how do YOU save RO reject water?

[Gary Majchrzak]

It's so hot and dry these days it seems like a crime to flush water down the drain, so let's hear it, folks- how do you save reject RO water for use?

 

[MD Ocean Girl]

My waste water goes into 5 gallon buckets, and I use it to water all of my plants, both inside my apartment, and out on the balcony. The plants love it.:wildone:

 

[SquidwardTentacles]

I purge my down the drain and feel guilty. In the past I did save it and use it to water the garden. I need to do something better/get back to that at least.

When I was at cardiffgiant's house picking up a couple frags, he had a great plan but I'll let him reveal weather he implemented it or not.

 

[chrisqueenz]

Washing machine!

 

[Krypt1979]

I also put mine into plants.

 

[fishman1234]

Washing machine!

Washing machine would be a great idea! That takes tons of water!

 

[tmz]

IIRC,Steve Helinski used to run his into an indoor koi holding pond/tank(rubbermaid trough) and run the excess from the pond to his garden. Contuous water change for the pond followed by a flow of fertilizer rich water to the garden.

 

[cardiffgiant]

I used to run mine to a washing machine. The advantage is that the plumbing is entirely indoors and you have a consistent use for the water all year. A word of warning... it's a bad idea to overflow your washing machine. We replaced ours with a front loader and can no longer pour the rejected RO into it.

I'm dumping it down the drain now, which I really don't like doing.

I'd like to use it to top off my pool, with possibly some going to a rain barrel that I can use for outside watering.

I still don't have a real consistent use for the rejected RO during the winter months. Though, I have been known to use it to smooth the ice underneath my tiny goalie and figure skater:

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

awwww...

awwww...

that's the BEST use I've heard yet!

Here's my problem: I fill a 55 gallon drum with RO water. This produces a LOT of reject water. It seems a shame not to recoup.

 

[skidoctor]

I save it in jugs and water my plants. Can't think of much else to do with it.
Has anyone thought of adding some skimmate to the reject ro to dilute it and then water plants? I wonder if that would bring the salinity down enough so as to not kill the plants.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I save it in jugs and water my plants. Can't think of much else to do with it.
Has anyone thought of adding some skimmate to the reject ro to dilute it and then water plants? I wonder if that would bring the salinity down enough so as to not kill the plants.

hmmm.

You're thinkin the crud in the skimmate might act as a type of plant fertilizer?

 

[cardiffgiant]

I save it in jugs and water my plants. Can't think of much else to do with it.
Has anyone thought of adding some skimmate to the reject ro to dilute it and then water plants? I wonder if that would bring the salinity down enough so as to not kill the plants.

Same here. I fill a 30G Brute, which produces 240G of reject. The pool is really the only way that I think I can use it all at once.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I like the pool idea

I like the pool idea

does anybody run the waste water line to the pool or are you guys shlepping buckets?

 

[NirvanaFan]

You could always hook up float switches in the 55g barrel. Put in a decent sized pump, and when the water level gets high, it will pump it out. Put a drain in the very top of the barrel that will flow into the sink as waste if the float switches decide to fail.

I've thought about doing something like this to water the yard and plants.

 

[SquidwardTentacles]

I save it in jugs and water my plants. Can't think of much else to do with it.
Has anyone thought of adding some skimmate to the reject ro to dilute it and then water plants? I wonder if that would bring the salinity down enough so as to not kill the plants.

Skimmate is pure fertilizer. Think about what's in there...

I doubt that a cup of it added to 35 gallons would do much harm due to salinity. I'm not even sure if it would have any salinity? Time for an experiment, Doctor...

 

[skidoctor]

Ok, I'll bite the bullet. I get dark, nasty stuff from my skimmer, so I'll add some to a gallon and let you know how it goes.

 

[sinenomine]

Skimmate is salty (it's bubbling not evaporating). If you use it on regular plants the salt will build up to damaging levels quickly.

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[SquidwardTentacles]

Skimmate is salty (it's bubbling not evaporating). If you use it on regular plants the salt will build up to damaging levels quickly.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

But is salt water getting up in there or just the "gunk?" I think we need to do an experiment. Since I no longer have a skimmer in use, I can't.

If SkiDoc adds a cup to some RO waste and tests the salinity, that would prove interesting. I'd hate to have to call the Myth Busters in on this one.

 

[Landolakes]

You could always just taste the skimate to check the salinity (at least that's how he checked it on fish tank kings).

 

[sinenomine]

But is salt water getting up in there or just the "gunk?" I think we need to do an experiment. Since I no longer have a skimmer in use, I can't.

If SkiDoc adds a cup to some RO waste and tests the salinity, that would prove interesting. I'd hate to have to call the Myth Busters in on this one.

Just tested mine at 1.026. Same I keep my reef.

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