Water change and septic ?

msp2673 · 04/24/2010, 02:14 PM

Will dumping large amounts of salt water (from a water change) down the drain on a regular basis harm a septic system?

shifty51008 · 04/24/2010, 02:19 PM

AFIK their hasn't been any proof that showes it will do harm

msp2673 · 04/24/2010, 02:22 PM

Thanks. I should have searched first. I found some info in another thread.

mborkush · 04/24/2010, 03:40 PM

Personally, I never put anything into the leach fied that I don’t have too. Yes, Im the guy who doesn’t flush after he pee’s a couple of times. I would rather buy coral and fish than pay some one to dig up my yard and burry expensive pipes that I cant see.

For my water changes and RO/DI waste and water softener back wash, I have a big barrel with a sump pump in it that goes outside. I Buried some 1 ½” PVC off to the side. For less than $100, the water goes in and out as needed without having to think about my RO waste line or excess waste water.

I live in a house full of girls, I cringe when they say there taking a shower…..

Threelittlefish · 04/24/2010, 04:22 PM

You have to relax with all that your stressing. Water entering the septic tank goes directly into the drain field. Solid bodilly waste get's eaten by bacteria and goes into the drain field with waste water. The only things that will screw up your septic is a food disposal, bleach, antibiotic soaps and mouth wash, and drain cleaner. If you put salt into the septic system you better make sure your grass and trees can handle salt exposure. Many can't. I've been on septic for 8 years and recently had it inspected and it had no solid waste in it at all. flushing everytime you **** is not going ot bother anything and neither will long showers. I don't dump saltwater into my septic.

muttley000 · 04/24/2010, 05:27 PM

I won't put it in my septic when I finally am doing salt water changes next month! I'll pour it in my gravel driveway to kill weeds.

brycerb · 04/24/2010, 05:53 PM

This was asked before and someone said salt water had fried there septic tank.

My Uncle also killed his with salt from water changes.

Septic tanks have benifitial bacteria in them that break everything down. They can't live in salt water. You even have to use special toilet paper. Why does this question keep poping up?

mfinn · 04/24/2010, 08:03 PM

I have been doing water changes of more than 100 gallons every two weeks for the last 18 years in my present house with no damage at all to the septic system.

Redside · 04/24/2010, 08:18 PM

What? My 25g septic tank won't handle a 100g water change? Seen how big septic tanks are? If the leach field was installed right I do not believe any salt would make it to your grass roots. We even had a disposal on our system and never had a problem. Does your clothes washer (bleach) drain to the system?

kimber45 · 04/24/2010, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redside

What? My 25g septic tank won't handle a 100g water change? Seen how big septic tanks are? If the leach field was installed right I do not believe any salt would make it to your grass roots. We even had a disposal on our system and never had a problem. Does your clothes washer (bleach) drain to the system?

what? 25 gallon septic. lol

mborkush · 04/25/2010, 05:41 AM

Any septic guy will tell you the key to long septic life is to limit what goes into it. Again, any septic guy will say salt will kill off the bacteria that is breaking down the solids. Where I am, I have a high water table which slows the leaching process. Thats why I cringe at long showers. A water softener back flush is never good because of the high salt concentration. Same goes for tank water changes, high salt concentrations. Do as you all wish, I may be over cautious with my system but I wont be replacing it any time soon.

d0ughb0y · 04/25/2010, 07:22 AM

don't new houses don't use septic tanks anymore? and wastes just flows directly to sewage treatment plant? will saltwater harm the sewer pipes?

SnowManSnow · 04/25/2010, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d0ughb0y

don't new houses don't use septic tanks anymore? and wastes just flows directly to sewage treatment plant? will saltwater harm the sewer pipes?

haha

city folk

SnowManSnow · 04/25/2010, 07:35 AM

NEVER had a problem putting 15g a week into mine.

B

SnowManSnow · 04/25/2010, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brycerb

You even have to use special toilet paper. Why does this question keep poping up?

no u dont

75gsalt · 04/25/2010, 07:57 AM

I grew up living in a house that has a septic tank. In 30 years it has only been pumped 1 time. There is no need for special toilet paper. And as a contractor, the only problem with putting saltwater in a septic system is salt eats concrete. But the amount that you will be flushing will not do any damage.

d0ughb0y · 04/25/2010, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowmansnow

haha

city folk

rn

rezaktp · 02/26/2011, 10:46 AM

OK so what would be better for a septic system, doing a 25 gallon water change once a month and sending 25 gallat at once, or doing 1-2 gallons per day with a automatic water changer and sending a few ounces to the septic constantly 24/7?

04/24/2010, 02:14 PM	#1
msp2673 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: RED SOX NATION Posts: 55	Water change and septic ? Will dumping large amounts of salt water (from a water change) down the drain on a regular basis harm a septic system?

