Pouring Salt Water (water change) Down The Drain?

Black Mammoth · 08/18/2006, 11:59 AM

Hey Guys,

Currently I'm renting a place and I've been pouring my water changes out the back. I was doing this because I was afraid to pour it down the drain in a rental unit. Anyway, it has killed some of the grass. My new house is being built right now and it uses PVC to connect to the sewer system. Since I will be on sewer and I'm using PVC, is it OK to pour my water changes down the drain? I would think it would be OK, but I wanted to see if anyone else is doing it.

Thanks

Puffdragon · 08/18/2006, 12:02 PM

Should be no problem, however the putting it into a septic tank has been a hot topic for debate.

eckrynock · 08/18/2006, 12:10 PM

That should be fine. I pour mine down the toilet.

theatrus · 08/18/2006, 12:11 PM

The small amount of salt you will be dumping relative to all of the waste water you otherwise generate is no problem anywhere really.

Except possibly for septic systems. Those can be rather fragile.

boxfishpooalot · 08/18/2006, 12:17 PM

dont forget that its going to be diluted by toilet water too. So theres less of a risk of corroding pipes(rust)

skyfireblaze · 08/18/2006, 12:34 PM

Mine goes down the toilet, promptly followed by at least one flush just to rinse it down (dilution).

theatrus · 08/18/2006, 12:36 PM

Even if you had iron pipes it should never really be a problem

But dilution is probably a good idea.

Hopefully you don't have iron or lead water pipes too

vanmo92 · 08/18/2006, 01:10 PM

WE are on a septic system so I dump it out side but if you're on a city sewer system then it will be no problem

Ne0eN · 08/18/2006, 01:15 PM

Same goes for the skimmmer output. I usually have to flush twice!

Arch01 · 08/18/2006, 01:31 PM

There are MUCH worse things going into the sewer system than the salt water or even skimmer juice from our tanks.

Dubbin1 · 08/18/2006, 01:36 PM

I dump it down the drain and follow that up with running the water to rinse out the pipes.

jgoodrich71 · 08/18/2006, 01:37 PM

The amount of salt that goes down the drain is pretty insignificant, wether it be a sewer of a septic system. It would be fine either way.

Andrew · 08/18/2006, 01:37 PM

Sometimes I flush mine and sometimes I just dump it outside.

RichConley · 08/18/2006, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jgoodrich71
The amount of salt that goes down the drain is pretty insignificant, wether it be a sewer of a septic system. It would be fine either way.

I second this, Even on say a 200 gallon tank, doing weekly 20% changes, its still only a small percentage of whats going down the drain. Say 40 gallons a week there.

Your average low flow showerhead moves like 2.5 gpm(and is totally unsatisfying). Thats 25 gallons in a 10 minute shower. Figure 4 people showering, thats 100 gallons a day just in the shower. Another gallon and a half every time the toilet flushes. 5-10 gallons while you brush your teeth.

The estimated average is 200 gallons per day used per person, so we're looking at a LOT of water. 200 gallons a month of saltwater is going to change your septic tanks salinity from like 1.000000 to 1.000001.

xtrstangx · 08/18/2006, 03:55 PM

Mine goes down the drain and into the sewer, no problems.

You won't have a problem unless you have a septic tank and even then theres a lot of debate.

reefkoi · 08/19/2006, 07:59 AM

If you have a septic and do a large water change you can kill some trees, I have a friend that has pine trees that died as a result. Note: tree roots are bad for sewer and septics, if you have an older house pre 1975 then you may have roots in your sewer line, (due to clay or concrete pipes that have joint failure) you might as well kill them, its a cheap way! and as far as a septic if you have a tree growing over the leach field it should die otherwise it may clog the septic causing you to lose around $4,000 for a new field so I say flush away and not worry about it.

08/18/2006, 11:59 AM	#1
Black Mammoth Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lovettsville, VA Posts: 434	Pouring Salt Water (water change) Down The Drain? Hey Guys, Currently I'm renting a place and I've been pouring my water changes out the back. I was doing this because I was afraid to pour it down the drain in a rental unit. Anyway, it has killed some of the grass. My new house is being built right now and it uses PVC to connect to the sewer system. Since I will be on sewer and I'm using PVC, is it OK to pour my water changes down the drain? I would think it would be OK, but I wanted to see if anyone else is doing it. Thanks

08/18/2006, 12:02 PM	#2
Puffdragon Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 297	Should be no problem, however the putting it into a septic tank has been a hot topic for debate. __________________ The definition of an expert "Someone who has done something for so long that they can not see a new way to do things." Current Tank Info: 350 gallon mixed reef system

08/18/2006, 12:10 PM	#3
eckrynock Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 733	That should be fine. I pour mine down the toilet. __________________ Ed Genesis 1:21 Current Tank Info: 90 gal

08/18/2006, 12:11 PM	#4
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	The small amount of salt you will be dumping relative to all of the waste water you otherwise generate is no problem anywhere really. Except possibly for septic systems. Those can be rather fragile. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

08/18/2006, 12:17 PM	#5
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	dont forget that its going to be diluted by toilet water too. So theres less of a risk of corroding pipes(rust) __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

08/18/2006, 12:34 PM	#6
skyfireblaze Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 754	Mine goes down the toilet, promptly followed by at least one flush just to rinse it down (dilution). __________________ Jon Current Tank Info: 37g (24"x18"x21") - Eheim 1250 Return Pump - Deltec AP600 Skimmer - 250w MH & 2x24w T5 (Maristar) - 2 MaxiJet 1200's (for now) - Tunze Osmolator ATO

08/18/2006, 12:36 PM	#7
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Even if you had iron pipes it should never really be a problem But dilution is probably a good idea. Hopefully you don't have iron or lead water pipes too __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

08/18/2006, 01:10 PM	#8
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	WE are on a septic system so I dump it out side but if you're on a city sewer system then it will be no problem __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

08/18/2006, 01:15 PM	#9
Ne0eN Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vienna VA Posts: 73	Same goes for the skimmmer output. I usually have to flush twice!

08/18/2006, 01:31 PM	#10
Arch01 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 55	There are MUCH worse things going into the sewer system than the salt water or even skimmer juice from our tanks.

08/18/2006, 01:36 PM	#11
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	I dump it down the drain and follow that up with running the water to rinse out the pipes.

08/18/2006, 01:37 PM	#12
jgoodrich71 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 849	The amount of salt that goes down the drain is pretty insignificant, wether it be a sewer of a septic system. It would be fine either way. __________________ "For some reason I can't blow right." ~ crp "By the way Brian, nice colon." ~ Orchids Current Tank Info: 65 gal reef

08/18/2006, 01:37 PM	#13
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Sometimes I flush mine and sometimes I just dump it outside.

08/18/2006, 03:55 PM	#15
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	Mine goes down the drain and into the sewer, no problems. You won't have a problem unless you have a septic tank and even then theres a lot of debate.

08/19/2006, 07:59 AM	#16
reefkoi Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,983	If you have a septic and do a large water change you can kill some trees, I have a friend that has pine trees that died as a result. Note: tree roots are bad for sewer and septics, if you have an older house pre 1975 then you may have roots in your sewer line, (due to clay or concrete pipes that have joint failure) you might as well kill them, its a cheap way! and as far as a septic if you have a tree growing over the leach field it should die otherwise it may clog the septic causing you to lose around $4,000 for a new field so I say flush away and not worry about it. __________________ 1Kw bulb club Current Tank Info: A 600gal. on Zeovit & a 240gal.