AWC Plumbing Question

Mike Arnold · Jun 26, 2021

I'm setting up my Neptune DOS AWC system and wanted to run this design by you guys. I was going to run a totally separate dirty water line from the tank and realized that I already had a dirty line running from the RODI; so, I added splitter and spliced the tank dirty water into the RODI waste line. I didn't want saltwater backing up into the RODI, so I added check valve to the RODI waste water line before the splitter.

Thoughts?

Here's a pic

sunken3 · Jun 26, 2021

I would put a check valve on the dirty tank water line as well. it would save any back pressure against the DOS head. Also, be prepared to replace or repair the DOS heads every 6-12 months ($29 each).

sunken3 · Jun 26, 2021

also on a complete side note.. once in a blue moon, RODI tubing can burst (pinhole is all it takes), or the canisters can spit (fail)... i have had both over the last 15 years... you may want to put a splash shield in front of your electrical outlet..

Mike Arnold · Jun 26, 2021

Awesome, good point; that’s the kind of info I’m looking for. I’m getting ready to replace that power strip with and old EB8 that I have in mothballs. I’ll be sure to protect it.

thanks

sunken3 said:
also on a complete side note.. once in a blue moon, RODI tubing can burst (pinhole is all it takes), or the canisters can spit (fail)... i have had both over the last 15 years... you may want to put a splash shield in front of your electrical outlet..

Mike Arnold · Jun 28, 2021

I have another question about this setup; how are people getting the new saltwater from their mixing station? I was thinking about purchasing a magnetic line holder of some sort, but was curious about what others are doing; I have the ro line connected the external bulkhead, but I'm looking for a clean solution to get the line down into the saltwater 3 or 5 feet.

sunken3 · Jun 28, 2021

Mike Arnold said:
I have another question about this setup; how are people getting the new saltwater from their mixing station? I was thinking about purchasing a magnetic line holder of some sort, but was curious about what others are doing; I have the ro line connected the external bulkhead, but I'm looking for a clean solution to get the line down into the saltwater 3 or 5 feet.

are you talking about the end of the line? i attached mine to a piece of acrylic tubing.. that gets the soft (aka - bent) hose all the way to the bottom...

sunken3 · Jun 28, 2021

on a side note.. are you planning on keeping a vat of saltwater? I have a 100g container that i use to keep the saltwater in.. but over time it got caked in minerals and "mud"... i now only keep freshwater in it and mix my salt in a rubbermaid can (40g) on wheels that I can rinse out occasionally.. .. some salt's are cleaner than others.. (BRS has an episode dedicated to this).. for example, i found reef crystals was a bit muddy... Fritz was super muddy.. tropic marin was very clean... I dont think it changes your "success" in reefing much, but definitely makes your water darker...

Mike Arnold · Jun 28, 2021

sunken3 said:
are you talking about the end of the line? i attached mine to a piece of acrylic tubing.. that gets the soft (aka - bent) hose all the way to the bottom...

Yes, I see that Amazon has a 3' acrylic tube for $22, but I was looking for a cheaper more creative solution. BRS has the tubes in 16" lengths, but I'm thinking a 36" would be better. I was thinking that I could use the ro tubing and use a magnetic tube holder to hold it down to the bottom of the reservoir, but was wondering what others are doing.

It would be nice to have a single 36" acrylic tube, but felt a little guilty paying over $20 for it

Pistondog · Jun 28, 2021

Mike Arnold said:
I have another question about this setup; how are people getting the new saltwater from their mixing station? I was thinking about purchasing a magnetic line holder of some sort, but was curious about what others are doing; I have the ro line connected the external bulkhead, but I'm looking for a clean solution to get the line down into the saltwater 3 or 5 feet.

To get the line down into the saltwater, I used 1/2" pvc cut 6 inches longer than my brute is high, thru the cover. Then cut wet end 45 deg. Thread tubing all way to bottom, then pull back up 1 inch off the bottom. Secure with duct tape at top.

Mike Arnold · Jun 28, 2021

Pistondog said:
To get the line down into the saltwater, I used 1/2" pvc cut 6 inches longer than my brute is high, thru the cover. Then cut wet end 45 deg. Thread tubing all way to bottom, then pull back up 1 inch off the bottom. Secure with duct tape at top.

nice, very creative and inexpensive. Thanks

Yodeling · Jul 4, 2021

sunken3 said:
on a side note.. are you planning on keeping a vat of saltwater? I have a 100g container that i use to keep the saltwater in.. but over time it got caked in minerals and "mud"... i now only keep freshwater in it and mix my salt in a rubbermaid can (40g) on wheels that I can rinse out occasionally.. .. some salt's are cleaner than others.. (BRS has an episode dedicated to this).. for example, i found reef crystals was a bit muddy... Fritz was super muddy.. tropic marin was very clean... I dont think it changes your "success" in reefing much, but definitely makes your water darker...

WOW, I have the exact same experience here. The 100g tank eventually gunked up with lots of brown "stuff". And they are a royal pain to clean. I stopped using mine for salt water and only use it for RO/DI reservoir. For SW, I use a Rubbermaid tub on wheels. Much easier to wheel outside every couple months and scrub out. I also put a pump inside for circulation as opposed using the bottom-to-top PVC setup I had before. Now I can just remove the pump and clean it. And it circulates water just fine.

OP, if you insist on using the 100g tank for SW, the best way I found to clean it is with a mop. Roll it outside, lay it on its side, stick the mop in, and scrub while rolling it. But if you have mixing PVC pipes attached like I did, there is no good way to clean those.