Water mixing and changing?

carb850 · 09/12/2007, 08:27 AM

I have a rancher style house with an attached garage which sits a few feet lower than the rest of the home. Because of space problems in my kitchen and wash room, I think I will need to make, mix, and store water in my garage. Since my tank will be on the other side of the house, I think my best bet for water changes will be to get a tub on rollers. That way I can pump my salt water into it then roll it across the house to my tank location.
Any suggestions on a better method?

Also, what pump would you recommend for this usage? The water would be pumped about 10' horizontally and 4'-5' vertically.

Oh, do most people use the same pump to move the water from one container to another and to mix the salt? Would you want a seperate pump to keep in the pure water just so it stays clean?

der_wille_zur_macht · 09/12/2007, 08:34 AM

You can use the same pump for all mixing and transfer duties.

What size tank are we talking about here? That'll impact the equipment choices.

pgordemer · 09/12/2007, 09:16 AM

You may not even have to roll the tub out.

I have a MAG 9.5, and 40'ft of 1/2" tubing. I just drop the pump in, unroll the tubing across the house and up into the tank. I put a plastic chip bag clip so it doesn't fly off and sray everything, then just turn on the pump. 10 minutes later 25 gallons are all changed.

You can take water out the same way if you need to, just hang the pump inside the tank, pump the water out. Take out the pump and drop in the mixed water and go.

carb850 · 09/12/2007, 09:42 AM

Currently setting up a 40G tank, eventually I hope to get a larger but this will be my setup for some time.

der_wille_zur_macht · 09/12/2007, 09:52 AM

I'd get a good-sized mag pump and operate as described by gordemer. Dragging even just 10 or 20 gallons of water across the house in a storage vat is asking for backaches and spills. I did that with one of my first tanks and used to really hate the process.

carb850 · 09/12/2007, 10:23 AM

It would be nice not needing to drag a tub around. What size pump would you recommend? It would be roughly 50' horizontal and maybe 6' vertically...

I guess you have to mark your water marks on the saltwater storage tub and know how much you need, that or have a second person stationed across the house.

der_wille_zur_macht · 09/12/2007, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carb850

I guess you have to mark your water marks on the saltwater storage tub and know how much you need, that or have a second person stationed across the house.

Or both the first few times!

Any of the mid-sized mag pumps will handle that pressure (Mag 5 - Mag 9 or so). Just pick the one you want to spend on. Of course, the bigger ones will take less time. There are lots of other similar pumps out there, but the Mag line is probably the clear favorite for these sorts of utility uses.

pgordemer · 09/12/2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carb850
It would be nice not needing to drag a tub around. What size pump would you recommend? It would be roughly 50' horizontal and maybe 6' vertically...

Horizontal with flixible tubing is a minor issue.

Mag 7 minumum, but it will take time. If the cost isn't a deal breaker go for the Mag 9.5

speartheman · 09/12/2007, 11:01 AM

I'm supprised a mag 9 would pump that far must be a stright line

Thinslis · 09/12/2007, 11:08 AM

I use a BRUTE trash can with roller wheels ($60) and a Mag 3 with felx hose

pgordemer · 09/12/2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by speartheman
I'm supprised a mag 9 would pump that far must be a stright line

Based on the RC Head loos calculator, 50 ft horizontal and 6 ft vertical would give 392 GPH. Now that is based on 3/4" as that the lowest the calculator, so with 1/2" it will be less, but not hugely less. 350 GPH is a good guess.

carb850 · 09/12/2007, 11:53 AM

Thanks everyone. Even with the Mag 7 it would flow around 250 GPH. That is still plenty for my needs. My water changes will be 8G so that will take no time. I eventually hope to get a 120G, so even if I do get to that point a entire tank fillup would only tank 30 minutes.

It appears the Mag 7 has a 1/2" outlet. Would I just need 1/2" vinyl tubing and a small clamp?

der_wille_zur_macht · 09/12/2007, 11:56 AM

Get bigger tubing if you can. Danner specs that the Mag Drive pumps are supposed to be plumbed with tubing twice the diameter of the fittings.

That said, for these purposes, 1/2" would probably be fine.

carb850 · 09/12/2007, 12:13 PM

If you have a 1" ID tubing, how would you connect it to the 1/2" output of the pump?

Also, would I just leave the 50' of tubing connect at all times? I assume so but that would be a unnessarily long path for the water to take when using the pump for mixing the salt.

pgordemer · 09/12/2007, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by carb850
If you have a 1" ID tubing, how would you connect it to the 1/2" output of the pump?

Also, would I just leave the 50' of tubing connect at all times? I assume so but that would be a unnessarily long path for the water to take when using the pump for mixing the salt.

OK, lets symplify this. You could get male barded converters to connect different tubing, but you don't want to do this in this case.

