What do you use for water storage?

DamnPepShrimp · 02/03/2009, 08:25 PM

I just recently got two 55g drums from another hobbyist. He already drilled them and put bulkheads in them. He had them sideways, with locking lids (a little dangerous I think) so the holes on them were messed up. I don't think he ever got around to actually using the system because it sucks. It leaks, you can't really add salt and tell if it's all mixed. All in all, its a poorly designed system that failed miserably. So its back to the drawing board for me. What does everyone use to hold there RO/DI water and new saltwater in? How does everyone have it all setup? Also be nice to see where people got there containers from too. Thanks.

darkdruid · 02/03/2009, 08:31 PM

I only have small tanks at the moment so I use the old standby - plastic 5 gallon buckets with lids from Lowes.

kraze3 · 02/03/2009, 08:38 PM

I use a rubbermaid rouchneck bin. Its blue, bought it from target i think. I use one as part of my sump and one in the basement to store rodi water. I also have a 32 gallon brute trash can that I use to mix saltwater in. Have used them all for years and all work great.

Indymann99 · 02/03/2009, 08:43 PM

Rubbermaid 32g trash can with Mag 9.5 pump. plumbing to mix and to pump to Sump during waterchanges.

I also have a heater and airstone in the mix tank. The pump is on a timer to run 20min every 2hrs.

DamnPepShrimp · 02/03/2009, 09:10 PM

Thanks for the responses so far, especially the pics. I really need something I can drill bulkheads into. I want to have two drums preferably 55g, both with bulkheads at the bottom with ballvalves so I can just stick a 5g bucket underneath and fill up and go. Or run tubing to my tank to make it even easier. Regardless, I need a big storage container because I have nearly 500g of water throughout my two systems.

Playa-1 · 02/03/2009, 09:28 PM

9501gle · 02/03/2009, 09:48 PM

I use a 100gal rubbermaid stock tank that I use to hold RO/DI water. My RO/DI system feeds this using a float valve in the tank. The tank is on a stand built out of 2 by 4's. This tank sits fairly close to the cealing leaving only enough room to see in it. It has a union on it to make for easy removal for cleaning that must be done every 3 months. This tank then gravity feeds into a 32gal trash can to mix salt into. Be sure to put a valve on the feed to the trash can. The trash can then gravity feeds into the sump also with a valve on it. The main RO/DI tank also feeds my kalk reactor for top off with a float valve in the sump. The main tank also feeds my sink for washing things with RO/DI water. This is a very simple setup that requires no pumps and has not failed me yet. My tank just went 4.5 monts with no care due to health problems and due to the kalk reactor used for top off my cal was still at 440.

DamnPepShrimp · 02/03/2009, 09:49 PM

I gotta find out where to get those trash cans, seems like I could drill a bulkhead into the bottom pretty easily?

9501gle · 02/03/2009, 09:55 PM

Yes a bulk head is easy to put in them. I use some silicone to help seal them. Got mine at lowes or home depot.

ducatimikep · 02/04/2009, 08:57 AM

I have a 40 gallon that stays premixed with seawater & a 40
gallon that has RODI water. I have been doing it this way for
nearly a year. Logistically it works well for me. I do, however,
have a MJ900 & a 100watt heater in the mixed water & a
MJ1200 in the RODI. If left uncirculated the mix begins to seperate
& the RODI forms a film on the top.

drauka99 · 02/04/2009, 09:04 AM

2 - 32 gallon trash cans from Lowes - 10-15 bucks each if i remember right. I have a Mag 5 in my mixing one and a couple of heaters to keep the mix at tank temps, for quick water changes.

I am hoping this weekend to pick up a few bulkheads locally and add soem spigots to each for ease of filling the buckets.

DamnPepShrimp · 02/04/2009, 10:55 AM

Thanks for all the responses! I really like the brute trashcans that playa-1 has. Anyone know where to find them at?

SkinnY T120 · 02/04/2009, 11:07 AM

menards, approx 30-40 dollars. the brutes are food grade quality so if its a trash can you're using, use a brute.

DamnPepShrimp · 02/04/2009, 11:27 AM

What is menards? dont think we have them around here. I know they arent at lowes or homedepot. Is every brute foodgrade?

02/03/2009, 08:25 PM	#1
DamnPepShrimp Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 5,152	What do you use for water storage? I just recently got two 55g drums from another hobbyist. He already drilled them and put bulkheads in them. He had them sideways, with locking lids (a little dangerous I think) so the holes on them were messed up. I don't think he ever got around to actually using the system because it sucks. It leaks, you can't really add salt and tell if it's all mixed. All in all, its a poorly designed system that failed miserably. So its back to the drawing board for me. What does everyone use to hold there RO/DI water and new saltwater in? How does everyone have it all setup? Also be nice to see where people got there containers from too. Thanks.

