Water mixing station (1 Viewer)

[decimal]

If you have a choice, would you set up over and under tanks or side by side? Just wondering what experiences y’all have made with the different setups.

 

[Team Turtle]

I have mine side by side. Initial thought was to tie them together but I'm lazy and never did. Still works for me though. One for fresh water and other is for salt

 

[decimal]

I’m just wondering if I should set up a barrel on top for fresh and then gravity feed the barrel on the bottom to mix salt
or
Put them side by side and pump water from one to the other

The big difference here being that if they are side by side I can easily make double the amount of saltwater vs on top where it becomes relatively inaccessible.

 

[Team Turtle]

I’m just wondering if I should set up a barrel on top for fresh and then gravity feed the barrel on the bottom to mix salt
or
Put them side by side and pump water from one to the other

The big difference here being that if they are side by side I can easily make double the amount of saltwater vs on top where it becomes relatively inaccessible.

Why i didn't go one on top of other. I like being able to see into containers

 

[BigRick]

Depends on room. My preference is to stack and if you need to make salt in both you can. Just depends how you setup your plumbing. Side by side is a lot easier but takes up more space. Personal preference really.

 

[Cody]

I'm with Rick and saving real estate if you can.

Something I never understood about the side-by-side tanks is why do people plumb them together at the bottom and put in a pump. Why not just tee off the RODI water supply to feed each individual tank? The only reason I can see for having them plumbed together at the bottom is to use gravity to half way fill up the empty saltwater vat with the pump fitting unnecessary head pressure to move it all over. Just install a tee from the RODI water supply with an in-line shutoff valve for each tank and fill them as needed.

 

[Team Turtle]

I'm with Rick and saving real estate if you can.

Something I never understood about the side-by-side tanks is why do people plumb them together at the bottom and put in a pump. Why not just tee off the RODI water supply to feed each individual tank? The only reason I can see for having them plumbed together at the bottom is to use gravity to half way fill up the empty saltwater vat with the pump fitting unnecessary head pressure to move it all over. Just install a tee from the RODI water supply with an in-line shutoff valve for each tank and fill them as needed.

Plumbed together at bottom helps you to drain most of the water out and keep salt from settling at bottom when mixing. If done right you're not filling one bin to the next from the bottom. You're using gravity to feed pump and pump pushes water back to top of second bin.

 

[Cody]

Plumbed together at bottom helps you to drain most of the water out and keep salt from settling at bottom when mixing. If done right you're not filling one bin to the next from the bottom. You're using gravity to feed pump and pump pushes water back to top of second bin.

I understand what you're saying about the pump feeding the second chamber. I mix 175 gallons of saltwater a month and I just throw a strong mixing pump in the bottom and never had issues though. I suppose it's just a different style of doing the same thing.

 

[BigRick]

I've done both and always get more clay buildup using big pumps to feed back to the top. The biggest issue is Saltwater is not made to sit for a long time. And most of us just keep refilling and not cleaning. I now use a 200 gallon tank for RO and use a 100 gallon to mix for auto water change. But its not hard plumbed so it makes it easy to pull out and pressure wash the clay buildup every 3 months. Also use a 45 gallon brute for bi-weekly (monthly really) 20% water changes. Auto water change helps keep elements in line and the monthly water changes I takle dietrus/fish poop

 

[decimal]

Thanks for the feedback. I’m thinking over under. Saves space and I can always drain everything into a 45g brute for larger WC if needed.

 

[soymilk]

just put the setup in the attic above the tank, so you can run a line down for water changes

 

[Cody]

just put the setup in the attic above the tank, so you can run a line down for water changes

You laugh but I've seriously considered putting my gravity fed topoff water container in the attic. I can walk around in the attic above my fishroom and it would save space. Having said that, I like seeing the level of the tank, and I have a nozzle that I use for RO water on tap.

 

[Cody]

I've done both and always get more clay buildup using big pumps to feed back to the top. The biggest issue is Saltwater is not made to sit for a long time. And most of us just keep refilling and not cleaning. I now use a 200 gallon tank for RO and use a 100 gallon to mix for auto water change. But its not hard plumbed so it makes it easy to pull out and pressure wash the clay buildup every 3 months. Also use a 45 gallon brute for bi-weekly (monthly really) 20% water changes. Auto water change helps keep elements in line and the monthly water changes I takle dietrus/fish poop

Yeah same here. I roll the empty saltwater container out every few months and powerwash it.

 

[decimal]

Not sure but the RO container on the top should stay relatively clean? Can always rinse the bottom with ro water too?

 

[BigRick]

I incorporate a separate 10 gallon tank in my garage.. I dont want any water falling /bursting into the house. Just noticed bypass was on kalk rx lol