How to store RO DI Water

zhewitt04 · 10/26/2010, 06:58 PM

I am setting up my ro unit and was curious to how to store the water. I am going to use 110 gallon stock tank. Should I add the salt in the water right away or wait untill i do my water changes to add the salt. Also what size powerhead should I use. I have a small nano powerhead is that enough it that large of a container, or do i need a 1200 maxi jet? Also i am putting the device in my garage. Should i cover the tank to avoid contamination(dust and stuff)? If so what should I cover it with?
Thanks

rayn · 10/26/2010, 07:06 PM

Yep put the salt in same time as water. Let it mix continously and you'll always have prepared water ready. Use both powerheads if you want, you just need something to circulate the water and mix the salt, but you also want a heater in there to keep it at your DT temp.
I would cover it. To much crap in our garages that you don't want in your tank. Since it is just mixing water, go get a piece oa acryli and cut it fo fit in the top bracing. Cut out a little area for your cords to run through and a put a cotton ball the the hole to seal it. Wipe it down before taking the lid off to keep dirt and dust and whatever out of hte clean water too.

Hartdude · 10/26/2010, 07:08 PM

Check The Salt Water Mixing Station Thread for some great ideas along with photos.

muttley000 · 10/26/2010, 07:28 PM

I would aerate the RODI for 24 hours before mixing with salt. Just my opinion.

Dustin1300 · 10/26/2010, 07:40 PM

I'd agree with the previous posters. I have my RO/DI filter to a Brute 44 and typically add salt once barrel fills to my float valve. I then add salt, give a good stir with PVC pipe, turn pump on and let sit one day before I turn my LMIII back on. I don't worry about a heater as I use a Liter Meter III to automatically change 8 liters a day over 150 intervals so I only have small amounts of water exchanged during a day.

rayn · 10/26/2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muttley000

I would aerate the RODI for 24 hours before mixing with salt. Just my opinion.

Just wondering, but why aerate the rodi water before salt? I pour water into my mixing can and salt right after. Am I doing it wrong?

Maivortex · 10/26/2010, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayn

Just wondering, but why aerate the rodi water before salt? I pour water into my mixing can and salt right after. Am I doing it wrong?

I would like to know as well.......

HanoverFist · 10/26/2010, 08:40 PM

Salt water makes salt creep when it splashes, which it will when you're aerating. So, you aerate the freshwater, which doesn't splash salt everywhere. This means you can run air pumps to aerate and powerheads to super-agitate the surface without much worry.

There's also the pH factor. Need the CO2/O2 levels balanced out so pH isn't screwy. So, when you're testing the saltwater after mixing you can get proper readings from everything. Otherwise, you'd have to wait while the freshly mixed saltwater aerates to get any proper pH readings.

thatguy559 · 10/26/2010, 09:43 PM

^^***

Palting · 10/26/2010, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HanoverFist

Salt water makes salt creep when it splashes, which it will when you're aerating. So, you aerate the freshwater, which doesn't splash salt everywhere. This means you can run air pumps to aerate and powerheads to super-agitate the surface without much worry.

There's also the pH factor. Need the CO2/O2 levels balanced out so pH isn't screwy. So, when you're testing the saltwater after mixing you can get proper readings from everything. Otherwise, you'd have to wait while the freshly mixed saltwater aerates to get any proper pH readings.

Huh! And I always thought that the CO2/O2 balancing was somehow related to the need for the minerals and chemicals in the salt to dissolve in the water and then be aerated/oxygenated properly to achieve pH balance. I did not know it was the RO/DI that needed to be aerated and pH balanced.

HanoverFist · 10/26/2010, 11:08 PM

Right. Doesn't matter which is aerated. It just needs to be aerated to reduce the CO2 saturation. Since you can aerate without worrying about splash in non-saltwater it just makes sense to me to do it then.

My point with pH was you would be able to test water after mixing it and get accurate results if the RO/DI was properly aerated. If not, you have to wait until it's aerated to get a proper pH reading from your new batch of saltwater. This would only probably be important if you need to make some up fast. But it's still something worth noting when planning.

And it's quickly becoming my experience that the more pitfalls you're aware of - the smoother things will go.

bigdog0598 · 10/26/2010, 11:30 PM

How do you guys store pure RODI for topoff.....i currently do the premade saltwater but will need to start doing fresh too.....

jeff@zina.com · 10/27/2010, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdog0598

How do you guys store pure RODI for topoff.....i currently do the premade saltwater but will need to start doing fresh too.....

Two Brute containers, one is RODI, the other for salt mixing. I don't fill the second until I'm ready to mix salt water, I don't keep salt water hanging around -- no real use for it.

Jeff

JMartin104 · 10/27/2010, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdog0598

How do you guys store pure RODI for topoff.....i currently do the premade saltwater but will need to start doing fresh too.....

