Anyone have a reef with septic system?

[TheGrog]

I am thinking of purchasing a new house. It will be my first house (keep fingers crossed) if I can get it.

The one major problem I see is that it is on a septic tank system. Does anyone out there have a septic system and if so, do you dispose of your waste water through it? If you don't/cant dump it in your septic system, how do you get rid of it?

I currently have a 75g reef, but am wanting to upgrade to something in the 150-200 range with my house (already got the spot picked out).

Any input would be helpful.

Thanks!

 

[chilwil84]

the problems with septic tanks is always fluids. as they age they can handle less fluids in large doses because they start to drain slowly with time. if you only have a couple small tanks or something like a 75 gallon a good functioning septic can handle the water changes and the waste RO water no problem. i just built my house and have a septic and i used part of a new type of septic systems called infiltrators (also used them for my septic bed) to build a dry well for my water changes, ro waste, etc. it cost about $100 for a system with the capacity of a $300 rock drywell and u dont have to dig deep you ned to dig a long narrow trench so it can be dug by hand.

 

[TheGrog]

So you installed a seperate infiltrator septic system just for your RO waste and water change water? Sounds like an idea. There is also a small creek that runs through the property, but it is frequently dry. I could possibly install one on the side with the overflow going to the creek. hmmmm

 

[Mouse]

So you installed a seperate infiltrator septic system just for your RO waste and water change water? Sounds like an idea. There is also a small creek that runs through the property, but it is frequently dry. I could possibly install one on the side with the overflow going to the creek. hmmmm

I would not recomend having it go to a creek bed. Dry or otherwise.

 

[jwoyshnar]

I dont drain it into the septic system. Im afraid of killing off the necessary bacteria. I dump it on my drive way. I had lots of issues with weeds til i did that. Now i have none.

 

[clownfreak]

So you installed a seperate infiltrator septic system just for your RO waste and water change water? Sounds like an idea. There is also a small creek that runs through the property, but it is frequently dry. I could possibly install one on the side with the overflow going to the creek. hmmmm

That may be ok for ro waste (but there are more constructive uses for) but I would NOT put saltwater in a naturally freshwater enviroment.

 

[ShellsSD]

I have a 180g and a 150g and we are on septic. You do not want to put salt water in your septic you will kill off the good bacteria that you need in there.

 

[njdevilsfan]

just chunk the old water out in back corner or side of your house
and i have had a rodi set up with a septic system for 5 plus years
and i have around 500 gallons of tanks

 

[bigdoug]

I was wandering the same thing, as i am on a septic system as well, tank in the basment, i am not lugging 30-40g per water change up the stairs. there is a lot of info in this thread, http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f161/saltwater-and-septic-system-154746.html, i will find out in the spring myself when i have mine pumped, as to what the guy tells me if it looks healthy or not.

 

[chilwil84]

you resupply the bacteria everytime you go. not having enough bacteria and the adding stuff to your septic tank is a myth. my father worked for over 30 years in the county health dept and the main thing he dealt with were septic systems. large flows of water that your bed cant handle is where the problems lie. over time soaps and other chemicals form a layer in your bed stopping the water from going down so it goes up instead (into your yard) a seperate drywell system is the best way to go if you have a large tank. you could also hook one or more of your gutters to it if you have water problems in your yard and fix 2 problems.

 

[newtank]

Dump it down the drain, no problem. I have waste water treatment licenses, so I know my poo. First of all your treatment system probably has a total capacity of 1200g min, so your 40-50gallons of salt water means nothing. There are literally billions of microfauna performing digestion, trust me they are easliy replaced. If it makes you feel better send it out the window, it would do more harm to your grass than your septic system.

 

[njdevilsfan]

i can tell you here they make you get those fancy 3 tanks system with no leach feild
it feeds 2 sprinkler heads i would be carful with all the pumps and electrical to avoid gettinvg salt in those systems

 

[89Foxbody]

Why not just dump it in the lawn or in the driveway lol? I have 5 tanks and I just throw it all outside. It's only a few gallons at a time anyway.

 

[ludnix]

Saltwater is not good for plants.

 

[89Foxbody]

Meh. I don't really care about my lawn anyways.

 

[JPMagyar]

The majority of houses in New England have septic systems as does mine and Keith Berkelhamer's (TOTM in '09), and Ked Lyttonsmith's (TOTM '02), as well as numerous other local reefin' buddies I know. Unless you're planning on changing 1000 gallons of tank water a day I'm pretty sure the septic will have no trouble with the extra water and salt.

If you're concerned you can have your septic inspected annually instead of every couple years, and then after a year or two of no trouble you will have more confidence and can back off on the inspections. The biggest issue with septics is not to treat the sink like a garbage disposal or the toilet like a garbage can. Solids like tampons, tissue (not toilet paper), and food debris pose a far greater challenge for your septic than aquarium water ever will.



Joe

 

[camostore]

ro system

ro system

I had a problem with my ro not having a auto shut off so it ran non stop the clean water load was putting a strain on the septic system that is the only problem i have had in the 10 years of reef keeping.

 

[64Ivy]

Down the drain for me...and I change a fair amount of water.

 

[rickh]

Down the drain for me. The first septic tank is usually ~1000 gallons depending on the house. A little sea water won't hurt, but watch those Depends:strooper:

 

[reefD]

Dump it down the drain, no problem. I have waste water treatment licenses, so I know my poo. First of all your treatment system probably has a total capacity of 1200g min, so your 40-50gallons of salt water means nothing. There are literally billions of microfauna performing digestion, trust me they are easliy replaced. If it makes you feel better send it out the window, it would do more harm to your grass than your septic system.

unless your doing water changes like everyday the small amount of saltwater shouldnt cause any real shift in the freshwater having an increase in salinity. just keep an eye at first but shouldnt be a big deal.:twitch: