Storing RO/DI water?

dkuster · 10/17/2007, 09:09 AM

What's the best way to store RO/DI water for later use?

I tried filling a 30 gallon plastic trash can (and putting the lid on),
but I noticed that some kind of slime formed (grew?) on the
inner walls and bottom.

Thanks!

mille239 · 10/17/2007, 09:22 AM

That slime is just bacteria.. pretty much harmless, and doesn't hurt the water quality. Just scrub out your storage containers every few months or so and you should be fine!

Æonic · 10/17/2007, 09:25 AM

I would recommend a mostly air-tight seal. I had a problem once where fumes from a cat litter box were leeching into the water and adding ammonia o.O

Now maybe not putting the water right next to the cat box might be a good idea too, but the point is you never know what might waft into the container and then your ro water.

mille239 · 10/17/2007, 10:12 AM

Wow, really? I've never heard of that! I keep my containers in the laundry room with the cat box as well. It can get pretty smelly at times, but I've never experienced any problems with ammonia in the top off or water change supply.

but definately, keep them covered if possible.

dkuster · 10/17/2007, 10:52 AM

Thanks for the info, I'm glag to hear the slime is harmless. If
RO/DI water is so pure (nothing but H2O), I wonder what the
bacteria are eating?

Anyway, I'll try and scrounge up an airtight storage container.

Weird story about cat litter fumes leaching ammonia into
RO/DI water. Are you _sure_ that was the source??

Davidb6 · 10/17/2007, 10:59 AM

I have two 30 gal plastic Rubbermaid roughnecks, one for RO/DI water storage and one for premixed salt water. I run a mag3 pump in each and a heater in the pre-mixed salt.

Makes life so much better and great for emergencies.

Some day I'll join the pros and have the water pumped directly from storage into the tank but, for nowâ€¦.buckets!

mille239 · 10/17/2007, 11:24 AM

I have a very similar setup Davidb6, I just finished hooking the two reservoirs together and providing a pump for both mixing the salt and delivering it to my sump via hose 30 ft. away. makes water changing a snap!

mille239 · 10/18/2007, 07:34 AM

Here is my new and improved RO/Salt mixing set up....
the top container stays full of RO water with the help of a float valve, and the bottom container is the salt mixing container.
The bottom container also has a float valve to refill it with RO water, and maintain the level from evaporation.
Additionally, I can open one valve and fill the bottom container from the top if I need to make back to back batches of new salt water. The pump is a MAG 7, used to circulate the salt water container, and also has a hose spigot which allows me to pump the newly mixed salt water to the sump of my tank 30 ft away.
The downward facing pipe in front allows me to fill up buckets of RO water only if I need to wash parts, top off my tank, etc...

I only wish I set this up earlier, it makes maintenence so much easier!

What do ya think!?

Alaska_Phil · 10/18/2007, 03:32 PM

Pure water is a very powerful solvent, it'll absorb just about anything it comes into contact with, especially metals. But it'll also disolve CO2 out of the air. RO/DI water storage needs to be in plastic, or something epoxy lined, and as close to air tight as possible.

Phil

Dingo Dog · 10/18/2007, 04:21 PM

Try some of those large clear water bottles from a place like Culligan's, Ozarka, etc. The kind that fit into the water dispensers. You can totally trust those to be safe, plus you can see what's going on inside.

Reefer82 · 10/18/2007, 04:32 PM

mille239 - Nice setup. I was considering the same style with 55 gal food grade barrels. Any tips on setup? I'm planning to build this over the winter.

mille239 · 10/19/2007, 07:00 AM

Thx Reefer82!
as far as tips: make sure you have unions in the plumming right outside each bulkhead so you can disconnect the containers for cleaning. Also (which you prob. know) unions on both the inlet and outlet of the pump for the same reason.
lastly, when building the stand, leave enough room above the lower container so you can access the container if you need to.

other than that, it's a pretty easy, straight forward and fun project. Including the containers, lumber, pump, plumbing, and float valves, it was just under $200.

when you get around to it, post some pics of your project.

