RO/DI storage barrel stand build

[Weyrman]

Six weeks ago in late March I received a new 135 gallon mixed reef with fish addition to my house. The former owner had been having a water change service come in every week to do water changes and a bit of cleanup. That was costing her about $100 a week.

I'm new to the salt water scene. Have always wanted to get into it. Even bought a 240 gallon tank for it. Just never put my toe in the water. So this new tank got the juices flowing. But I didn't want to screw up so figured I'd have the service continue.

I called the service multiple times to find out about changing over to my place. The former owner called on my behalf as well. The service never returned our calls. If that's service then I don't want it.

Obviously I had to do something.

So I started out with about 12 - 7 or 8 gallon containers for getting water from the LFS for water changes and top off. They are currently being stored in the foyer, bathroom, and behind the kitchen table. This will not work long term.

Going each week to the LFS turns out to be rather time consuming just for water changes. Enjoyed looking at the fish, coral, and other goodies. But I'm usually on a mission when trying to get things done. Again, a problem long term.

I figured I could kill two birds with one stone if I made the RO/DI water here at home. I could save the weekly trips and maybe get rid of some of the water containers.

10 days or so ago I set up an RO/DI system and tied it into a water storage barrel. That barrel was pretty old and sprung a leak. So I took the hint and also did some planning ahead for that 240 gallon build and ended up deciding to build a stand for the storage barrel that would also hold the salt water mixing can and about 100 feet of aquarium cleaning and filling hoses that keep ending up in the guest room bathtub.

Today I built the stand for a new 55 gallon RO/DI storage barrel I picked up at Tanknbarrel in Apache Junction for $35. My idea was to build a stand high enough that I could store the Rubbermaid 44 gallon Brute can (used for mixing the salt & water in) underneath. The Brute can has been sitting in the kitchen as there's no place else for it to go at the moment.

The stand will go in the garage. I have the RO/DI unit plumbed out to the garage already.


Materials used:
1 - 11/32" thick 4x8 sheet of plywood for the sides - $15
1 - 23/32" thick 4x8 sheet of plywood for the top - $23 (a 2x4 piece was $22 so I figured I'd just get the full sheet and have some left over for the next project)
3 - 2x4x8
About 26 each - 12-2 and 12-1 1/2 flat head wood screws - already had a couple boxes of 100 so don't know what they would cost.
8- 1/4" x 2 1/2" lag bolts - left over from another project
2 - 2x4 hangers - $3.50


Dimensions:

top - 26" deep x 36" wide
Height - 4'

The front support 2x4's were placed sideways to allow for a wider object to be put into the storage area.

I countersunk the wood screws so the surface would be flush.

The plywood for the sides was hung over the back by 11/32" to make the back plywood piece lay flush. I can put sheet rock over this easily for my, as yet, undecided plans for the 240 gallon to be in wall in my office and backed up into the garage. I'll incorporate the RO/DI storage water stand into that build if I get that far.

 

[Weyrman]

Here's some shots of the stand on its "front" so I can attach the back to each end/side. I used some deck end tables to support things.

Also, here's a shot of how I did the side plywood so it would be flush at the corners.

The crossmembers were put on with lag screws because I think these needed to be pretty hefty to support over 400 pounds of storage tank when full.

I used a simple hanger to put in the center crossmember. I had to chisel a bit out of the front and back crossmembers to get the center crossmember to be flush. The top wouldn't have been bowed if I hadn't done this.

 

[Weyrman]

I put the barrel on the stand to see how it looked. I did this all on the back patio. Once I was satisfied that it was finished I went ahead and moved it to the pool deck for stress testing. I filled the barrel on the stand. It will sit there for the night and I'll drain the water into the pool when I'm satified that it's sound.

It filled with no creaking. The stand is way more sturdy than any of my 55 gallon tank stands.

Once I get it moved into the garage I'll add some more to this build thread.

 

[Weyrman]

Some final pics of the storage stand build.

The barrel is full and I'll let it sit for the night to see if there's any sagging or whatever. I don't expect any.

 

[lostmyz]

Can't wait to see the final project! I love this idea! I will probably be tagging along and doing my own if I can fit the storage barrels in the shed. What are the dimensions of the storage barrels you got? (They have removable lids?)

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[lostmyz]

Nice patio btw!!!! When I do mine we will be talking ;-) im clearing the shed out this week. I think however I will make the barrels incased on a step like the thread I posted and make a box like u did but place the barrels below and use the top for storage

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[Weyrman]

The 55 gallon barrel is about 2' x 3' tall - give or take a 1/2". Both the bung style and open top have these dimensions.

Combined with the 4' high stand it's 7 feet tall. I have 7 1/2 feet of space for it underneath some upper shelving in the garage that it will fit under.

I didn't bother with the removable lids barrels as I've already been able to install a float valve through the bung top style barrel before. I used an aquarium extension "gripper" to manuver things inside the barrel. Also, tanknbarrel managed to put the bib faucet at the bottom of the barrel too. No big deal but saves $15. I figure once its installed I don't need to open it up again.

If I decide to get another barrel for mixing salt water up in instead of the Brute can in the lower section then that one will be open top for sure.

I'm hoping the advantage to having the storage barrel higher up like this is the water flow should be pretty good out of the bib faucet at the bottom. No pump should be needed. I had been syphoning water out before. The barrel was about a foot off the floor then. That got real slow once the barrel was half empty. And near the end it was downright painfull waiting for the water to syphon out. I finally had to attach a pump to get things moving faster.

Even if the added height doesn't play out for water discharge the space savings for the Brute can will be worth it.

 

[NakedClown]

Were did you get your barrel, im looking for one to store salt water so i dont have to mix it every week

EDIT I CANT READ

 

[Weyrman]

Were did you get your barrel, im looking for one to store salt water so i dont have to mix it every week

Post #1:

Today I built the stand for a new 55 gallon RO/DI storage barrel I picked up at Tanknbarrel in Apache Junction for $35.

~~~~

They have both open top and double bung top barrels. Either in blue or white. They also have larger sized barrels. But the larger sized ones are real pricey. If you want a large sized box shaped storage tank they have those too. I think they had some blemished box shaped 300 gallon (guessing here) ones for about $60.

You can google them at:

TankNBarrel.com

They show up on Craigslist when you search for "water barrel".

There is another place that sells these barrels in south Phoenix. Don't recall the name though.

They are really hard to find. Mapquest had it wrong. I'd call for directions first.

 

[Weyrman]

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the barrels for the prices I quoted above at the TankNBarrel are for USED barrels. Their used barrels have had fruit and spice extracts stored in them previously. The barrel I picked up had vanilla extra smell in it. I washed it out well and put some bleach in it over night to soak. Then I rinsed it several more times. Very very mild vanilla smell left.

I'll rinse it a few more times before actually using it. Plus I'll do a Prime chlorine removal dosage just to be sure.

All my cleaning and rinse water has gone onto the lawn or into the pool!