I built my mixing station

carsonroberge · Jan 2, 2013

So i'm putting together my 75 gal next week, and I built a saltwater mixing station in my garage.

This was the plan my father and I came up with.

This is the top shelf where we put the fresh water bucket.

Put the RO/DI unit on there.

And there it is all plumbed up.

Sorry for the horrible photo's. Just wanted to show off my project

Trevdawg · Jan 2, 2013

Clever

redfishbluefish · Jan 2, 2013

Nice! I love seeing DIY projects.

But I would have put one Brute directly below the other Brute to save space.

Also, are you blocking a door?

carsonroberge · Jan 2, 2013

redfishbluefish said:
Nice! I love seeing DIY projects.

But I would have put one Brute directly below the other Brute to save space.

Also, are you blocking a door?

Haha yes but the other side has a bush in front of it so we don't use it. We plan to use the space under neath the top can for storage of buckets, salt, etc. Also dad thought this was more fun to build it like this LOL

revhtree · Jan 2, 2013

Well done and thanks for sharing!

Ricks Reef · Jan 6, 2013

Sweet set up.I want to do something similar but first I need to clean my garage :squigglemouth:

adamfinke · Jan 6, 2013

So the top brute is your RO/DI water, then do you just drain it to the bottom brute for mixing you salt water? Any power heads in either of the brutes and a heater?

carsonroberge · Jan 7, 2013

Ricks Reef said:
Sweet set up.I want to do something similar but first I need to clean my garage :squigglemouth:

We spent two days cleaning the garage!

carsonroberge · Jan 7, 2013

adamfinke said:
So the top brute is your RO/DI water, then do you just drain it to the bottom brute for mixing you salt water? Any power heads in either of the brutes and a heater?

Yes, exactly. The top brute is for my freshwater tanks and the bottom brute is where I mix the salt. I have two 1300 GPH powerheads and a small heater in the bottom brute.

Zoa Junkie · Jan 7, 2013

Very nice, i like that idea. Now you dont have to worry about anything!

Lilmatty5dimes · Jan 7, 2013

very nice thanks for sharing

Rob.D · Jan 7, 2013

Neat build, I can't wait to build one for myself.

LukeG · Jan 12, 2013

I want one

carsonroberge · Jan 12, 2013

I think everyone should have one. You can make it smaller to take up way less room too.

Budman's Corals · Jan 18, 2013

Nice setup. Almost like mine but mine not done yet

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Reef2Reef Aquarium Forum mobile app

carsonroberge · Jan 20, 2013

Nice man! It makes the process a whole lot easier and faster.

ruppertb · Jan 20, 2013

Mine is similar to this but i put a bulk head in 2 spots on my ro bin. One near the top so i have a measured amount of water for salt mixing at all times. The extra water from the top bulkhead just goes into a 3rd bin with a float to stop ro unit.

carsonroberge · Jan 20, 2013

Great idea. With mine I have to fill it up each time I use all the salt water.

adamfinke · Jan 20, 2013

ruppertb said:
Mine is similar to this but i put a bulk head in 2 spots on my ro bin. One near the top so i have a measured amount of water for salt mixing at all times. The extra water from the top bulkhead just goes into a 3rd bin with a float to stop ro unit.

Don't you notice slim with the water just sitting around in the bins? I know mine will start getting slim on the cords for the heater and pump on my bins.

fragmatic · Jan 20, 2013

carsonroberge said:
Haha yes but the other side has a bush in front of it so we don't use it. We plan to use the space under neath the top can for storage of buckets, salt, etc. Also dad thought this was more fun to build it like this LOL

Plus if it was under the other one you could not service it the way they designed the space. But yes, I'd of stacked them too.

Question, why do you guys have two cans? I only use one and I pump my water to the reef. Run yourself a plastic hose and ditch the bucket hassle. I pump to and from my system for water changes.

After I pump it to the reef system, I kick on the change water ATO, it shuts itself off. Then when it is full again, I test the change water for salinity, calculate the needed amount of salt. The amount of salt to add varies because I draw change water for QT and dips, etc. I add the salt a day before a water change (or an expected heavy draw for QT), verify the salinity and temperature, and do the next water change. The heater and circulation pump in the change water can are always running.