Salt Water Mixing Stations Let's See Them

[smedlin]

If you would pan right just a touch

I was just thinking that, who cares about the brute cans, lets see that pretty piece of machinery parked next to them, :lolspin:

LOL, that's my toy.

I'm constantly tearing it down and rebuilding it.. changing the way it looks slightly. It changes a bit every year.

And just for kicks.. a pic from 2 or 3 years ago..but still one of my favorite shots of my bike.


I talked my wife into posing for me..

I call this pic... "The Two Things I Ride The Most"

 

[timmydatoolman]

This thread inspired me to get rid of the brute cans, here is my build completed today.

 

[brians4671]

LOL, that's my toy.

I'm constantly tearing it down and rebuilding it.. changing the way it looks slightly. It changes a bit every year.

And just for kicks.. a pic from 2 or 3 years ago..but still one of my favorite shots of my bike.


I talked my wife into posing for me..

I call this pic... "The Two Things I Ride The Most"

Cool ride s

 

[shellsea]

This thread inspired me to get rid of the brute cans, here is my build completed today.

This thread inspired me to get rid of my wife. (just kidding dear)

 

[skeeter_ca]

I bought some used barrels from the feed store that had salsa in them. The guy said they were steam cleaned out and I can not smell any residue in them. I want to clean them with vinegar and bleach just to make sure they are super clean.

Which should I clean with first? Bleach or vinegar?

 

[Sonicboom]

I bought some used barrels from the feed store that had salsa in them. The guy said they were steam cleaned out and I can not smell any residue in them. I want to clean them with vinegar and bleach just to make sure they are super clean.

Which should I clean with first? Bleach or vinegar?

I would say bleach first since vinegar can be dosed into a tank but bleach can't.

 

[zachts]

This thread inspired me to get rid of my wife. (just kidding dear)

Careful now, someday she'll look over your shoulder and read this, then look out, I'd hate to be you..... :lolspin:

 

[Oldude]

I know I will sound stupid saying this but---here goes anyway

I know I will sound stupid saying this but---here goes anyway

I want to set up an auto water change station but not sure I understand some of the principles of how these things work regarding how the SW is kept at the proper salinity when you need to keep adding salt as the water is used. I also always seem to get a residue film inside the container whenever I make up SW in advance so that has deterred me a bit.

 

[pandimus]

I want to set up an auto water change station but not sure I understand some of the principles of how these things work regarding how the SW is kept at the proper salinity when you need to keep adding salt as the water is used. I also always seem to get a residue film inside the container whenever I make up SW in advance so that has deterred me a bit.

Mix in one barrel. When ready transfer to your salt water holding barrel. Use that water till empty.. Mix more and transfer over to holding barrel again. Periodically clean both barrels with vinegar.. If you have an apex you can setup a float switch in holding barrel to shutoff awc pump and send you an email till you add water and reset apex

 

[acuario]

Following up on Pandimus,
Do you use the mixing barrel for ATO then? Or is the RO water for top-off in a third separate container?
Thanks!

 

[zachts]

Following up on Pandimus,
Do you use the mixing barrel for ATO then? Or is the RO water for top-off in a third separate container?
Thanks!

I run mine a bit different. One barrel is for RO/DI storage and ATO. I pump it into my mixing barrel and just keep it aerated until it's used up. RO/DI storage has an auto fill when it gets empty which is very nice, but since it's generally partly empty when I need to mix a batch of SW I have to flip a switch to top it off which usually means the water changes are down for about a day or so while filling and mixing. Saves A LOT of space though from needing a third container. If you've got the space for three barrels go for it, it would be worth the convenience and being able to have extra SW mixing ahead of time, especially if you go thru a lot of SW on a bigger system.

 

[pandimus]

Following up on Pandimus,
Do you use the mixing barrel for ATO then? Or is the RO water for top-off in a third separate container?
Thanks!

Yeah i have a 20 gallon rubber maid for ato water.

 

[Redman88]

I run mine a bit different. One barrel is for RO/DI storage and ATO. I pump it into my mixing barrel and just keep it aerated until it's used up. RO/DI storage has an auto fill when it gets empty which is very nice, but since it's generally partly empty when I need to mix a batch of SW I have to flip a switch to top it off which usually means the water changes are down for about a day or so while filling and mixing. Saves A LOT of space though from needing a third container. If you've got the space for three barrels go for it, it would be worth the convenience and being able to have extra SW mixing ahead of time, especially if you go thru a lot of SW on a bigger system.

You could keep your RO/DI at a higher lvl then your mixed sw that way while you are refilling your mix tank you can still have top off water

 

[brittonv]

I have a Sicce 5.0 pumping my first batch of Saltwater in my new salt water mixing station. My Salt water mixing tank is 40 Gallons. and the head height to the pump is a little over 5 feet (so approx 1000gph).

How long do you think it would take for the salt to fully Dissolve?

 

[zachts]

You could keep your RO/DI at a higher lvl then your mixed sw that way while you are refilling your mix tank you can still have top off water

RO/DI storage does have a few inches of reserve capacity at the low water switch mark so there is always water available for ATO, transfer pump has it's own low water switch in the RO/DI container so I can't run the RO/DI storage dry while filling the AWC and Salt Mixing container. I just have to take the AWC offline for a day or so while refilling and mixing a new batch of Saltwater. I only had room for two brute cans so have to make due.

RO/DI storage on the left, AWC and Saltwater container on the right.

 

[pandimus]

RO/DI storage does have a few inches of reserve capacity at the low water switch mark so there is always water available for ATO, transfer pump has it's own low water switch in the RO/DI container so I can't run the RO/DI storage dry while filling the AWC and Salt Mixing container. I just have to take the AWC offline for a day or so while refilling and mixing a new batch of Saltwater. I only had room for two brute cans so have to make due.

RO/DI storage on the left, AWC and Saltwater container on the right.

@zachts

Very nice setup.. Any details on what you got going on there?

 

[zachts]

Never got around to a build thread, some wiring schematics on one of the other AWC threads somewhere.

Basically, uses an in wall lamp timer and a bunch of relays and float switches to automate the setup aside from flipping a switch and pushing a button occasionally.

Automatic filling of RO/DI can when it gets low during ATO use.

AWC controls using the lamp timer with a low saltwater float (three head peristaltic pump doing water changes between SW bin, display tank, and frag setup, turns on an air pump to circulate water in both bins as well while AWC pump is running) Also flips on a light to alert me when the SW bin is empty (uses two relays for this one NO and one NC giving redundancy in case on fails in either position AWC can't operate and keep pumping water out of my display tank)

Low water float in RO/DI for transfering water (shuts off the pump if I walk a way. marginally useful, really needs a latching relay with second float to keep pump from cycling but gets the job done to keep pump from running dry If I get distracted.)

High water float in SW can to stop transfer pump if I walk a way and forget, also makes sure I get the same amount of water every time which makes measuring salt easier.

And a switch to change from AWC mode to Mixing mode (disables AWC pump during mixing and triggers the RO/DI to start refilling even if it isn't completely empty)

That's it in a nut shell. All mechanical no micro controller other than an off the shelf light timer. Whole thing plugs into the wall outlet one cord and has it's own built in GFCI.

 

[Hitch08]

sorry....

 

[pandimus]

@zachts whats your opinion of using the two brutes vs a closed tank with screw on cap.. I am debating the two..

 

[zachts]

@zachts whats your opinion of using the two brutes vs a closed tank with screw on cap.. I am debating the two..

They both hold water and get the job done, so whatever works for you. I didn't have the funds for anything fancier than two brute cans.......