Rodi unit questions

Strobes · 03/21/2014, 08:43 PM

I just received my BRS stage 5 water saver 150GPD unit and booster pump. I've been looking at water mixing stations all day and trying to figure out which way to go.
But my first question is about the unit placement. The best place for access is in the unfinished side of the basement. But the only drain options near there go to the septic which I would like to avoid putting to much water into. I'll be making about 30 gallons a week so with the water saver and booster pump I'm hoping to keep the waste water between 30 and 90 gallons. That's too much to put thru the septic right? We have a sump pump about 20 ft away on the other side of the basement that drains outside. Would the unit be able to pump the waste water up about 3-5ft and along the ceiling the 20ft to where the drain is? I was thinking it probably wouldn't but I'm new to this. Maybe the booster pump will help with that?
Second question relates to what external pump I should go with to circulate the saltwater and pump it up 5-8ft over the wall and inside the drop ceiling about 8ft to where I could have it drop right down into my canopy. The tank is in the basement as well, just on the other side of the wall and over about 6-8ft. Been looking at panworld and iwaki pumps but unsure which model to go with. Would like to keep it as cheap as possible since I already dropped almost $400 on the filter setup. With plumbing, containers, and a pump this is getting really expensive.
Hopefully I was clear enough and you guys have some advice for a rodi newb

Moorepower · 03/22/2014, 07:42 AM

If your booster pump is rated for 150-200 gpd then you should be fine.

I have a Fluxtek HF45L pump. And it's pumping my waste water 6.5 feet up then 7 feet over then down to my drain. If your worried about the 20 foot run you can use PVC pipe on a slight down angle to the drain. Or is u just want the rubber tubing u can do the same or buy black and run it in the corners of the basement

dkeller_nc · 03/22/2014, 07:51 AM

Your water pressure would be sufficient to pump the waste water well over 100 feet away through 1/4" tubing if you prefer. However, if you'll be making 30 gallons of RODI per week, the amount of waste works out to be about 120 gallons (4:1 ratio). That's a trivial amount to put in a septic tank - an average 10 minute shower uses somewhere between 30 and 90 gallons, depending on the showerhead and the user's water pressure preferences.

From the standpoint of pumping newly made saltwater to your tank, you can get an all-plastic sump pump at one of the home stores that will do a fine job of pumping a water change to your tank. If you're speaking of a pump to mix water in the barrel, it's far cheaper and more efficient to use a small propeller pump to circulate it versus an external pump like the Iwakis or Pan-World pumps.

Strobes · 03/23/2014, 08:15 PM

Good to know it won't hurt the septic if I have to drain it there. After some more research I'm thinking about just using my old powerheads for mixing and a litemeter setup for automatic water changes. When adding up the costs of the external and plumbing I can get a used LM3 for not much more

03/21/2014, 08:43 PM	#1
Strobes Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 94	Rodi unit questions I just received my BRS stage 5 water saver 150GPD unit and booster pump. I've been looking at water mixing stations all day and trying to figure out which way to go. But my first question is about the unit placement. The best place for access is in the unfinished side of the basement. But the only drain options near there go to the septic which I would like to avoid putting to much water into. I'll be making about 30 gallons a week so with the water saver and booster pump I'm hoping to keep the waste water between 30 and 90 gallons. That's too much to put thru the septic right? We have a sump pump about 20 ft away on the other side of the basement that drains outside. Would the unit be able to pump the waste water up about 3-5ft and along the ceiling the 20ft to where the drain is? I was thinking it probably wouldn't but I'm new to this. Maybe the booster pump will help with that? Second question relates to what external pump I should go with to circulate the saltwater and pump it up 5-8ft over the wall and inside the drop ceiling about 8ft to where I could have it drop right down into my canopy. The tank is in the basement as well, just on the other side of the wall and over about 6-8ft. Been looking at panworld and iwaki pumps but unsure which model to go with. Would like to keep it as cheap as possible since I already dropped almost $400 on the filter setup. With plumbing, containers, and a pump this is getting really expensive. Hopefully I was clear enough and you guys have some advice for a rodi newb

03/22/2014, 07:42 AM	#2
Moorepower Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 196	If your booster pump is rated for 150-200 gpd then you should be fine. I have a Fluxtek HF45L pump. And it's pumping my waste water 6.5 feet up then 7 feet over then down to my drain. If your worried about the 20 foot run you can use PVC pipe on a slight down angle to the drain. Or is u just want the rubber tubing u can do the same or buy black and run it in the corners of the basement

03/22/2014, 07:51 AM	#3
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	Your water pressure would be sufficient to pump the waste water well over 100 feet away through 1/4" tubing if you prefer. However, if you'll be making 30 gallons of RODI per week, the amount of waste works out to be about 120 gallons (4:1 ratio). That's a trivial amount to put in a septic tank - an average 10 minute shower uses somewhere between 30 and 90 gallons, depending on the showerhead and the user's water pressure preferences. From the standpoint of pumping newly made saltwater to your tank, you can get an all-plastic sump pump at one of the home stores that will do a fine job of pumping a water change to your tank. If you're speaking of a pump to mix water in the barrel, it's far cheaper and more efficient to use a small propeller pump to circulate it versus an external pump like the Iwakis or Pan-World pumps.

03/23/2014, 08:15 PM	#4
Strobes Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 94	Good to know it won't hurt the septic if I have to drain it there. After some more research I'm thinking about just using my old powerheads for mixing and a litemeter setup for automatic water changes. When adding up the costs of the external and plumbing I can get a used LM3 for not much more