Powerhead for Salt mixing

[re76]

I'm looking to get parts for a salt water mixing station. I plan to use a brute garbage can for DI water storage, and a separate brute can for the actual mixing.

I plan on putting a heater and powerhead in the salt water can, but I have no idea which powerhead to use. It would be nice if it provided enough flow for mixing but I could also put a tube on it to pump the water into the tank.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[FF337]

I used a mag 7 for this before. I now use a mag 12 plumbed externally using bulkheads and valves. I can turn the valves to mix the water. Then turn a valve to fill the tank. Pump is plugged into the wall that is operated using a light switch

I thought about not running it externally and install a union fitting on the pump and to a hose that I could remove while mixing saltwater and then install when I wanted to pump the water. Instead I hard piped everything.

A small internal pump will work and be able to fill a tank. How fast will depend on the pump.

 

[CStrickland]

You can use anything to mix the water, but if you are going to use the same pump to send it to the tank it matters how far that is. You'll want a stronger pump if the tank is uphill - gravity, or like at the other end of the house.

For mixing, I just use an old SunSun that I broke the suction cup, they're like $8. I use an old eheim compact plus 2000 for pushing the water into the tank, cause it's what I had laying around. It was the return on my old smaller tank, and it's pretty bulletproof but really overkill for this use. I like how the eheim can run dry without priming, and be external or underwater. But it poops the bed at about 4 feet of vertical. The fact that I can run it external gives a nice benefit of using it to suck water out of the sump when I need to clean up the crud under there. Since my sump is at floor level so I can't use a siphon for that.

I think most people use leftover pumps for this, I wouldn't spend a lot on it. So where will your mixing station be relative to the tank, and how much water are you planning on changing?

 

[SeaTila]

I'm looking to get parts for a salt water mixing station. I plan to use a brute garbage can for DI water storage, and a separate brute can for the actual mixing.

I plan on putting a heater and powerhead in the salt water can, but I have no idea which powerhead to use. It would be nice if it provided enough flow for mixing but I could also put a tube on it to pump the water into the tank.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

I have a setup like that. ro unit is installed under sink with valve. Tds meter attached to ro and goes into brute thru utility room wall to garage. The ro brute has float to stop the ro from filling in can at top but we still have to remember to shut off the valve under sink.

I make 30g at a time using red sea coral pro. you may not need heater if location or ro is already warm due to summer garage etc. The pump I use is cobalt mj900. 15cups slowly add and let it mix for about 30 min. I use a broom handle to stir the undisolved salt on bottom and let pump run. I check levels and salinity after about 1 hour.

Usually salinity for me is about 1.025 when 15 cups are level. The exact amount to make the 30g will be slightly different with temp and moisture of salt ...read that somewhere so I check...usually its very close with this method. I have used small sump heater to pull up temp a bit.

The RO bute is elevated...see pic. The saltwater bute is glued to wheels

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[re76]

You can use anything to mix the water, but if you are going to use the same pump to send it to the tank it matters how far that is. You'll want a stronger pump if the tank is uphill - gravity, or like at the other end of the house.

For mixing, I just use an old SunSun that I broke the suction cup, they're like $8. I use an old eheim compact plus 2000 for pushing the water into the tank, cause it's what I had laying around. It was the return on my old smaller tank, and it's pretty bulletproof but really overkill for this use. I like how the eheim can run dry without priming, and be external or underwater. But it poops the bed at about 4 feet of vertical. The fact that I can run it external gives a nice benefit of using it to suck water out of the sump when I need to clean up the crud under there. Since my sump is at floor level so I can't use a siphon for that.

I think most people use leftover pumps for this, I wouldn't spend a lot on it. So where will your mixing station be relative to the tank, and how much water are you planning on changing?

I don't have an attached garage so all of the mixing equipment will be going in the basement. I MIGHT be able to talk the boss into letting me run something through the floor, but for now I'm assuming I will be mixing large quantities in the basement and then hauling buckets up stairs to where the tank is.

If I am able to go through the floor the mixing station would be almost directly below the basement and the tank is on the main floor above it.


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[C.Eymann]

My setup is identical to yours, two 32gal brutes one for RODI and one for mix.

Anything that moves water will be fine. I have a mag7 and a old maxi jet sureflow mod and a 150w heater in my mixing can. Heater hardly runs because the mag7 kicks out so much heat. :lmao:

 

[re76]

My setup is identical to yours, two 32gal brutes one for RODI and one for mix.

Anything that moves water will be fine. I have a mag7 and a old maxi jet sureflow mod and a 150w heater in my mixing can. Heater hardly runs because the mag7 kicks out so much heat. :lmao:

Would you be able to walk me through your setup in more detail? Along with the steps you take to make water?

I have a rough idea of how this is all going to work but I would love to know specifics. Also is there anything you would do differently if you were going to rework your system?