10/17/2007, 09:09 AM	#1
dkuster Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 141	Storing RO/DI water? What's the best way to store RO/DI water for later use? I tried filling a 30 gallon plastic trash can (and putting the lid on), but I noticed that some kind of slime formed (grew?) on the inner walls and bottom. Thanks!

10/17/2007, 09:22 AM	#2
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	That slime is just bacteria.. pretty much harmless, and doesn't hurt the water quality. Just scrub out your storage containers every few months or so and you should be fine! __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

10/17/2007, 10:12 AM	#4
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	Wow, really? I've never heard of that! I keep my containers in the laundry room with the cat box as well. It can get pretty smelly at times, but I've never experienced any problems with ammonia in the top off or water change supply. but definately, keep them covered if possible. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

10/17/2007, 11:24 AM	#7
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	I have a very similar setup Davidb6, I just finished hooking the two reservoirs together and providing a pump for both mixing the salt and delivering it to my sump via hose 30 ft. away. makes water changing a snap! __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

10/18/2007, 07:34 AM	#8
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	Here is my new and improved RO/Salt mixing set up.... the top container stays full of RO water with the help of a float valve, and the bottom container is the salt mixing container. The bottom container also has a float valve to refill it with RO water, and maintain the level from evaporation. Additionally, I can open one valve and fill the bottom container from the top if I need to make back to back batches of new salt water. The pump is a MAG 7, used to circulate the salt water container, and also has a hose spigot which allows me to pump the newly mixed salt water to the sump of my tank 30 ft away. The downward facing pipe in front allows me to fill up buckets of RO water only if I need to wash parts, top off my tank, etc... I only wish I set this up earlier, it makes maintenence so much easier! What do ya think!? __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

10/17/2007, 09:25 AM	#3
Æonic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 115	I would recommend a mostly air-tight seal. I had a problem once where fumes from a cat litter box were leeching into the water and adding ammonia o.O Now maybe not putting the water right next to the cat box might be a good idea too, but the point is you never know what might waft into the container and then your ro water.

10/17/2007, 10:52 AM	#5
dkuster Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 141	Thanks for the info, I'm glag to hear the slime is harmless. If RO/DI water is so pure (nothing but H2O), I wonder what the bacteria are eating? Anyway, I'll try and scrounge up an airtight storage container. Weird story about cat litter fumes leaching ammonia into RO/DI water. Are you _sure_ that was the source??

10/17/2007, 10:59 AM	#6
Davidb6 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Savanah Ga Posts: 770	I have two 30 gal plastic Rubbermaid roughnecks, one for RO/DI water storage and one for premixed salt water. I run a mag3 pump in each and a heater in the pre-mixed salt. Makes life so much better and great for emergencies. Some day I'll join the pros and have the water pumped directly from storage into the tank but, for nowâ€¦.buckets!

10/18/2007, 03:32 PM	#9
Alaska_Phil Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Pole Posts: 986	Pure water is a very powerful solvent, it'll absorb just about anything it comes into contact with, especially metals. But it'll also disolve CO2 out of the air. RO/DI water storage needs to be in plastic, or something epoxy lined, and as close to air tight as possible. Phil __________________ Don't be afraid to fall - if you're not falling down once in a while, you're not trying anything new and probably not having much fun. Current Tank Info: 50 gal mixed reef, 65 gal freshwater planted.

10/18/2007, 04:21 PM	#10
Dingo Dog Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 432	Try some of those large clear water bottles from a place like Culligan's, Ozarka, etc. The kind that fit into the water dispensers. You can totally trust those to be safe, plus you can see what's going on inside.

10/18/2007, 04:32 PM	#11
Reefer82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 216	mille239 - Nice setup. I was considering the same style with 55 gal food grade barrels. Any tips on setup? I'm planning to build this over the winter.

10/19/2007, 07:00 AM	#12
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	Thx Reefer82! as far as tips: make sure you have unions in the plumming right outside each bulkhead so you can disconnect the containers for cleaning. Also (which you prob. know) unions on both the inlet and outlet of the pump for the same reason. lastly, when building the stand, leave enough room above the lower container so you can access the container if you need to. other than that, it's a pretty easy, straight forward and fun project. Including the containers, lumber, pump, plumbing, and float valves, it was just under $200. when you get around to it, post some pics of your project. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)