02/03/2009, 08:31 PM	#2
darkdruid Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 520	I only have small tanks at the moment so I use the old standby - plastic 5 gallon buckets with lids from Lowes. __________________ Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything. Current Tank Info: 46 gallon bowfront and 35 gallon mixed reefs, several 10 and 20 gallon frag tanks, beginning a 125 build

02/03/2009, 08:43 PM	#4
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	Rubbermaid 32g trash can with Mag 9.5 pump. plumbing to mix and to pump to Sump during waterchanges. I also have a heater and airstone in the mix tank. The pump is on a timer to run 20min every 2hrs. __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

02/03/2009, 09:48 PM	#7
9501gle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the fish room Posts: 396	I use a 100gal rubbermaid stock tank that I use to hold RO/DI water. My RO/DI system feeds this using a float valve in the tank. The tank is on a stand built out of 2 by 4's. This tank sits fairly close to the cealing leaving only enough room to see in it. It has a union on it to make for easy removal for cleaning that must be done every 3 months. This tank then gravity feeds into a 32gal trash can to mix salt into. Be sure to put a valve on the feed to the trash can. The trash can then gravity feeds into the sump also with a valve on it. The main RO/DI tank also feeds my kalk reactor for top off with a float valve in the sump. The main tank also feeds my sink for washing things with RO/DI water. This is a very simple setup that requires no pumps and has not failed me yet. My tank just went 4.5 monts with no care due to health problems and due to the kalk reactor used for top off my cal was still at 440. __________________ Garret Current Tank Info: 240 gal reef tank, 3 xMH400EB Icecap ballasts,12000K Reeflux bulbs in Lumenarc III reflectors, Aquatic Systems Design Kalk Reactor & Skimmer. 5500 gph Hammer Head Pump, Neptune Jr Controller, !00 gal Rubbermaid tank 2/3 full for sump.

02/03/2009, 09:55 PM	#9
9501gle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the fish room Posts: 396	Yes a bulk head is easy to put in them. I use some silicone to help seal them. Got mine at lowes or home depot. __________________ Garret Current Tank Info: 240 gal reef tank, 3 xMH400EB Icecap ballasts,12000K Reeflux bulbs in Lumenarc III reflectors, Aquatic Systems Design Kalk Reactor & Skimmer. 5500 gph Hammer Head Pump, Neptune Jr Controller, !00 gal Rubbermaid tank 2/3 full for sump.

02/03/2009, 08:38 PM	#3
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	I use a rubbermaid rouchneck bin. Its blue, bought it from target i think. I use one as part of my sump and one in the basement to store rodi water. I also have a 32 gallon brute trash can that I use to mix saltwater in. Have used them all for years and all work great.

02/03/2009, 09:10 PM	#5
DamnPepShrimp Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 5,152	Thanks for the responses so far, especially the pics. I really need something I can drill bulkheads into. I want to have two drums preferably 55g, both with bulkheads at the bottom with ballvalves so I can just stick a 5g bucket underneath and fill up and go. Or run tubing to my tank to make it even easier. Regardless, I need a big storage container because I have nearly 500g of water throughout my two systems.

02/03/2009, 09:28 PM	#6
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497

02/03/2009, 09:49 PM	#8
DamnPepShrimp Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 5,152	I gotta find out where to get those trash cans, seems like I could drill a bulkhead into the bottom pretty easily?

02/04/2009, 08:57 AM	#10
ducatimikep Needs Moar Cowbell Join Date: May 2008 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 263	I have a 40 gallon that stays premixed with seawater & a 40 gallon that has RODI water. I have been doing it this way for nearly a year. Logistically it works well for me. I do, however, have a MJ900 & a 100watt heater in the mixed water & a MJ1200 in the RODI. If left uncirculated the mix begins to seperate & the RODI forms a film on the top.

02/04/2009, 09:04 AM	#11
drauka99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: at the Beach in Fl Posts: 792	2 - 32 gallon trash cans from Lowes - 10-15 bucks each if i remember right. I have a Mag 5 in my mixing one and a couple of heaters to keep the mix at tank temps, for quick water changes. I am hoping this weekend to pick up a few bulkheads locally and add soem spigots to each for ease of filling the buckets. __________________ "Aliie, Eat a Snickers, you're "HANGRY" - me "I sometimes enjoy watching shadow puppet shows" - jpfelix "Bacon is Love." - Fat Man Current Tank Info: 240 Algae Farm System Running

02/04/2009, 10:55 AM	#12
DamnPepShrimp Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 5,152	Thanks for all the responses! I really like the brute trashcans that playa-1 has. Anyone know where to find them at?

02/04/2009, 11:07 AM	#13
SkinnY T120 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kalona, IA Posts: 160	menards, approx 30-40 dollars. the brutes are food grade quality so if its a trash can you're using, use a brute.

02/04/2009, 11:27 AM	#14
DamnPepShrimp Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 5,152	What is menards? dont think we have them around here. I know they arent at lowes or homedepot. Is every brute foodgrade?