Plumbed Barrels...

[mflamb]

I built a rack for the barrels for my RO/DI water and fresh mixed salt water. Then I installed two 1 inch bulkheads in each barrel, and plumbed both into and out of 1 pump. I'll install the RO/DI unit tomorrow above the water heater, and tap into the cold water line.
Here's the system drawing from ReefArtist:

And here's the barrels and plumbing:

I need one more ball valve for the drain into the bottom barrel:

 

[CMcNeil]

that looks great mike.i see the spaflex is coming in handy for you.

 

[mflamb]

I have about 18 inches of that roll left.

 

[Don Lino]

Nice build...are the barrels both for your mixed saltwater??

 

[mflamb]

The top one will be RO/DI water for top off and to fill the bottom barrel for salt mixing.

 

[Don Lino]

Great Job, keep us updated on the RO/DI setup. Thanks...Just saw the pictrure and in small letters I read what each barrel will do, Thanks anyways...

 

[mflamb]

More pics tomorrow after I install the RO/DI.

 

[o2zen]

WOW nice build.

1_) What size barrels are those?

2_) Are the tops on or off?

3_) How do you add salt and check your salt mix in the bottom barrel?

4_) Do you have a pump in the bottom barrel to mix the salt?

I was thinking of doing the same but was wondering about these things. I mixed a bunch of salt water up, about 33g and left them in my garage and the barrel got hot. The next time I checked it I was showing an ammonia spike in the barrel.

 

[mflamb]

The barrels are 65 gallon. (Thanks Carol.) The tops are on. The RO/DI water goes into a small hole in the lid on the top barrel. The bottom barrel has room to easily remove the top for adding salt and water, and room to check the mix with a refractometer. The lid has a 4 inch screw off cap for the mixing power head cord to go through.

 

[o2zen]

Nice thanks.

 

[mflamb]

More pics of the finished job.

 

[Don Lino]

Looks great.

 

[CMcNeil]

looks like you've been working hard this weekend.

 

[cjgalante]

nice setup!

 

[ReefArtist]

Thanks for taking the time to detail your setup, it's really helping me layout my next build. You are very welcome about the barrels.

Just a few questions:
How did the bulkheads do on the curved surface? Just wondering because I'm in a position now to order either the uniseals or bulkheads. Were the bulkhead hard to get into the bottom of the barrel - or just a little creative engineering?

Nice job as always!

 

[mflamb]

The minimal curvature of the barrels combined with their flexibility made the bulkheads easy to seat. I put the bottom bulkheads on a clothes hanger to get them to their location.

 

[ReefArtist]

Thanks for the information on the bulkheads - I'm thinking of just going with them - easier to get locally and online. Oh - I like the clothes hanger solution - LOL.

I'm assuming you will be putting a ballvalve at the top of the saltwater lid- filling RO into the bottom barrel. I know you're not finished with that yet but just had to ask .

Here's an update to your setup. I added the unions and added the ballvalve for the fresh RO (BV1). I think this is close to your setup. Some of the 90's, tees etc might be different and it will depend on personal location of barrels and pumps - general layout.

Hope this helps everyone:

 

[mflamb]

You are correct about BV3.