Salt Water Mixing Stations Let's See Them

[DarthReefer27]

HA HA Amazon. I seriously need a PW that only my wife knows before I can go on their site. With the new tank coming online I have boxes daily from BRS, Amazon, or Marine Depot on my porch...

me too. between BRS, Amazon, I have spent probably $3K on equipment for my new 120g that will be here in 2 days! good thing she doesn't see this forum!:worried:

then again, she said as long as I didn't spend more than $5K, she didn't want to know how much I am spending. I will just be sure to keep getting fish and corals that she enjoys watching like my diamond watchman goby!

 

[Chasmodes]

Anyone here in Maryland know of a local place i can buy some storage tanks?

This might be close to you, and cheap at $35 each.

https://baltimore.craigslist.org/for/5383878487.html

Search CL for "rain barrels".

Also Tractor Supply has them too, some in stock but you'd have to call to see what they have:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/catalog/farm-ranch/storage-tanks/leg-style-tanks

There are stores in Glen Burnie and Aberdeen

I need some too...I like the ones at Tractor Supply, but the cheap blue barrels are tough to beat price wise, and should work fine. There is a guy near me that sells them too pretty cheap... $20! :eek1:

 

[edward1096]

very cool setups!

 

[don_chuwish]

"Woods 32555 Weatherproof Outdoor Outlet Wireless Remote Control Converter Kit"
Perfect solution - turn the pump on or off when I'm 50' away at the tank holding the hose.

 

[don_chuwish]

So I had originally ordered 3/4" ID, 1" OD clear vinyl tubing to use as hose from the mixing tank to the sump. But it's just too damn chunky - I need to run 50 feet and the coil is just too big to manage. So I knocked it down to 1/2" ID, 5/8" OD instead. Much cheaper, less bulk.
Anyone need about 95' of 3/4"? ;-)

 

[Kaidman]

How much?

 

[don_chuwish]

How much?

The remote control outlet?
amazon.com/gp/product/B001Q9EFUK

$9.95 and Prime.

 

[jdantunes]

@ don_chuwish.

I'm planning a similar mixing station with the use of hose instead of a bucket to transport the water to the sump. I looked at the same on/off RC switch. How do you like it?

Also wanted to ask you, why are you using clear vinil tubing and not using something more mainstream like a drinking water hose? I'm planing to use a drinking water hose and replace the brass threaded connections with quick connect plastic fittings.

 

[don_chuwish]

Funny you mention the drinking water hose. After I got the 3/4" I found a 50' drinking water hose on Amazon for much less money.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RNR9QY

Thought it would work well if, like you say, just cut off the metal ends and replace with plastic. But then I realized the "bulk" problem of the 3/4" and thought that even 5/8" drinking hose would be too bulky for me. So the 1/2" vinyl was the choice. The spot that I want to hang it has limited space.

The drinking hose should certainly be easier to manage in terms of coiling & uncoiling. It was a borderline choice for me.

The switch is pretty great. I walked around the house testing the range and it's really quite good. Certainly enough for my needs.

Here's some quick disconnect plastic fittings I found too:

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=102904

Smallest is 3/4" but that matches my bulkheads anyway. Won't work with the 5/8" drinking hose though, another reason I didn't go that route. i'll adapt down to 1/2" with a barbed coupling.

 

[jdantunes]

Alright if your have a limited space for it, don't look around any further, cause drinking water hoses are bulky.

I'm gonna use one of them. But the quick connect that I'll use are the ones that you can find in the gardening department of any big box home improvement store.

 

[rjjr1963]

I'm plumbing my salt water station this weekend. I've seen some set up's that have the recirculating pump set up with a return to the RO/DI tank. What is the purpose of doing it that way?

Also, how long can you let water sit in the tanks without going bad?

Thanks.

 

[Redman88]

I'm plumbing my salt water station this weekend. I've seen some set up's that have the recirculating pump set up with a return to the RO/DI tank. What is the purpose of doing it that way?

If to mix large batches of water quickly.

 

[shifty51008]

Also, how long can you let water sit in the tanks without going bad?

Thanks.

rodi water can be stored forever, SW I try to use within a month of makeing it. always a good idea to check the sw parameters and adjust just before useing it though.

 

[Fishbulb2]

Quick question for everyone. I am about to glue my plumbing. I got the classic red PVC ball valves from Home Depot, and they are just so tight to turn. Is there any way to loosen them or should I ditch them and got with something better. Could I put silicone grease in there or is that a bad idea?

FB

 

[rjjr1963]

Quick question for everyone. I am about to glue my plumbing. I got the classic red PVC ball valves from Home Depot, and they are just so tight to turn. Is there any way to loosen them or should I ditch them and got with something better. Could I put silicone grease in there or is that a bad idea?

FB

I bought the schedule 80 union ball valves with the larger handles and they turn with very little force. They were only about $7 each and well worth the extra money.

http://www.pvcfittingsonline.com/valves/pvc-ball-valves/true-union-ball-valve.html

 

[shifty51008]

Quick question for everyone. I am about to glue my plumbing. I got the classic red PVC ball valves from Home Depot, and they are just so tight to turn. Is there any way to loosen them or should I ditch them and got with something better. Could I put silicone grease in there or is that a bad idea?

FB

no way to adjust them, they are tight and i have broken the handles off a few of them. check out cepex brand valves, you can adjust them and work great but are more spendy.

 

[Fishbulb2]

OK, sounds like it's worth spending the extra money on better valves. I always see the red home depot valves in people's posts, so I thought they might loosen up over time. As tight as they are now, I find them useless. I think I'll eventually break my plumbing with the strength needed to turn them. I'll just order Spears valves or Cepex.

Thanks,
FB

 

[don_chuwish]

I went through the entire bin at Lowes, discarding at least 80% of the valves as either too tight or too sloppy before finding the few I liked. I wouldn't put these on the tank but figured they were ok for the mixing station. Time will tell. PVCFittingsonline is nice - good site organization, easy to find things and be sure of what you're getting. They don't offer free shipping but that's reflected in their low pricing. I ordered some of the adjustable sch80 ball valves from them (not Cepex) but don't have them in hand yet.

 

[_E_]

I used some of the sch40 true union valves from my local Lowes. They're much cheaper than the Cepex, but still have adjustable internals. I believe the brand was American Valve.

 

[_Snuffles]

I used some of the sch40 true union valves from my local Lowes. They're much cheaper than the Cepex, but still have adjustable internals. I believe the brand was American Valve.

you're correct, i use these too.