understand how it worked. Here is a parts list for my specific set up.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/sdreefs-330g-cda-acropora-dominant-mixed-reef.778823/post-8344856

The thread @homer1475 posted, has a number of other set ups to give you some ideas on a set up that might work for you.

 

[aaron186]

Prior to mixing salt, the pump is on and circulating the water continuously. I typically mix 80 gallons of water at a time, and this quantity of the salt mix gets added to the circulating water over a minute or so. Some undissolved salt does get pulled through the pump, but it has not been an issue. I mix the batch overnight and then verify the salinity, make any necessary adjustments, and use it the following day.

This makes sense. Thanks for explaining. I would have added salt first and messed up my system. Appreciate the reply

 

[aaron186]

I’m basically doing the exact same thing as you with the ATO and water change in my garage using an ATK and a dos. Did you end up using/needing check valves? If so did you place them on both sides of the runs or just one?

 

[sdreef]

I’m basically doing the exact same thing as you with the ATO and water change in my garage using an ATK and a dos. Did you end up using/needing check valves? If so did you place them on both sides of the runs or just one?

I tried an ATK first but the head pressure was too much for the pmup. I tried a check valve as well, but it added resistance to the lline and didn’t work for me.