Saltwater disposal from waterchanges?

dax29 · 08/18/2009, 12:06 PM

I asked this in a thread somewhere else but, where and how do you dispose of saltwater from partial waterchanges? I've been told it is bad for septic tanks, and I'm afraid it will kill my grass and outdoor plants. So how do you deal with it? Also, how often does one change water in these reef systems? I do weekly 60% PWCs on all of my freshwater tanks (8 of them ranging from 20L to 125 gallon).

WaterKeeper · 08/18/2009, 12:19 PM

It doesn't seem to have a detrimental effect on septic systems. Back in the past, I cautioned not to do it but more recent research seems to say that it has minimal impact.

winnige · 08/18/2009, 12:22 PM

It will definitely kill your grass and I've heard that it will crash you septic system as well. I am in a similar boat when I set my system up. I plan on either running a long hose out to the gutter and let it run down my street or run the hose way into my backyard into an overgrown ravine. With a 110 gal system I would only have 10-20 gal.

winnige · 08/18/2009, 12:26 PM

The impact on your septic system wouldn't be immediately apparent. However, over time, depending on how much and how often you dump saltwater in there, you might reduce the effectiveness of the septic system and eventually have to clean it out more frequent.

Sugar Magnolia · 08/18/2009, 12:30 PM

Mine either goes down the drain, or get's dumped in the gravel in our side yard.

AFA water change routine, most folks shoot for 10% weekly, or a larger volume twice a month.

dax29 · 08/18/2009, 12:37 PM

Wow. Just 10% weekly or 20% every other week! That would be wonderful compared to what I'm doing now! That makes this whole saltwater thing sound more doable and is probably why it doesn't always smash the septic tank. A city sewer is the ticket as it would not do anything to it at all.

WaterKeeper · 08/18/2009, 12:46 PM

winnige

People with home water softening systems have been dumping waste brine solution into septic systems for years. It has several times the concentration of salt than a marine tank and there have been no proven reports of their causing septic system failure.

dax29 · 08/18/2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaterKeeper
People with home water softening systems have been dumping waste brine solution into septic systems for years. It has several times the concentration of salt than a marine tank and there have been no proven reports of their causing septic system failure.

Good to know. I don't know much about those water softening systems. I'm feeling better about this all the time!

Sisterlimonpot · 08/18/2009, 01:29 PM

There is a thread out there that talked about this in great detail. However waterkeeper hit the nail on the head. Unless you’re dumping thousands of gallons a month your septic will be fine.

Juruense · 08/18/2009, 01:38 PM

Well a water softener typically uses potassium chloride whereas seawater has sodium chloride.

Anyways, water laden with salts of either type will be heavy and will displace sediments at the bottom of the septic tank causes them to float off rather than be broken down.

As for bacterial growth being inhibited CW on the interwebs indicates that this is true or not true depending on the source...

WaterKeeper · 08/18/2009, 02:08 PM

Using potassium chloride in a softener works but the cost is several times that of using sodium chloride. Some people, on sodium restricted diets, use potassium but sodium chloride regeneration is far more often used. It is a question of dollars.

KillerReef · 08/18/2009, 02:39 PM

Its great for killing weeds, too. Mine goes wherever I have plants I want to kill, or in the gutter, everything drains back to the ocean anyways. Just doing my part to keep the Pacific Ocean's water level up. Agree with winnige and Sugar, if you are shooting for weekly h20 changes, 10-20% would suffice.

k9gunner · 08/18/2009, 09:50 PM

I put about 60 gallons a week into my septic tank, and I have a buddy who does over 125 gal a week, both our septic tanks are fine. I have been doing it for 2 years, however my buddy has been putting 100 gal a week in his for almost 15 years.

jwalker314 · 08/18/2009, 10:39 PM

i agree with killerreef, i've been dumping my waste water on weeds or that grass that grows in the cracks in my sidewalk. Sure does a number on them, i like to call it utilizing my water cycle in the house to the fullest.

08/18/2009, 12:06 PM	#1
dax29 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tifton, GA Posts: 66	Saltwater disposal from waterchanges? I asked this in a thread somewhere else but, where and how do you dispose of saltwater from partial waterchanges? I've been told it is bad for septic tanks, and I'm afraid it will kill my grass and outdoor plants. So how do you deal with it? Also, how often does one change water in these reef systems? I do weekly 60% PWCs on all of my freshwater tanks (8 of them ranging from 20L to 125 gallon).

