Reef tanks and septic systems

[bchen7106]

Hey all,

My wife and I are looking to move into a new home and in the process will obviously NEED to upgrade our existing reef tank. We are thinking something in the 100 gallon plus range.

However the towns we are looking in all have private septic systems. Anyone out there have any knowledge about how compatible reef systems are with these systems?

As I understand it, the septic system has its own bacterial population that aids in breaking down waste. Ultimately I think a lot of the "digested" fluid part gets released into the environment. My concern is that the salt water from doing water changes would damage the bacterial population as well as the surrounding environment.

I would obviously be devastated if I couldn't have a tank in my new home.

 

[gone fishin]

I have run my tanks for a few years and I have a septic system. I have never had any problems. When the weather is nice I just dump my water outside but in colder months it goes down the utility sink. The little bit of water from water changes I don't think has a much of an effect on the system. If I was putting as much saltwater in a day as I do waste water then that would probably be a different story. just my 2 cents.

 

[Flame_Angel]

Yeah, you'd have to be putting way more water down the drain on a regular basis than you will be with your 100g tank. You're safe.

 

[cephalotus]

Salt in a septic is not good,
1 When the system is low it can crystalize and clog the drain tile
2 The salinity and PH shift can upset the bacteria population
I have a reef and a septic, I have my old water change water plumbed outside. The water table is high were I live so I also run my R.O. Discharge outside.

 

[marty9876]

I've never gotten a very clear answer on this, my approach has been to lesson the amount of salt water poured into the septic system.

Biggest question to me is what happens when the salt hits the drain field.

Few notes:

- the brine discharge from the average water softener needs to be taken to account. People like to say the bacteria is different and yada yada the system can't process the salt water. They can.

- Bleach any antibiotic that goes as this would be the hardest thing on the system. Avoid use of antibiotic soaps, heaving bleaching of washes etc.

- I'm planning on getting all my tanks pumped every 1-2 years versus the 3 average.

- I installed a daylight drain which I send the RO discharge, water softener discharge and as much salt water as I can. For me, ~ 75% of my water change water goes into the septic as the daylight is a floor drain in my fish room and it sucks dumping water into a floor drain versus a slop sink.

 

[marty9876]

double post

 

[cr reef]

Not being a Septic inspector I cannot give a proffesional answer but...............I ran a 130g (total water volume) for 8 years on a septic, all water down the toilet and when I sold my house a few months ago I had the tank and system checked all was fine. Also, the iinspector had a SW tank also and never said boo about it being an issue.

Personally I wouldn't be concerned

 

[MuffsAbby]

I have a septic and a 150g tank. Before installing the tank well over a year ago, I spoke to the company that regularly maintains/inspects my septic. They saw no issues given the amount of SW I would be putting into the system (about 25% per month). As was mentioned by marty9876, they advised me to stay away from bleach...so I never use it in any cleaning (re the tank or otherwise). I've had no issues with my septic in the past 1.5 years since installing the tank.