Show me your water storage systems....

[Patow]

Hi there,

I'm hoping a few folks could post some pictures of their water storage systems to give an idea of how you store various water sources (RO/DI, Kalkwasser, saltwater for changes, etc).

I have 3 water sources I need to store:

1) I need one large storage vessel to store just RO/DI water. I'd like to have a spiggot to despense water for my use during maintenance (rinsing, cleaning, etc). This would be hooked up to my RO/DI unit with float valve, etc and fill as required. Something in the 30gal range.

I'd ideally like this main storage vessel to be able to feed fresh water to my other two storage containers as well. Control with just ball valves will suffice so that I can just open the valve and drain freshwater into my other two storage containers as needed (of course I need to avoid back siphoning to avoid getting salt and/or kalkwasser in my RO/DI reservoir.

2) I need one vessel to store Kalkwasser/Limewater. I'd like to be able to add freshwater from my main reservoir (without back siphoning), and have a cap so that I can add Kalkwasser powder as needed. This vessel will have a powerhead in it for mixing and will be drawn into my sump with an aqualifter pump for slow drip (from top half of container to avoid picking up kalk sediment). 20gal would suffice.

3) I need one more vessel where I'll mix up my saltwater for water changes. Again, I'd like to be able to add water to this container from my main RO/DI storage, and a cap to add salt as needed. I'll have a heater and powerhead in this vessel as well for mixing and temperature control. 20gal would suffice. I'll also have a maxijet pump in here to move water to my sump to replace the dirty water that I removed.

I can't imagine I'm the first person to have attempted this, so if anyone has any pictures of a similar setup to give me some ideas on storage containers, plumbing, cautions, and do's and don't's, I'd really appreciate the help.

Thanks!

[dkh0331]

I use three 40 gal Brute trash cans. All are located, as is my sump, in my basement with the DT on the first floor.

I have one Brute next to my slop sink. My RO/DI is connected to the sink and I fill this Brute with RO/DI water. I have a Mag 9 that sits on the bottom of the RO/DI Brute. The mag runs 24/7. The pvc runs up thru the lid into a "T". Ball valve sits right on top of the "T", normally in the closed position. The side of the "T" returns back to the Brute. This keeps my RO/DI water circulating.

Opening the Ball valve sends the water to the other side of the basement where my sump, kalk Brute and WC Brute sit. It goes to a pvc manifold with three outlets - one to the Kalk Brute, one to the WC Brute and one directly to the sump.

So to move water from one side of the basement to the other, I open the ball valve on my RO/DI Brute and then choose where I want the water to flow to - Kalk/top-off, WC or directly to the sump (That option is for emergency use only).

On the WC Brute, I have a mag 5 that runs 24/7 with the same "T" set-up as the RO/DI Brute has, the water is always circulating and when I'm ready to bring the water into the sump, I just open the ball valve the leads to the sump.

My return line from the sump to the DT is also "T'ed" with a ball valve that is plumbed into a drain. So when I want to remove water from my sump, I open that "T" and water drains out.

Both of the mag pumps have unions right above them so I can easily remove the pump for service. I also cut the lids of all three Brutes in half.

For various reasons, I can't currently post any new pics. I believe I have a pic of the "T" above my WC Brute and will try to find and post that.

HTH

[Patow]

Here is what I'm thinking of doing:



A couple of questions:

1) For the Kalkwasser, is there a need for a mixing pump? I've read various opinions on this.

2) Should I put the saltwater mixing pump in or outside the vessel?

3) Is there an inherent need to be able to clean the kalkwasser and saltwater vessels? i.e. can I get away with having them sealed, or should i have a removeable lid?

Any other glaring issues that I've missed?

Thanks,

Dave

[dkh0331]

I throw a powerhead into my kalk brute for mixing for an hour or so. I pull it out and rinse it off when I'm done.

My pump on the saltwater change tank is inside.

Once a year a take all three Brutes out and clean them.

[Playa-1]

It's very common to set up water storage the way that your contemplating. The grey brute trash cans are food safe containers and they are available in several different sizes with lids. Many people use these for water storage including myself. I use three 30 gallon containers in my garage for the same purposes that you listed above. I use a float valve to keep the RO/DI water topped off. My RO/DI unit has an auto shutoff valve built in so I can leave the water supply on to it all the time without wasting water. You would have to elevate the RO/DI container in order to open a ball valve to fill the other containers or use a pumping system. I just drop a little pump with a tube attached and manually pump water from the RO/DI holding tank to the other two tanks as necessary.


Three 30 gallon Brute containers for RO/DI, Salt water and Kalk. Located out of the way in the garage.


