Mixing Station

[*Ruffian*]

Designing my mixing station and I am wondering if I would need a pump.

I plan on stacking my tanks so RO to Salt tank will be gravity fed. I have a GHL Maxi doser I plan on using for AWC.

Other than an intial fill, I would need some circulation. I have read some people utilize power heads for circulation. Will that leave sediment or not provide the level of mixing required?

How long do you run your mixing pump if you plan on a daily AWC?


Thanks in advance.

 

[Montiman]

It may be a complete change for you but I use and recommend everyone use 2 saltwater mixing containers and forget the freshwater container. There is no reason to have a freshwater container larger than your ATO Container. What I recomend is that you use 2, 3 way valves. Use one valve to direct RO water to each container for mixing and one on your AWC Supply line to switch the source of your fresh salt water.

With this setup you can have twice as much saltwater on hand for big water changes and you will always have 1 container ready to go at all times in case of an emergency. When one container runs low switch the AWC supply to the other container and start filling and mixing in the empty container. You can mix as long as you want because your AWC is already supplied with mixed saltwater.

I mix my water overnight or for about 8 hours and then let it rest. Because I use 2 saltwater containers it could rest for a couple weeks. You can not use this procedure with salts that mix extra high in major elements. These salts should be used immediately.

 

[BZOFIQ]

All you need to know

Let’s Mix it Up! Designing and Using a Water Mixing Station

Let’s Mix it Up! Designing and Using a Water Mixing Station Let’s Mix it Up! There is one undeniable fact in this hobby – WE ALL NEED WATER! In fact, two types of water. Clean fresh water (FW) run through a quality RODI system and the obvious saltwater (SW). Secondly, we all know what a...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[*Ruffian*]

It may be a complete change for you but I use and recommend everyone use 2 saltwater mixing containers and forget the freshwater container. There is no reason to have a freshwater container larger than your ATO Container. What I recomend is that you use 2, 3 way valves. Use one valve to direct RO water to each container for mixing and one on your AWC Supply line to switch the source of your fresh salt water.

With this setup you can have twice as much saltwater on hand for big water changes and you will always have 1 container ready to go at all times in case of an emergency. When one container runs low switch the AWC supply to the other container and start filling and mixing in the empty container. You can mix as long as you want because your AWC is already supplied with mixed saltwater.

I mix my water overnight or for about 8 hours and then let it rest. Because I use 2 saltwater containers it could rest for a couple weeks. You can not use this procedure with salts that mix extra high in major elements. These salts should be used immediately.

It may be a complete change for you but I use and recommend everyone use 2 saltwater mixing containers and forget the freshwater container. There is no reason to have a freshwater container larger than your ATO Container. What I recomend is that you use 2, 3 way valves. Use one valve to direct RO water to each container for mixing and one on your AWC Supply line to switch the source of your fresh salt water.

With this setup you can have twice as much saltwater on hand for big water changes and you will always have 1 container ready to go at all times in case of an emergency. When one container runs low switch the AWC supply to the other container and start filling and mixing in the empty container. You can mix as long as you want because your AWC is already supplied with mixed saltwater.

I mix my water overnight or for about 8 hours and then let it rest. Because I use 2 saltwater containers it could rest for a couple weeks. You can not use this procedure with salts that mix extra high in major elements. These salts should be used immediately.

That is a change up but what a great idea. I am trying to fully automate my water change and ato.

I am going to put a low water sensor in the bottom tank to notify me I need to make salt water. My Maxi doser would pull from this tank all the time.

With your idea, when the sensor fires, i would then just dump the top tank into the lower tank. Once the top tank fills with RODI, I mix in the salt again.

I would just need to change around my plumping plan to be able to circulate either tank with an external pump.

I have a small 12 gallon pressure tank I use to hold my rodi now. I will just keep that going.

I almost bought a Water Box 180 reefer pro last week but opted to spend time getting my mixing and automation systems up and running first.

Upgrade in stages rather than everything at once.

Holding tanks should be here in a week or so. When I get done, I'll post some pictures.


Thanks for the help.