 

[thelawnwrangler]

I don't have an attached garage so all of the mixing equipment will be going in the basement. I MIGHT be able to talk the boss into letting me run something through the floor, but for now I'm assuming I will be mixing large quantities in the basement and then hauling buckets up stairs to where the tank is.

If I am able to go through the floor the mixing station would be almost directly below the basement and the tank is on the main floor above it.


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lol good luck with the boss- better to ask forgiveness then permission? Next time she is out of town make it happen. I am already secretly acquiring pieces for the next setup. So when the time comes actually I just this $1 per a gallon tank I have all the spare parts around.

 

[cincyjim]

I used a mag 7 for this before. I now use a mag 12 plumbed externally using bulkheads and valves. I can turn the valves to mix the water. Then turn a valve to fill the tank. Pump is plugged into the wall that is operated using a light switch

I thought about not running it externally and install a union fitting on the pump and to a hose that I could remove while mixing saltwater and then install when I wanted to pump the water. Instead I hard piped everything.

A small internal pump will work and be able to fill a tank. How fast will depend on the pump.

Would you be willing to show us some pics of this? Thanks!

 

[C.Eymann]

Would you be able to walk me through your setup in more detail? Along with the steps you take to make water?

I have a rough idea of how this is all going to work but I would love to know specifics. Also is there anything you would do differently if you were going to rework your system?

My "system" isn't very refined or elaborate. No holes/bulkheads on trash cans. it's in my basement and I don't pump water into the the tank from my saltwater mixing can. I get it from the can to the tank manually using several dedicated 5gal buckets.

Have a typhoon 100gpd, with a T fiting and valve between the membrane and last DI stage for filling up jugs for drinking water. Have a TDS meter that tests before and after the DI. (First used to determine membrane health, after DI to ensure my product water is at 0 TDS.

Best way to make salt water in a empty 32 gal can is to fill with RODI water, turn on pumps and heater, add just shy of 13 cups of salt mix wait a few hours, test salinity should be around 1.020, add another cup, wait, test, repeat till you reach 1.024-1.026 whatever you prefer.
Much better to add too little of salt than it is too much which is why I intially add 13 cups instead of 15. (Most salt mix is 1/2cup per gallon btw)
Also I figure about 4in below the rim of a 32 gallon brute is where I fill it up to and I figure it's just short of 30gals.
Hope this helps I'll add pics when I get to a computer.

 

[CStrickland]

If I am able to go through the floor the mixing station would be almost directly below the basement and the tank is on the main floor above it.

Do this. If you sleep on the couch for a month after, it will be worth it.
FWIW I don't find it necessary to keep lots of salt water around. But even mixing it to order anything more than one 5g bucket up the stairs would have me considering all options.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Do this. If you sleep on the couch for a month after, it will be worth it.
FWIW I don't find it necessary to keep lots of salt water around. But even mixing it to order anything more than one 5g bucket up the stairs would have me considering all options.

I like the do it when she is gone- will she even know lol

 

[BigEZ77]

I bought the cheapest one I could find...been going strong for months now.

 

[rvlcf]

I do exactly what your looking for. Rodi to brute, then into brute mixing bucket, then pumped upstairs from basement to tank. I got a pump that would push water up 16 vertical feet, don't remember what it's called, and it also mixes the salt. When the salt water is ready I just attach a hose with a ball valve on the effluent end and walk it up from the basement, turn the valve and let the fresh salt water flow into the tank. If I could hard plumb everything through the floor I would, but this works well. I won't lug buckets anymore!

 

[colodano]

That setup looks pretty decent rvlcf, I think I can convince the "boss" to let me set up like that in our basement. No hard plumbing to upstairs in a rental...

 

[re76]

Alright, I'm going to try to propose the through the floor method. Going to tell her that all of the reef experts on the internet said that it is the way to go.

Will report back with the results... :strooper:

 

[Capiross1]

Look into a smaller pan world pump if your gonna go through your floor, there pretty reasonably priced


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[C.Eymann]

Alright, I'm going to try to propose the through the floor method. Going to tell her that all of the reef experts on the internet said that it is the way to go.

Will report back with the results... :strooper:

Definitely go through the floor, reason I didn't is because I'm planning to relocate my sump to the basement.
One thing that is I have seen other reefers do is rigg a small float switch in the sump to a small indicator light in the basement so you know when you are the right level when refilling after a water change.

 

[FF337]

Would you be willing to show us some pics of this? Thanks!

Absolutely.

Right ball valve feeds pump, center ball valve goes to tank(approximately 12' horizontally), left ball valve re-enters to the container for recirculation. I have two 1" bulkheads on the bottom of the containers. Inside the container on the return/recirculation side I have a small piece of pipe and an elbow to an elbow. Basically making a 180* coupling to aim the "nozzle" to stir the salt off the bottom of the container. Simple and effective.

 

[FF337]

Forgive the botched paint job. I was in a hurry