water station

[kidkaos520]

I am cutting back on going ALL the way to the lfs and start utilizing my ro system for more than just fresh water. I would like some ideas and picture of a small scale. I plan of changing 6-10g of water every two weeks. I realize I can just put water in a rubbermaid and throw a powerhead in but hoping to get some "cleaner" ideas. My or system is currently hooked in my garage with the washing machine :facepalm:

 

[ortie001]

It's probably a little bigger than you want to go, but I stacked two 60 gallon food grade drum on top each other. The top one hold fresh water and empties into the bottom one. The bottom one is my mixing drum. I put a bulk head into the bottom of it, plumbed it to a pump, and back up through the top of the lower drum. At a flip of a switch, I have water turning and mixing. I'll post a picture in a bit.

 

[ortie001]

Okay, so, as I stated, the top has my RODI water in it. I put a float switch into one of the screw on caps. When the float triggers, it cuts off the flow of the RODI water. I out a bulk head in the bottom of both drums. The one on top has a ball valve with a 90 degree elbow and a threaded 90 degree barb fitting. The barbed fitting is loosely threaded so that I can tilt it downward into the top of the bottom drum for filling. I use an extra long funnel to pour my salt into the mixing drum. I can then turn the pump on and circulate the water through the plumbing( out the bottom and back in through the top). The PVC flowing back into the top has a 45 degree fitting on the end of it that helps spin the water inside. The return line extends about 18 inches into the drum. I let it mix for a few hours or so. I have added a heater through one of the top screw on caps.

This is the fun part. If you look at the pictures, I have a python attached to the plumbing. I close the ball valve above the "spigot" and open the one so the water goes out to the hose and fill my tanks. The closest tank is about 15-20 feet away. The furthest is about 35 feet away.

Taking water off of my tanks, I use a different python and siphon water into 5 gallon buckets out back so I can keep track of how much water I'm taking removing.

Here's a https://plus.google.com/photos/109779819937651914079/albums/5974829767816306689?authkey=CKjHutmm9JmK6wE

 

[kidkaos520]

nice.....what is the smallest container they make that can serve this purpose.

 

[ortie001]

I've seen some that were 35 and I believe 20 gallons. I went with 60 because I have my 190 and the girlfriend's 74. I've also started doing 10%ish water changes a day on my 190.

 

[kidkaos520]

I would go nuts if I had to do 10% a day doing it the "old fashioned" way

 

[ortie001]

I made it this way so that I didn't have to lug buckets around anymore. I have a really bad back.

 

[ademster]

I have a 55gal container.

 

[bdevillier]

if you can wait for the dollar per gallon sale get 2 20 gal aquariums for $20 each. put them one above the other and drill the top one for a drain.

 

[kidkaos520]

any more pics?

 

[kidkaos520]

bringing it back.....looking for pics and places to get containers from and also what are the smallest available.

 

[schristi69]

if you can wait for the dollar per gallon sale get 2 20 gal aquariums for $20 each. put them one above the other and drill the top one for a drain.

Or buy the 2 I have for $20.00 total.

 

[kidkaos520]

I think smaller containers with lids work better just in case any kind of critters decide they want to go for a swim