I have a 55g container. I use 6-7g of fresh RODI weekly for top-offs. Each week, my container starts off producing RODI. I fill my 1g jugs. Once done, I add my salt. This is aerated for about 30 min (while I'm mixing the salt). I turn a valve on my pump and it causes the water in the tank to circulate and mix the salt at the same time. Then I perform my water changes (3 tanks).

auburngrad · 10/27/2010, 11:09 AM

when u say aeration , is it with a pump and an airstone?

JMartin104 · 10/27/2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auburngrad

when u say aeration , is it with a pump and an airstone?

Air exchange: expose the water to the air via agitation from the pump circulation.

Palting · 10/27/2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auburngrad

when u say aeration , is it with a pump and an airstone?

I use a powerhead with an air siphon. Pumps water only if you close the air hose, abnd both air and water with the air siphon open. You can get these at your lfs. More efficient.

rayn · 10/27/2010, 06:38 PM

Wow, I just place water in my 35 gallon garbage can dump in the salt and let my powerhead do the work. I've tested it before using and it always fall right where I want it to parameter ways. I even keep a lid snapped on it to keep dirt out.

10/26/2010, 06:58 PM	#1
zhewitt04 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kokomo, IN Posts: 764	How to store RO DI Water I am setting up my ro unit and was curious to how to store the water. I am going to use 110 gallon stock tank. Should I add the salt in the water right away or wait untill i do my water changes to add the salt. Also what size powerhead should I use. I have a small nano powerhead is that enough it that large of a container, or do i need a 1200 maxi jet? Also i am putting the device in my garage. Should i cover the tank to avoid contamination(dust and stuff)? If so what should I cover it with? Thanks

10/26/2010, 07:06 PM	#2
rayn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pekin, Il Posts: 2,864	Yep put the salt in same time as water. Let it mix continously and you'll always have prepared water ready. Use both powerheads if you want, you just need something to circulate the water and mix the salt, but you also want a heater in there to keep it at your DT temp. I would cover it. To much crap in our garages that you don't want in your tank. Since it is just mixing water, go get a piece oa acryli and cut it fo fit in the top bracing. Cut out a little area for your cords to run through and a put a cotton ball the the hole to seal it. Wipe it down before taking the lid off to keep dirt and dust and whatever out of hte clean water too. __________________ Currently changing, stay tuned for new details...

10/26/2010, 07:28 PM	#4
muttley000 MTS Sufferer! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 1,926	I would aerate the RODI for 24 hours before mixing with salt. Just my opinion. __________________ Next step on the system is adding A 90 gallon! Current Tank Info: 475 multitank system is now running! Several hundred gallons of additions planned!

10/27/2010, 06:38 PM	#18
rayn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pekin, Il Posts: 2,864	Wow, I just place water in my 35 gallon garbage can dump in the salt and let my powerhead do the work. I've tested it before using and it always fall right where I want it to parameter ways. I even keep a lid snapped on it to keep dirt out. __________________ Currently changing, stay tuned for new details...

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10/26/2010, 07:08 PM	#3
Hartdude Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ashland, NE Posts: 342	Check The Salt Water Mixing Station Thread for some great ideas along with photos.

10/26/2010, 07:40 PM	#5
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	I'd agree with the previous posters. I have my RO/DI filter to a Brute 44 and typically add salt once barrel fills to my float valve. I then add salt, give a good stir with PVC pipe, turn pump on and let sit one day before I turn my LMIII back on. I don't worry about a heater as I use a Liter Meter III to automatically change 8 liters a day over 150 intervals so I only have small amounts of water exchanged during a day.

10/26/2010, 08:40 PM	#8
HanoverFist Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 626	Salt water makes salt creep when it splashes, which it will when you're aerating. So, you aerate the freshwater, which doesn't splash salt everywhere. This means you can run air pumps to aerate and powerheads to super-agitate the surface without much worry. There's also the pH factor. Need the CO2/O2 levels balanced out so pH isn't screwy. So, when you're testing the saltwater after mixing you can get proper readings from everything. Otherwise, you'd have to wait while the freshly mixed saltwater aerates to get any proper pH readings.

10/26/2010, 09:43 PM	#9
thatguy559 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: johnstown, pa Posts: 142	^^***

10/26/2010, 11:08 PM	#11
HanoverFist Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 626	Right. Doesn't matter which is aerated. It just needs to be aerated to reduce the CO2 saturation. Since you can aerate without worrying about splash in non-saltwater it just makes sense to me to do it then. My point with pH was you would be able to test water after mixing it and get accurate results if the RO/DI was properly aerated. If not, you have to wait until it's aerated to get a proper pH reading from your new batch of saltwater. This would only probably be important if you need to make some up fast. But it's still something worth noting when planning. And it's quickly becoming my experience that the more pitfalls you're aware of - the smoother things will go.

10/26/2010, 11:30 PM	#12
bigdog0598 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 295	How do you guys store pure RODI for topoff.....i currently do the premade saltwater but will need to start doing fresh too.....

10/27/2010, 11:09 AM	#15
auburngrad Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: mobile, alabama Posts: 119	when u say aeration , is it with a pump and an airstone?