08/18/2009, 12:19 PM	#2
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	It doesn't seem to have a detrimental effect on septic systems. Back in the past, I cautioned not to do it but more recent research seems to say that it has minimal impact. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

08/18/2009, 12:22 PM	#3
winnige Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 25	It will definitely kill your grass and I've heard that it will crash you septic system as well. I am in a similar boat when I set my system up. I plan on either running a long hose out to the gutter and let it run down my street or run the hose way into my backyard into an overgrown ravine. With a 110 gal system I would only have 10-20 gal. __________________ Free the Hops! Current Tank Info: 125 gal., empty

08/18/2009, 12:26 PM	#4
winnige Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 25	The impact on your septic system wouldn't be immediately apparent. However, over time, depending on how much and how often you dump saltwater in there, you might reduce the effectiveness of the septic system and eventually have to clean it out more frequent. __________________ Free the Hops! Current Tank Info: 125 gal., empty

08/18/2009, 12:30 PM	#5
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Mine either goes down the drain, or get's dumped in the gravel in our side yard. AFA water change routine, most folks shoot for 10% weekly, or a larger volume twice a month. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

08/18/2009, 12:37 PM	#6
dax29 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tifton, GA Posts: 66	Wow. Just 10% weekly or 20% every other week! That would be wonderful compared to what I'm doing now! That makes this whole saltwater thing sound more doable and is probably why it doesn't always smash the septic tank. A city sewer is the ticket as it would not do anything to it at all.

08/18/2009, 12:46 PM	#7
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	winnige People with home water softening systems have been dumping waste brine solution into septic systems for years. It has several times the concentration of salt than a marine tank and there have been no proven reports of their causing septic system failure. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

08/18/2009, 01:29 PM	#9
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	There is a thread out there that talked about this in great detail. However waterkeeper hit the nail on the head. Unless you’re dumping thousands of gallons a month your septic will be fine. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

08/18/2009, 01:38 PM	#10
Juruense Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,138	Well a water softener typically uses potassium chloride whereas seawater has sodium chloride. Anyways, water laden with salts of either type will be heavy and will displace sediments at the bottom of the septic tank causes them to float off rather than be broken down. As for bacterial growth being inhibited CW on the interwebs indicates that this is true or not true depending on the source...

08/18/2009, 02:08 PM	#11
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Using potassium chloride in a softener works but the cost is several times that of using sodium chloride. Some people, on sodium restricted diets, use potassium but sodium chloride regeneration is far more often used. It is a question of dollars. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

08/18/2009, 02:39 PM	#12
KillerReef Wrasse-a-holic Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: So Cal Posts: 2,083	Its great for killing weeds, too. Mine goes wherever I have plants I want to kill, or in the gutter, everything drains back to the ocean anyways. Just doing my part to keep the Pacific Ocean's water level up. Agree with winnige and Sugar, if you are shooting for weekly h20 changes, 10-20% would suffice. __________________ 80 gallon Jebo 48x18x21 Bubble Magus BM-180 Cone 110lbs Live Rock 1-2" Sandbed Mag 12 Return Pump 2 MP10s, One Left Rear, One Right front Opposite each Other 2x65w pc 03 Actinic 2 250W Lumatek w/ SE Phoenix MH about 4" above water Livestock: 10 yr. old Purple Tang, Orchid Dottyback, Melanurus Wrasse, Pink Margin Wrasse, Pair of Clowns, Bartlett Anthias, Diamond Goby, 18 yr. old Lemon Peel Angel, Blue Flasher Wrasse Mixed Reef, mostly Zoanthids

08/18/2009, 09:50 PM	#13
k9gunner Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 325	I put about 60 gallons a week into my septic tank, and I have a buddy who does over 125 gal a week, both our septic tanks are fine. I have been doing it for 2 years, however my buddy has been putting 100 gal a week in his for almost 15 years.

08/18/2009, 10:39 PM	#14
jwalker314 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Landenberg, PA Posts: 421	i agree with killerreef, i've been dumping my waste water on weeds or that grass that grows in the cracks in my sidewalk. Sure does a number on them, i like to call it utilizing my water cycle in the house to the fullest.