Odd Question. Instant ocean 160 bucket empty water capacity?

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OK so heres my question. Trying to talk my wife into mixing some salt up for me this morning so when I get home this afternoon it will have been mixing for a while and ready to add. I just want to know how much WATER an instant ocean salt bucket will hold. I think they are 7-10 gallons, but am unsure. Had a minor issue where apparently sometime in the morning my breaker blew that has all my tanks on it. Water siphoned from my return line (because I didn't buy a check valve yet to install on it because I thought hey I won't lose power the first night... yep stupid I know) to the sump and overflowed probably 4-5 gallons maybe more onto the basement floor. Luckily the tank stand is the only thing that could be damaged the rest is just concrete and a drain nearby so it wasn't a huge problem and since I caught it at 7AM the tank wasn't running without flow or heat for more than 4 or 5 hours (I'm guessing it went out sometime in the morning via how full my skimmer cup was, still just a guess). Anyways I want to tell her approx how much salt to add to the bucket and would help to know how much water one of the Instant ocean salt buckets will hold( the one that makes 160 gallons of salt water). All help appreciated!
Also wondering if such a thing exists barbed (for connecting vinyl tubing) check valve in 1" size. Something like the spears pvc check valves sold on BRS but for connecting vinyl tubing. Thanks everyone!
 
I think a check valve on your return will lead to disaster at some point. I'd stay away from that. Your return should be built to break the siphon sooner, and your sump should be able to handle the excess water before the siphon breaks.
 
I misunderstood that, coffee hadn't kicked in yet :)
However, I wouldnt use check valves, they're prone to clogging, or sticking, which defeats the purpose. Maybe you can redo the return so it's closer to the surface. Also, do you know why the breaker tripped?
 
I misunderstood that, coffee hadn't kicked in yet :)
However, I wouldnt use check valves, they're prone to clogging, or sticking, which defeats the purpose. Maybe you can redo the return so it's closer to the surface. Also, do you know why the breaker tripped?

Not 100% sure why the breaker tripped. I turned off a few things and it kept tripping. Eventually removed an old surge protector (so old it was yellow) and plugged everything that was in it into a different surge protector and the problem seems to have gone away for now. Everything in my basement is on a single outlet (the sump pump for my basement) because its an unfinished basement. I have an electrician friend who is going to help me add outlets and circuits in the basement eventually so I'll have a dedicated circuit for my tanks.
As for the check valve return situation I could angle the return line higher up but that isn't really favorable for flow throughout the tank... Can't really completely redo the return and my sump isn't big enough to handle that much being siphoned back. I could drill a hole in one of the return locline nozzles so it can pull in air sooner, would result in less water siphoning... Recommendations?
 
That would work. Just don't forget to clean it every now and then :)

Maybe I'll drill both sides and have the loc lines arch up in the center and back down to have flow go where I want it (putting the hole on the highest location). If I put a hole in both sides it will be less likely to clog. Will do this tonight. Should I drill on the sides or top?
 
6 gallons to the brim.

I use extras to brew beer in. 5 gallons of wort comes up about 3" short of the rim, another 4 qt of liquid brings it level to the top.
 
I think for now thats what I'll do and eventually I may add one of those really pricey george fischer wye check valves that can be disassembled and cleaned.
Also thanks for the responses about the bucket. I told her to fill it and add 3 cups of salt. She texted me back saying she used a different container... normally my instructions get halfway followed through. So now I think I have a 4 gallon container with probably 1.030 sg... Guess I'll just dilute and remeasure!
 
I think a check valve on your return will lead to disaster at some point. I'd stay away from that. Your return should be built to break the siphon sooner, and your sump should be able to handle the excess water before the siphon breaks.

Not if you clean it. They make check valves that come apart. I would do both. Always nice to have redundancies.
 
I use a plastic check valve with a weight that drops in. No spring to rust and deteriorate. The only downside is, it will form gunk after awhile so you need to clean it (unscrew the cap on the branch, remove the weight and wipe it down and wipe out the pipe a bit.) using black tubing/non-clear plumbing will avoid this being excessive.

If you don't it WILL stick, I always make sure I clean it when I do my water changes, and my sump is setup such that if it sticks, I'll get maybe a cup of water on the floor. The hole in the return near the water line isn't a bad idea, I might do that too just in case.

Oh, and mine, the only way to get the weight out is to take the cap off and hit the pump for a second with a towel to catch the weight and the water jet that comes after.. Totally smooth on the backside, I thought about putting something grippy on the back, but I'm worried that might interfere with it.
 
There is 2 plastic rims on the bucket, besides the obvious top rim. Filled up to the second rim, is exactly 5 US gallons. I've actually measured it because I was curious as well. I used to do 5G WC's on my biocube, and that's why and how I measured it.
 
FYI the avast skimmate super locker will fit on an empty salt bucket. Confirmed it.

sorry, a tad off topic.
 
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