Septic Tank

[JackTheReefer]

Will a septic tank be hurt by water changes? I'm planning on a 180gal tank, but am concerned about where to drain old water after a water change.

From this site, http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/emd/envhealth/homeowner_septic.html, under the "Do Not" section:
"...discharge brine (salt water) waste from self-regenerating water softeners to the septic tank. The high salt concentrations will clog the soil pores."

 

[TitansFan]

we have been having this same debate in our reef club's forum. You can read up on some of it. Also i would like to see other's opinions.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=909554

 

[TitansFan]

o... btw welcome to reefcentral

 

[JackTheReefer]

Thanks! I guess I need to upgrade to Premium member to get a better search. I tried Goolge to search this site, but it missed that thread totally...I could go either way, dump in septic and just have it pumped every few years, or dump in the back woods....but I don't want to kill off the trees...but then again, the sump goes to the ground also.... I'll try calling a local septic service company and see what they think. Thx.

 

[D-Rod]

I also have a septic tank and instead of dumping it down the drain i use it as weed control.

 

[JackTheReefer]

Local guy says 20-30 gal a month probably won't hurt. Add your bacteria "booster" to help out, as the salt will kill the bacteria. I didn't get into the question of whether the normal bacteria would be replaced with salt water resistant version (like what grows in the aquarium). "Just keep an eye on it, " he says.

 

[Reefmedic79]

Many septic systems work in the same way our biological filters work. Dumping large amounts of salt water into the system will kill alot of the bacteria in a septic system that help brake down the waste, possibly lower the efficeincy of the system. I can't imagine it doing permanant harm though if your spilling 5 or 10 gallons of saltwater, but anything larger might be bad.

 

[GlobaLPimP]

Maybe dump it in the street where it will drain to a gutter?

 

[Whisperer]

It's nice to be living by the river, saltwater from the tank goes back to the ocean.

 

[Remicade]

i would not do it. my septic is not great ( getting public in a few years) so for me i would not even tempt it. i would dump it in a storm drain if you have one near your house or just in the street.

 

[JackTheReefer]

Maybe some sort of drying trays....then scrape off the salt and dump in the garbage...or season my soup

 

[JackTheReefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7982438#post7982438 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlobaLPimP
Maybe dump it in the street where it will drain to a gutter?

I live in the country--there are no gutters, nor storm drain, just ditches and a stream...

 

[WaterKeeper]

Unless you have a very large tank it really shouldn't be a problem. Water going into a septic system is continually flushed and leached out through drainage system. It would take a large amount of SW to do much harm to the microbes involved. It can however harm grass in the leach field if the soil in your area has low percolation rates.

 

[lt34]

I just dump mine in the driveway or street. Why take the chance on your septic. Its expensive to fix or clean. Here in Florida we have Fireants. They hate saltwater. So it works out, I hate Fireants.

 

[Whisperer]

Hey It34, from Punta Gorda here. U like some gobies and ghost shrimps? Come get some. I have plenty under my dock.

 

[travismcgee]

lot of stuff goes into septic, bleach,soaps,drano etc..i figure salt water on occasion can't hurt more than clorox

 

[JackTheReefer]

I guess the question is, who has been dumping water changes into their septic tank on a regular basis for a few years, and still has no issues with their septic tank.

 

[hutch1814]

i have been dumping in my septic tank for about 4 years and i havent had a problem yet the only thing i have noticed is that its a pain to get the sand out of the bottom of the bucket if i get into my sand bed!!!