Underground Saltwater Mixing Station

Zeppelinator · 08/23/2014, 09:18 PM

I'm in the process of designing what I hope to be a suitable saltwater mixing station. I have predetermined the location, and it will be built outside right next to the house. I won't have to worry about cold weather because I live in a warm part of the world. I am hoping to employ 2 brute 30 gallon bins for saltwater and rodi containers. The rodi container will be above the saltwater container using a structure made out of 2x4's.
My only question is this, are there any potential problems with putting the saltwater brute container in a hole in the ground?
By doing this it should cut the visible height of the structure in half.

billdogg · 08/23/2014, 10:15 PM

I guess it would depend on who's digging the hole

As long as you can protect it from rain/runoff you should be ok. You may very well have to heat it 24/7 however because it will probably be cool down there.

zachts · 08/25/2014, 06:40 PM

Only issues I could see are as mentioned above, protect from any runnoff, and know that if you want to do a large water change you will need to run some powerful heaters to warm the water in place or heat it with an inline heater or something.

One other thing to consider is the depth of your water table there in the wet season (wherever you live) if the ground water rises up to the bottom of a nearly empty container it will pop right out of the ground........... Otherwise go for it.

You could bury them both and place a stand on top to put some potted plants on and have the whole thing disguised as a plant stand all stealthy like! just make the stand easy to move,

08/23/2014, 09:18 PM	#1
Zeppelinator Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 7	Underground Saltwater Mixing Station I'm in the process of designing what I hope to be a suitable saltwater mixing station. I have predetermined the location, and it will be built outside right next to the house. I won't have to worry about cold weather because I live in a warm part of the world. I am hoping to employ 2 brute 30 gallon bins for saltwater and rodi containers. The rodi container will be above the saltwater container using a structure made out of 2x4's. My only question is this, are there any potential problems with putting the saltwater brute container in a hole in the ground? By doing this it should cut the visible height of the structure in half.

08/23/2014, 10:15 PM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I guess it would depend on who's digging the hole As long as you can protect it from rain/runoff you should be ok. You may very well have to heat it 24/7 however because it will probably be cool down there. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

08/25/2014, 06:40 PM	#3
zachts Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 3,259	Only issues I could see are as mentioned above, protect from any runnoff, and know that if you want to do a large water change you will need to run some powerful heaters to warm the water in place or heat it with an inline heater or something. One other thing to consider is the depth of your water table there in the wet season (wherever you live) if the ground water rises up to the bottom of a nearly empty container it will pop right out of the ground........... Otherwise go for it. You could bury them both and place a stand on top to put some potted plants on and have the whole thing disguised as a plant stand all stealthy like! just make the stand easy to move,