water questions

[p7willm]

I'm moving to a larger tank and the days of 1 gallon water changes are gone. Let me know if there are any obvious problems or better ways of doing it and please answer the questions() I have.

The tank is on the first floor and there is no room for storing water so it will go in the basement. I have a RO unit under the kitchen sink that gives people water and it goes through DI for the fish.

I plan on running the 1/4" water line down to the basement and over to a brute trash can. (1) Can I drill a hole in the side of the can and use a float to shut off the water when the can is full? I know that eventually something will happen and the water alarm will go off but most of the time this will work?

I'll carry some RO water up and fill the ATO.

A small, cheap pump will move RO water to the next trash can where I will add salt and use another small, cheap pump to mix the water. A heater will bring the water up to temperature and I will check that the salinity is correct.

(2) Can I dump the old water down the washing machine drain? It is the only one I have in the basement. If not do I use a small, cheap pump to move it to the kitchen sink?

I will have a long, ~50' , length of tubing with quick connects on the ends (3) Suggest some type of quick connect. I will have a tube going down the drain, coming out of the salt water, and attached to the siphon thing by the tank all with quick connects. The siphon thing will also have a valve to shut it off.

The long tube will be attached to the drain and the siphon and I will remove water from the tank and send it down the drain.

Disconnect from the drain and connect to the new water and pump it up to the tank. (4) In order to get the head, ~15', to go from the basement up to the tank it looks like I will need a pump around $200. I would LOVE a cheaper option.

Thanks.

 

[sirclintler]

I'm moving to a larger tank and the days of 1 gallon water changes are gone. Let me know if there are any obvious problems or better ways of doing it and please answer the questions() I have.

The tank is on the first floor and there is no room for storing water so it will go in the basement. I have a RO unit under the kitchen sink that gives people water and it goes through DI for the fish.

I plan on running the 1/4" water line down to the basement and over to a brute trash can. (1) Can I drill a hole in the side of the can and use a float to shut off the water when the can is full? I know that eventually something will happen and the water alarm will go off but most of the time this will work?
Yes this will work, but make sure u use a bulk head with rubber gasket or reef safe silicone to seal it up

I'll carry some RO water up and fill the ATO.

A small, cheap pump will move RO water to the next trash can where I will add salt and use another small, cheap pump to mix the water. A heater will bring the water up to temperature and I will check that the salinity is correct.

(2) Can I dump the old water down the washing machine drain? It is the only one I have in the basement. If not do I use a small, cheap pump to move it to the kitchen sink? Washing machine is fine but keep in mind DI water is corroisive to certain metals

I will have a long, ~50' , length of tubing with quick connects on the ends (3) Suggest some type of quick connect. I will have a tube going down the drain, coming out of the salt water, and attached to the siphon thing by the tank all with quick connects. The siphon thing will also have a valve to shut it off.
Quick connects can be found at manards

The long tube will be attached to the drain and the siphon and I will remove water from the tank and send it down the drain.

Disconnect from the drain and connect to the new water and pump it up to the tank. (4) In order to get the head, ~15', to go from the basement up to the tank it looks like I will need a pump around $200. I would LOVE a cheaper option.Don't go cheap on your pumps, I did the ebay special and have replaced both of them

Thanks.

 

[PAXpress]

My float valve that came with my RO/DI had a gasket for sealing it. Just fyi.

 

[sirclintler]

You may need a thicker one to comp for the curve of the trashcan, fyi

 

[kmbyrnes]

Congrats on the new tank.
BRS float valve will work fine. My reservoir is a 55g bin and it has worked fine for a couple of years.
15' of head requires a good pump, and good pumps will cost some $$.
I have no recommendations, though, since all my stuff is on the same level.

 

[homer1475]

BRS float valve works great on my brute. It has a rubber gasket that squishes when you tighten the nut to hold it in place. The gasket squishes creating a water tight seal even on a curve.