1" tubing is too big in this case, its too dificult to roll up. The statement about using a large diameter piping that the outlet is based on more permanent piping if you want to get all the head power the manufactuer of the pump has stated, so lets forget that for this case. 1/2" tubing is cheap and easy to rollup and in this case the GPM loss is minimal.

Get 50' of 1/2" tubing/hose. Clamp it onto the pump (plastic clamps preferred). Pick up 2 90 degree 1/2" male barbs so you can make a U piece on the other end to hang on the tank. From the electral department, pick up one of the winders they put 200 foot of electrical cords on. ($10)

Now when you are all done, wind the hose up on the winder, shake the excess water out of the pump, put it all on the shelf for the next time. Nothing to assemble or disassemble.

carb850 · 09/12/2007, 12:59 PM

Thanks!

pgordemer · 09/12/2007, 01:04 PM

I forgot, as far as mixing the water, just use a power head like a maxijet. You don't need to break out the pump for that.

09/12/2007, 08:27 AM	#1
carb850 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 2,042	Water mixing and changing? I have a rancher style house with an attached garage which sits a few feet lower than the rest of the home. Because of space problems in my kitchen and wash room, I think I will need to make, mix, and store water in my garage. Since my tank will be on the other side of the house, I think my best bet for water changes will be to get a tub on rollers. That way I can pump my salt water into it then roll it across the house to my tank location. Any suggestions on a better method? Also, what pump would you recommend for this usage? The water would be pumped about 10' horizontally and 4'-5' vertically. Oh, do most people use the same pump to move the water from one container to another and to mix the salt? Would you want a seperate pump to keep in the pure water just so it stays clean?

09/12/2007, 08:34 AM	#2
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	You can use the same pump for all mixing and transfer duties. What size tank are we talking about here? That'll impact the equipment choices. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

09/12/2007, 09:16 AM	#3
pgordemer Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Paulsboro, NJ Posts: 123	You may not even have to roll the tub out. I have a MAG 9.5, and 40'ft of 1/2" tubing. I just drop the pump in, unroll the tubing across the house and up into the tank. I put a plastic chip bag clip so it doesn't fly off and sray everything, then just turn on the pump. 10 minutes later 25 gallons are all changed. You can take water out the same way if you need to, just hang the pump inside the tank, pump the water out. Take out the pump and drop in the mixed water and go. __________________ Phil ---> If you're not scared, you're not paying attention <--- Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon , RR, 40 gallon sump, 18w UV, 8x54 T5 Lighting,AC jr controlled, mostly LPS

09/12/2007, 09:52 AM	#5
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	I'd get a good-sized mag pump and operate as described by gordemer. Dragging even just 10 or 20 gallons of water across the house in a storage vat is asking for backaches and spills. I did that with one of my first tanks and used to really hate the process. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

09/12/2007, 11:08 AM	#10
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	I use a BRUTE trash can with roller wheels ($60) and a Mag 3 with felx hose __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

09/12/2007, 09:42 AM	#4
carb850 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 2,042	Currently setting up a 40G tank, eventually I hope to get a larger but this will be my setup for some time.

09/12/2007, 10:23 AM	#6
carb850 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 2,042	It would be nice not needing to drag a tub around. What size pump would you recommend? It would be roughly 50' horizontal and maybe 6' vertically... I guess you have to mark your water marks on the saltwater storage tub and know how much you need, that or have a second person stationed across the house.

09/12/2007, 11:01 AM	#9
speartheman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pennsauken N.J. Posts: 78	I'm supprised a mag 9 would pump that far must be a stright line

09/12/2007, 11:53 AM	#12
carb850 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 2,042	Thanks everyone. Even with the Mag 7 it would flow around 250 GPH. That is still plenty for my needs. My water changes will be 8G so that will take no time. I eventually hope to get a 120G, so even if I do get to that point a entire tank fillup would only tank 30 minutes. It appears the Mag 7 has a 1/2" outlet. Would I just need 1/2" vinyl tubing and a small clamp?

09/12/2007, 11:56 AM	#13
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Get bigger tubing if you can. Danner specs that the Mag Drive pumps are supposed to be plumbed with tubing twice the diameter of the fittings. That said, for these purposes, 1/2" would probably be fine. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

09/12/2007, 12:13 PM	#14
carb850 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 2,042	If you have a 1" ID tubing, how would you connect it to the 1/2" output of the pump? Also, would I just leave the 50' of tubing connect at all times? I assume so but that would be a unnessarily long path for the water to take when using the pump for mixing the salt.

09/12/2007, 12:59 PM	#16
carb850 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 2,042	Thanks!

09/12/2007, 01:04 PM	#17
pgordemer Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Paulsboro, NJ Posts: 123	I forgot, as far as mixing the water, just use a power head like a maxijet. You don't need to break out the pump for that. __________________ Phil ---> If you're not scared, you're not paying attention <--- Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon , RR, 40 gallon sump, 18w UV, 8x54 T5 Lighting,AC jr controlled, mostly LPS