Need advice w/Water Storage and Shut Off Valves

[llebcire]

Getting ready to make the move to a 180 gal and need to start researching water storage options.

Currently, I'm using a 32 gallon Rubbermaid trash can, a 5 gallon Reef Crystals bucket (clean), 3 Coralife Pure-Flo II Floats & one Coralife shutoff valve.

Current setup is RO/DI split between Rubbermaid and Reef Crystals, each with their own float. Rubbermaid is for gathering 15 gallons of water for mixing, Reef Crystals (drilled) is used to top off the sump/fuge that has the 3rd float.

First, these floats suck! The threads that they use are very cheap and always seem to leak. It's to the point that I have to babysit the system and shut it off when it's full or I'll get a mess.

Second, I've heard the that Rubbermaid trash containers have been known to split and I've also found that the material they use doesn't bond well to silicone.

My plan is to get a 75/100 gallon Rubbermaid to use as a sump and convert my current sump/fuge to a fuge only (it's already a drilled 30 gallon tank).

What I need to find are reliable shut off floats and two storage containers, 20 gallons each should suffice (could be larger). I would prefer that they would have a lid and take up roughly the same space (each) or less than the Rubbermaid trash cans.

I plan on keeping the Reef Crystals bucket as it's about 5 gallons, is great for the top off and mixing calcium in.

Also, the cheaper the better!

Thanks!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Rubbermaid 'Brutes' are reliable. I've found the Kent float valves work great for making RO water and shutting it off...

 

[vid151]

I use 50 gallon barrells for my RO water and Salt water... not exactly small but it is nice to have that kind of water on hand if something happens..

but I was going to 2nd the Kent RO float valve for my RO-DI as this kills the RO unit when the barell is full.

Good luck.

 

[llebcire]

Isn't the Kent basically the same piece as the Coralife? They sure do appear the same in the pics!!

What I found is that the material (i.e. plastic) they use in the external connector for the RO line is very thin/flexible/cheap and that it's difficult to get it to seal properly.