AWC final check

MSB123 · Jan 18, 2019

I am setting up my AWC system this weekend. I just want to make sure I have everything I need.
What I have:
Dõs
200 feet of tubing for the Dõs
200 gallon salt mix
100 gallon saltwater storage container
Power head for mixing the saltwater
Place for the old saltwater to drain
RODI system
Am I missing anything?
Thanks!

nautical_nathaniel · Jan 18, 2019

You forgot patience and a 12 pack of your favorite beverage

Be sure to post pics about your experience!

Waters · Jan 18, 2019

Possibly a heater for your water change container? Obviously it depends on how much you are changing at one time and the size of your tank. I keep a pump and heater in my saltwater.....I also do continuous water changes all day long though.

MSB123 · Jan 18, 2019

Waters said:
Possibly a heater for your water change container? Obviously it depends on how much you are changing at one time and the size of your tank. I keep a pump and heater in my saltwater.....I also do continuous water changes all day long though.

2 gallons a aday, 250 gallons of water in the tank.

lbacha · Jan 18, 2019

MSB123 said:
2 gallons a aday, 250 gallons of water in the tank.

If you are using a dos which changes water throughout the day then I would say no heater needed. I have a heater in my saltwater holding tank but I only turn it on if I know I’ll be pulling a lot of salt out for something. For example I’m setting up a quarantine tank later today so I turned the heater on this morning so I can just add water and it’s ready to go.

MSB123 · Jan 18, 2019

lbacha said:
If you are using a dos which changes water throughout the day then I would say no heater needed. I have a heater in my saltwater holding tank but I only turn it on if I know I’ll be pulling a lot of salt out for something. For example I’m setting up a quarantine tank later today so I turned the heater on this morning so I can just add water and it’s ready to go.

Makes sense. I am using a DOS. My salt will be here Tuesday and my storage tank(I got a bigger one, 200 gallons) will be here on Wednesday. I hope this goes well!

Burrito · Jan 18, 2019

i use a dos to change out 2-3 gallons a night (midnight to 8am) for my 100g system. i dont use a heater and my apex never registers a "change" in temp. my water is in my basement and the brutes keep the water at a toasty 61 degrees compared to my tank at 79

MSB123 · Jan 18, 2019

Burrito said:
i use a dos to change out 2-3 gallons a night (midnight to 8am) for my 100g system. i dont use a heater and my apex never registers a "change" in temp. my water is in my basement and the brutes keep the water at a toasty 61 degrees compared to my tank at 79

Wow! How much storage do you have for water?
How often do you refil your saltwater?

Burrito · Jan 18, 2019

each can holds about 30g of water so not a ton, i havnt found a good deal on a larger water tank yet. i have one brute hold new salt water and the other holds fresh RODI. i fill about every 12-14 days. my rodi is split into 2 lines and i fill them at the same time. i go through about that much in evaporation in the same time period.

currently getting back up to 2g a night, i had a dino outbreak from the tank being too clean so i lowered my AWC percentage to dirty things up a bit. i might stay at 1g/night, less mixing

MSB123 · Jan 18, 2019

Burrito said:
each can holds about 30g of water so not a ton, i havnt found a good deal on a larger water tank yet. i have one brute hold new salt water and the other holds fresh RODI. i fill about every 12-14 days. my rodi is split into 2 lines and i fill them at the same time. i go through about that much in evaporation in the same time period.

currently getting back up to 2g a night, i had a dino outbreak from the tank being too clean so i lowered my AWC percentage to dirty things up a bit. i might stay at 1g/night, less mixing

Yeah. I got a 200 gallon tank so I could do 2 gallons a day (1%) and have ~3 months between each refill. I might do 3 or 4 gallons and drop it down to once every 1.5-2. Months.

lbacha · Jan 18, 2019

MSB123 said:
Yeah. I got a 200 gallon tank so I could do 2 gallons a day (1%) and have ~3 months between each refill. I might do 3 or 4 gallons and drop it down to once every 1.5-2. Months.

The nice thing with the storage tanks is making salt is easy as well so even if you have to make it monthly all you do is add a set amount of RODI then add a matching amount of salt. I then test the next day and adjust by adding more water or salt.

MSB123 · Jan 18, 2019

lbacha said:
The nice thing with the storage tanks is making salt is easy as well so even if you have to make it monthly all you do is add a set amount of RODI then add a matching amount of salt. I then test the next day and adjust by adding more water or salt.

Yeah. I like the idea of 50 gallons, because 4 bags of salt makes 200 gallons.
I just add the salt, and fill up the tank and I’m done. (Salt is sold in 200 gallon boxes)

lbacha · Jan 18, 2019

MSB123 said:
Yeah. I like the idea of 50 gallons, because 4 bags of salt makes 200 gallons.
I just add the salt, and fill up the tank and I’m done. (Salt is sold in 200 gallon boxes)

I don’t like letting the salt run all the way out I usually add more when my storage tank is at about 25-30% this way if I need to do a large water change or set up an emergency qt I always have some saltwater ready