Photo Showing RO/DI float valve on Brute container.


I use this RO/DI unit mounted over my utility sink in the garage.

[Patow]

Very cool guys.

My problem is with space. I'm running a basement sump in my laundry room, and have little space to work with.





As you can see, the 30gal Brute is taking up quite a bit of room.

I'm contemplating building a shelving unit (sturdy of course), and building acrylic boxes to store the water and maximize space.

My main concern is on maintenance. If I go this route, it's going to be a royal pain to clean without removable lids like th Brutes have.

My other option is looking at other kinds of storage vessels. I've been shopping around with no much luck though.

Thanks,

Dave

[Playa-1]

1) For the Kalkwasser, is there a need for a mixing pump? I've read various opinions on this.
I use a powerhead to mix for about 15 minutes then I pull the powerhead out and drop it back in my salt mix container to keep it moving.

2) Should I put the saltwater mixing pump in or outside the vessel?
I would put it inside.

3) Is there an inherent need to be able to clean the kalkwasser and saltwater vessels? i.e. can I get away with having them sealed, or should i have a removable lid?
I think it's wise to keep your options flexible. I would use removable lids and build it so that the containers can be removed for cleaning if the need ever arises.

[Playa-1]

You could build a custom steel stand for the sump/fuge and the brutes or containers of your choice could slide underneath it.

[Patow]

Good call. I was actually just toying with a similar idea.

There is actually quite a bit of room under that stand where I could theoretically house two 20 gal tubs. I bought one yesterday from Rubbermaid that was 21gal, and it was just a tad big. They had several other simiar sizes, so I'm sure I can find something that will fit.

On either side of the sump, I could fit a 30gal square Brute trash can (if I can find one!). I could have my RO/DI unit fill that Brute trash can, and feed the other two reservoirs under the tank.

Depending on elevation of the trash can, I may need to use pumps, but that's not a huge ordeal if I can't rely on gravity.

Thanks for the feedback, it was very helpful.

Off to find some containers!

Dave

[Playa-1]

If you can't find what you need locally then these people w ill likely have something that will work.
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/def...ookie%5Ftest=1

[Rizup]

Sorry for the bad picture, but here is how I handle water storage. My sump, the two Brutes, and all equipment is located in a closet, so space is very limited. My sump is a 50g breeder so that takes up a lot of room as well.

My Maxcap RO/DI system is split into three ball valves - one connects to a line that I use to collect a few gallons of water at startup so that I don't put that water into my top-off or water change containers. The other two connect to the two Brutes via float valves. The system also has an auto-shutoff so I can leave the Brutes filling overnight. I use the bottom Brute for top off water that is added to the sump via an aqualifter. The top Brute is used for water changes. I simply add salt, turn on the heater and pump that are located in the Brute and let the run for about 24 hours (checking salinity every so often). When I am ready for a water change I simply pump the sump almost dry (using this time to clean it if needed) and then open the ball valve on the water change Brute. Takes just a few minutes.

Mike

[Patow]

Hey Mike, any chance you have a picture of the output split from your RO/DI unit? That is a fantastic idea that I hadn't thought of!

Curious as to how you have it plumbed for two float valves.

I have this RO/DI unit: http://www.coralreefsupply.com/index...tail&detail=57

Not the best I imagine, but seems to do the trick. 0 TDS reading after DI.

Dave

[Rizup]

Sure, I'll take a picture tonight and post. Basically I have the line from the RO/DI run to a T with one side going to the top off Brute. The other side goes to another T. One side of the second T goes to the water change Brute and the other side of the second T goes to the line that I use to collect waste water from when the RO/DI system first starts. Each of the three outputs from the RO/DI have ball valves that I shut off when not in use.

When I need to make water I open just the ball valve on the waste water line and let that run for a while. When I am ready to start filling the Brute's I just open those ball valves and close the waste water one.

Since one of the Brutes is elevated, the bottom Brute will fill first and when the float valve cuts flow to it the top one will fill. This is fine for me and if I needed the top to fill first I could just close the ball valve on the bottom Brute until the top was full.

I have one float valve in each Brute and an emergency drain in case the valve were to fail.

[maxheadroom]

[Jay1982]

Quick question for you guy who store your water. How long does the water stay in your brute containers? Is it in there long enough to start developing ammonia or other toxin problems? This has always been my concern with stored water in containers.

Currently I have some mixed salt water (excess) that has been laying in my container for about 5-6 days now. And I was going to throw it out thinking that it had would start to have ammonia in it. Am I wrong?

[Playa-1]

With a lid it will store for a long time. It's good to either leave a small powerhead in it with a loosefitting lid. Or just aerate it good with a powerhead before you use it.