04/24/2010, 03:40 PM	#4
mborkush Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Raymond, NH Posts: 122	Personally, I never put anything into the leach fied that I don’t have too. Yes, Im the guy who doesn’t flush after he pee’s a couple of times. I would rather buy coral and fish than pay some one to dig up my yard and burry expensive pipes that I cant see. For my water changes and RO/DI waste and water softener back wash, I have a big barrel with a sump pump in it that goes outside. I Buried some 1 ½” PVC off to the side. For less than $100, the water goes in and out as needed without having to think about my RO waste line or excess waste water. I live in a house full of girls, I cringe when they say there taking a shower….. __________________ Here fishy, fishy, fishy Current Tank Info: 220 Reef with Remote sump filtration,

04/24/2010, 05:53 PM	#7
brycerb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Isle of wight, VA Posts: 541	This was asked before and someone said salt water had fried there septic tank. My Uncle also killed his with salt from water changes. Septic tanks have benifitial bacteria in them that break everything down. They can't live in salt water. You even have to use special toilet paper. Why does this question keep poping up? __________________ -Luckily, my wife is reef safe so I can use my normal income for this hobby. -My cichlids love RO waste! Current Tank Info: 7.5 gallon box with water in it.

04/24/2010, 08:03 PM	#8
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I have been doing water changes of more than 100 gallons every two weeks for the last 18 years in my present house with no damage at all to the septic system. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

04/25/2010, 05:41 AM	#11
mborkush Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Raymond, NH Posts: 122	Any septic guy will tell you the key to long septic life is to limit what goes into it. Again, any septic guy will say salt will kill off the bacteria that is breaking down the solids. Where I am, I have a high water table which slows the leaching process. Thats why I cringe at long showers. A water softener back flush is never good because of the high salt concentration. Same goes for tank water changes, high salt concentrations. Do as you all wish, I may be over cautious with my system but I wont be replacing it any time soon. __________________ Here fishy, fishy, fishy Current Tank Info: 220 Reef with Remote sump filtration,

04/24/2010, 02:19 PM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	AFIK their hasn't been any proof that showes it will do harm

04/24/2010, 02:22 PM	#3
msp2673 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: RED SOX NATION Posts: 55	Thanks. I should have searched first. I found some info in another thread.

04/24/2010, 04:22 PM	#5
Threelittlefish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 75	You have to relax with all that your stressing. Water entering the septic tank goes directly into the drain field. Solid bodilly waste get's eaten by bacteria and goes into the drain field with waste water. The only things that will screw up your septic is a food disposal, bleach, antibiotic soaps and mouth wash, and drain cleaner. If you put salt into the septic system you better make sure your grass and trees can handle salt exposure. Many can't. I've been on septic for 8 years and recently had it inspected and it had no solid waste in it at all. flushing everytime you **** is not going ot bother anything and neither will long showers. I don't dump saltwater into my septic.

04/24/2010, 05:27 PM	#6
muttley000 MTS Sufferer! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 1,926	I won't put it in my septic when I finally am doing salt water changes next month! I'll pour it in my gravel driveway to kill weeds.

04/24/2010, 08:18 PM	#9
Redside Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 3	What? My 25g septic tank won't handle a 100g water change? Seen how big septic tanks are? If the leach field was installed right I do not believe any salt would make it to your grass roots. We even had a disposal on our system and never had a problem. Does your clothes washer (bleach) drain to the system?

04/25/2010, 07:22 AM	#12
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	don't new houses don't use septic tanks anymore? and wastes just flows directly to sewage treatment plant? will saltwater harm the sewer pipes?

04/25/2010, 07:35 AM	#14
SnowManSnow Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 956	NEVER had a problem putting 15g a week into mine. B __________________ It's dark as the inside of a cow out here! - Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 120 MRC acrylic Tank (love it). Constellation T5s Mixed Reef

04/25/2010, 07:57 AM	#16
75gsalt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Southeast Kansas Posts: 286	I grew up living in a house that has a septic tank. In 30 years it has only been pumped 1 time. There is no need for special toilet paper. And as a contractor, the only problem with putting saltwater in a septic system is salt eats concrete. But the amount that you will be flushing will not do any damage. __________________ 75 ga. reef 20 gal. sump corals GSP assorted Polyps Zoos PomPom Xenia Waving Hand Xenia Blue Mushroom Toadstool Leather Current Tank Info: 75g. reef 125 lbs. live rock 90lbs. live sand 1 Clown small Regal Tang 20 Nass. Snails Turbos hermit

02/26/2011, 10:46 AM	#18
rezaktp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gurnee, IL Posts: 1,407	OK so what would be better for a septic system, doing a 25 gallon water change once a month and sending 25 gallat at once, or doing 1-2 gallons per day with a automatic water changer and sending a few ounces to the septic constantly 24/7? __________________ Happy Reefing! Current Tank Info: 180g. Reef w/8-80w t-5's, 70g. Rubbermaid basement sump w/10g. fuge, APEX, Reef Octopus SRO 2000 Skimmer, 1/3hp Aqualogic chiller, 57w Aqua Ultraviolet UV, BRS 2-part w/2-Drews Dosers, 4-MP40wES

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