 

[Silent]

I have 2 containers stacked. Top one is feed from RO/DI unit and the bottom is saltwater. No pumps all gravity feed with the exception of mixing saltwater I add a powerhead for 24 hours.
The top one feeds the ATO container which has a electronic float valve connected to a solenoid with a mechanical float valve in the ATO as a back up. The sump has a float valve connected to the ATO.
The top and bottom one have a valve at each bulkhead connected with pvc and a hose that has a valve also. If I want to fill up the bottom one I open both. If I want RO/DI water I open the top one and leave the bottom one closed. If I want saltwater I close the top and open the bottom one.
Super easy and no electricity needed for water change.

 

[*Ruffian*]

I have 2 containers stacked. Top one is feed from RO/DI unit and the bottom is saltwater. No pumps all gravity feed with the exception of mixing saltwater I add a powerhead for 24 hours.
The top one feeds the ATO container which has a electronic float valve connected to a solenoid with a mechanical float valve in the ATO as a back up. The sump has a float valve connected to the ATO.
The top and bottom one have a valve at each bulkhead connected with pvc and a hose that has a valve also. If I want to fill up the bottom one I open both. If I want RO/DI water I open the top one and leave the bottom one closed. If I want saltwater I close the top and open the bottom one.
Super easy and no electricity needed for water change.

 

[*Ruffian*]

I built my mixing station today and decided to go with out a pump. My salt tank will have a power head in it to mix and will run on a smart things plug.

I built this in anticipation of upgrading my biocube. I have the drain line in chamber 1 and the fill line in chamber 3 with the return pump.

I have a level sensor in chamber 3 that I use for my ato. Trying to figure out how to do ATO/AWC. I know I need another sensor for this to work.

I have read where people drain and fill at the same time. My concern would be if the drain didn't work I could have a flood. I am going to manually trigger the drain and see how low the chamber goes. Maybe that will answer my question.

GHL 2 SA with a slave MaxiDoser for the water change.

Any thoughts or advice would be great.

 

[Silent]

I built my mixing station today and decided to go with out a pump. My salt tank will have a power head in it to mix and will run on a smart things plug.

I built this in anticipation of upgrading my biocube. I have the drain line in chamber 1 and the fill line in chamber 3 with the return pump.

I have a level sensor in chamber 3 that I use for my ato. Trying to figure out how to do ATO/AWC. I know I need another sensor for this to work.

I have read where people drain and fill at the same time. My concern would be if the drain didn't work I could have a flood. I am going to manually trigger the drain and see how low the chamber goes. Maybe that will answer my question.

GHL 2 SA with a slave MaxiDoser for the water change.

Any thoughts or advice would be great.

I like your set up. Keep it simple.
To make sure your sump can not overflow you should install a manual float valve (in chamber 3) slightly above the sensor. Makes a nice fail safe for $5-10.

 

[*Ruffian*]

I like your set up. Keep it simple.
To make sure your sump can not overflow you should install a manual float valve (in chamber 3) slightly above the sensor. Makes a nice fail safe for $5-10.

Update on the mixing station and auto water change:

Mixing station working well with a few tweaks of the floats and intake line. My manual float twisted when tightening and overflowed the RODI tank. Caught in time so no damage. The intake line from the salt tank was floating up on me so I added a 3/8" line over the 1/4".

Rather than using a sensor to handle the AWC, I just fill and drain the same amount. The MaxiDoser is handling the job very well. Just had to recalibrate the fill pump to compensate for the run from the basement.

AWC is a game changer, no more mixing every other week or dragging hoses thru the house. Now I spend my time viewing!

 

[ajnoplay]

I have 2 containers stacked. Top one is feed from RO/DI unit and the bottom is saltwater. No pumps all gravity feed with the exception of mixing saltwater I add a powerhead for 24 hours.
The top one feeds the ATO container which has a electronic float valve connected to a solenoid with a mechanical float valve in the ATO as a back up. The sump has a float valve connected to the ATO.
The top and bottom one have a valve at each bulkhead connected with pvc and a hose that has a valve also. If I want to fill up the bottom one I open both. If I want RO/DI water I open the top one and leave the bottom one closed. If I want saltwater I close the top and open the bottom one.
Super easy and no electricity needed for water change.

WhT size are these containers ?

 

[Silent]

WhT size are these containers ?

Norwesco 50 gallon. I bought them used for cheap from a liquor distributor that stored distilled alcohol in them to make brandy.