Large Reefs: Water Changes?

[happyclam]

What do you guys do with all your dirty water from the water changes? With the size of these reefs, some people my have upwards of 50 gallons of dirty water. Just curious. Sorry for the basic question.

 

[Jar*Head]

Very simple, I just let it run down the city drain and back to the ocean . In my system, i am doing 30g water change every 3 days....

 

[happyclam]

So I can just drain it into the street? Somewhere I read your not suppose to do that b/c you might introduce something into local water system, but there aren't really any other options.
Thanks!

 

[sunsetSPS]

Best way is giving it back to the ocean, otherwise, if this hobby gets popular our ocean will become freshwater as all salt has been consumed and kept in land by our reefers LOL.

 

[Crumbs]

wouldnt that be illegal since you could introduce foreign bacteria into your local ocean? Not much different then releasing a fish.

If you have enough space you could let the water change cycle and reuse it. I wish I had the space to do that. I just dump it in my toilet.

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15176264#post15176264 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by happyclam
So I can just drain it into the street? Somewhere I read your not suppose to do that b/c you might introduce something into local water system, but there aren't really any other options.
Thanks!

I don't think anyone is talking about storm drains here... most reefers dump their water into a sewer drain (sink, toilet, cleanout)in their house where it goes the same place pee and poop go for treatment... I "introduce" a lot worse things than saltwater waste into my local water treatment system...

LL

 

[happyclam]

Hey, thanks for the replies guys!

Lightsluvr, what if you have a septic system? I'm not sure if all the bacteria in there could handle 30+ gallons of seawater. Or would they?

 

[dahenley]

salt water can kill the bacteria in a septic tank. (different kind of bacteria) just what i have heard, when we kame ice cream, the leftover salt water, we pour it next to the drive way to kill the weeds.
my 2 cents, hope it helps

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15190352#post15190352 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by happyclam
Hey, thanks for the replies guys!

Lightsluvr, what if you have a septic system? I'm not sure if all the bacteria in there could handle 30+ gallons of seawater. Or would they?

Wow...now that's a good question. My opinion would be that saltwater would do bad things to the good bacteria in the septic tank, not to mention what effect it would have on a drain field and the grass and trees around it...

That's a question for someone who has actually lived with a septic system. Sorry I misunderstood your original question.

You might consider starting a new thread with a title that specifically asks about septic systems...

Good luck.

LL

 

[Tater11]

i've dumped many gallons of salt water in the ditch in front of our
house.it has never killed the grass

 

[troylee]

I dump mine in the grass all the time its free fertelizer lol.....no problems with it killing any thing.........water is sparse out here in the desert...

 

[dunham16]

salt water will not effect septic system it actually helps bacteria.
here is a link about it.http://www.caitechnologies.com/wate...ater-softener-discharge-on-septic-systems.htm

 

[Lightsluvr]

Great information...

Great information...

Lots of good responses and love that link... very informative!

LL