Things I Think About

[KMP]

so, got this ro/di unit and a 33g brute on the back porch. figure I need another brute so i can have fresh and salt water. here's the thought...

get a 44g brute and put in a float valve. use this for fresh water. then (since it will be taller) plumb it and the 33g together w/pvc pipe. the pvc pipe would enter above the desired water height of the 33g (saltwater) and have a 90 degree end pointing down. should i get any evaporation then fresh water would spill into the 33g until it reached the pvc and then the flow would stop.

i'm sure there's a flaw to my plan. let me have it...

 

[jtarmitage]

A couple of thoughts. The float valve could be no higher than the desired water level of the 33, or else the water would just keep flowing and dilute the saltwater. If my thinking is correct, then the connecting tube would only work if the tanks were connected lower, with an elbow pointing back up in the 33 and terminating at the desired water level. Whatever level that is, it will be the same in both tanks or else it will flood the 33(hence my comment about the float valve.
So, it could work if set up properly, but would be tricky, but I don't think it would work as you described with the 90 pointing down.

 

[KMP]

makes sense. so a 45 (down), 45 (across), 45 (up). that way the opening is up. my brains already hurting, should probably stop

 

[jtarmitage]

Here you go. Very rough sketch.

 

[funman1]

I'd be worried that salt would splash down the pipe and get into the fresh water.
I'd put a valve between the two, to control the flow when you want.

 

[jtarmitage]

You could even use tubing and a quick disconnect or JG type of fitting between the barrels, just in case you need to be able to move or easily position them without the risk of breaking the pipe.

 

[jtarmitage]

Steve, even if salt did get down there, it would be minimal, and continually diluted in the larger RO barrel. Also, the flow would be nearly non existant, and a very slow trickle at the same rate as the RO water is made.

 

[KMP]

thanks for the input. lots of great ideas beyond the original thought. time to go brute shopping

 

[D&KSac]

or put a one way check valve on it so water can only flow in one direction that way it won't flow back into the pure water tub. I dunno just a thought.

 

[jtarmitage]

only problem with a check valve is that you would need to pump the water from the RO tank to the SW tank, instead of using gravitational flow.

 

[D&KSac]

Yeah i guess so, and since DI water is highly corrosive to metal parts i guess that wouldn't work to have a pump sitting in the DI water. O-well i though't i had a good idea. LOL I guess not.

 

[jtarmitage]

LOL! I've discovered that is why it is a good idea to 'think out loud' around here. People come up with a variety of ideas. Not all of which will work out, but it keeps everyone thinking, and before you know it, somone comes up with a brilliant idea that everyone can benefit from.

 

[D&KSac]

Wait! Unless you had a small pump hooked up to a float valve on the saltmix side. But lol now things are getting more complicated. Im gonna figure this out.

 

[jtarmitage]

You'd want a pump running on the salt mix side, but in this setup, the water level would just self adjust, so you would not need a pump.

 

[KMP]

i'm the master at " 'thinking out loud'

 

[jtarmitage]

Not me. It's that dang voice in my head that won't shut up!:lol:

 

[wpnorton]

Why don't you just use that John Guest split connector we bought last week and another float valve (I have a spare if you need one). Seems like allot of trouble to accomplish the same thing as a adding one more float valve . The other thing to consider is if one float valve goes bad, you won't flood both tanks. I've had a valve stick on me before. I'm missing the logic with this one....although it sounds like it's possible to do.

 

[wpnorton]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11773533#post11773533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by D&KSac
Yeah i guess so, and since DI water is highly corrosive to metal parts i guess that wouldn't work to have a pump sitting in the DI water. O-well i though't i had a good idea. LOL I guess not.

I've had an ocean runner sitting in my RO/DI saltwater holding tank for about 6 months now....Am I heading for trouble. I figure the pumps in my tank are sitting in the same water with no problem? Is that faulty logic?

 

[jtarmitage]

You know, not sure why I didn't think of this before, but as long as your SW barrel has a lid on it, the salinity won't drift, and all this was just an exercise! Just make sure you buy a lid with your brute.

WP - I too have had pumps sit in RO/DI water for extended periods, but have never seen any issues. This was the first I heard that it may not be a good idea.