RO/DI storage

[weekendplayer]

I'm trying to setup an RO/DI water storage in my garage, the problem is it's ~ 35ft away from my tank room. My water supply and RO/DI unit are in the tank room, along with my Oceanus auto topoff system. What i'm thinking of doing is running 1/4in tubing in the wall into the atic and down into the garage to a storage tank. Then pump the water back to my sump as the topoff unit calls for it. I would put a float vavle in the storage tank to control the RO/DI unit. My problem is what size pump would I need to pump the water up ~12ft and across ~ 35ft and back down into the sump. Also how could I hook up the pump to be controled by the Oceanus topoff system. It needs to stay near the sump for the float valves. Right now I have the auto topoff connected directly to the RO/DI unit, but I find that the RO/DI short cycles too often causing my DI to be used up too fast. Heres a diagram of what I'm trying to do. Any suggestions would be appreciated. BTW I'm also planning to put a saltwater storage tank with the RO/DI tank so that I could have saltwater already mixed incase of an emergency. Right now I only mix what I need for a water change. Would there be a problem with the RO/DI water and saltwater being stored in the garage. I live in Louisiana and it gets pretty hot in the garage. I would keep some kind of pump in each tank for circulation. Sorry for the long post and many questions. Thanks.

 

[weekendplayer]

come on guys nobody has any ideas for me????

 

[weekendplayer]

Well 41 views and still no suggestions. Guess I'll try and figure it out own my own. Just thought maybe one of you guys may have done this and new of some way to run the pump. thanks anyways

 

[spleen93]

Why can't you store the RO/DI water in your tank room? It would make things so much more simpler. Storing your RO/DI water and your makeup saltwater in a hot environment can cause bacterial blooms to develop as well as cause your tank temperature to go up if it gets added to your tank (and most reef tanks have enough problems with heat as is without adding hot water to the tank).

But if you HAVE to do it this way, then a Spectrapure Litermeter would be able to handle the pumping. http://www.spectrapure.com/St_prec_p0.htm

You'd need to run a REALLY long extension cord if you wanted to put the pump in the garage though you might be able to keep the pump in the tank room and use it to draw/pull the water from the garage (pretty close to limit though)

Spleen

 

[namdrib2]

The first question should be: Does your RO/DI unit leave enough residual pressure to get you 12 feet up and 35' over? Most don't. Plumbing codes only allow for a maximum of 80 PSI with a standard being 50 PSI into the house. RO/DI units usually state their GPD output based uopn a pressure fo about 90 PSI. Assuming that you have a fairly standard RO/DI unit there is probably not enough pressure to push it all that way. Based upon a standard 100 GPD RO/DI unit, 0.07 GPM @ 25 feet of head (11 PSI) is requied to get it from the storage tank to the sump. A better solution may be to use 0.5" PVC piping of even flexible tubing. This will reduce the head loss significantly. A Mag7 or similar pump would give you more than enough flow at that head (12 feet).

 

[weekendplayer]

Tank room is not big enough. Didn't know enough about salt water tanks at the time I built my house. If I could do it all over again I would build it 2-3 times the size it is now. LOL I am concerned about the water being in a warm location. Was hoping the circulation pumps would prevent the algea blooms. not sure what else to do?? I don't have any spare room in the house. The RO/DI is a Typhoon III from air water ice. I didn't even think about head pressure. might have to use a booster pump or something. Thanks

 

[Slickdonkey]

You might try a Litermeter (Spectrapure). Pricey but they will do the job at that distance and head pressure I believe.

You could also look into the Aqualifter. Never used one but have heard good things.