RODI Mixing Station Setup

Duncan Tse · Mar 3, 2020

Just recently installed bulkheads into my rodi trash can but I'm having some problems.

Installed a 1/2" double threaded bulkhead fitting to the bottom side of the trash can then attached to a 1/2" barb adaptor that then connects to a ball valve and then a 90 degree elbow that goes down to my 5 gallon bucket.

Problem is that the bulkhead to barb adaptor fitting is leaking. Do I have to use teflon tape on the barb adaptor to stop the leak?

Also the flow rate going down to my bucket is extremely slow. I think it would take 5-10mins to fill it up.

Am I doing something wrong?

lapin · Mar 4, 2020

You can use tape or a teflon paste thread sealant. However you will get all this flac about tape. If using tape do not over tighten.

What thread sealant to use with PVC fittings!

This is a common question that is asked by installers when assembling PVC tapered pipe threads in a piping system. There is a common misconception that Teflon sealant or tape is the best for ALL threaded joints.

www.linkedin.com

Gravity can be slow. Make sure you dont have an air lock. (lossen the lid)

CindyKz · Mar 4, 2020

loosening the lid was my thought as well. Alternatively you can drill a small hole into the lid to allow air movement.

reefwiser · Mar 4, 2020

You do not want to use bulkheads on a round container. They are not made for that type of container. They are made for flat surfaces. You want to use Uniseals.

Uniseal Bulkheads

Why does BRS recommend this? Uniseals are one of the secrets in life you wish you knew about years ago. By conforming to round surfaces they allow you to plumb directly into 5 gallon buckets, brute trash cans, or any round surface. They accept standard Sch. 40 or Sch. 80 PVC and allow DIY...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

NowGlazeIT · Mar 4, 2020

I used bulkheads on my brute trash cans. The uni seals leak for me everytime. Use teflon tape or glue even. The flow rate is slo because of the small hole diameter.

Porpoise Hork · Mar 4, 2020

I ended up adding a sicce 1.0 pump to the outlet drain to speed it up. Even with a 1" pipe filling a jug was very slow. Adding the pump with a vinyl line and a barbed fitting to the drain line made a world of difference in how long it takes to fill up a 5g jug.

reefwiser · Mar 4, 2020

Bulkheads are not design for this use. Using the proper Hole saw and the correct uniseal they will not leak. The flat design of the bulkhead doesn’t totally seal to the round surface.

Duncan Tse · Mar 4, 2020

lapin said:
You can use tape or a teflon paste thread sealant. However you will get all this flac about tape. If using tape do not over tighten.

What thread sealant to use with PVC fittings!

This is a common question that is asked by installers when assembling PVC tapered pipe threads in a piping system. There is a common misconception that Teflon sealant or tape is the best for ALL threaded joints.

www.linkedin.com

Gravity can be slow. Make sure you dont have an air lock. (lossen the lid)

Yea I will try using teflon tape as it isn't the bulk head thats leaking but more of the barb adaptor

CindyKz said:
loosening the lid was my thought as well. Alternatively you can drill a small hole into the lid to allow air movement.

I was trying this with the lid open and the water flow is still very slow

reefwiser said:
You do not want to use bulkheads on a round container. They are not made for that type of container. They are made for flat surfaces. You want to use Uniseals.

Uniseal Bulkheads

Why does BRS recommend this? Uniseals are one of the secrets in life you wish you knew about years ago. By conforming to round surfaces they allow you to plumb directly into 5 gallon buckets, brute trash cans, or any round surface. They accept standard Sch. 40 or Sch. 80 PVC and allow DIY...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Seems like there's a debate on whether to use bulkhead or uniseals. Have heard of both of them leaking so I just went with bulkheads.

NowGlazeIT said:
I used bulkheads on my brute trash cans. The uni seals leak for me everytime. Use teflon tape or glue even. The flow rate is slo because of the small hole diameter.

Thanks will try using teflon tape on the barb adpator. Next time I think I shouls've gone a bigger hole maybe at least 2".

Porpoise Hork said:
I ended up adding a sicce 1.0 pump to the outlet drain to speed it up. Even with a 1" pipe filling a jug was very slow. Adding the pump with a vinyl line and a barbed fitting to the drain line made a world of difference in how long it takes to fill up a 5g jug.

Do you think you can take a pic of your setup? Really interested in how you sped up the draining process.

reefwiser said:
Bulkheads are not design for this use. Using the proper Hole saw and the correct uniseal they will not leak. The flat design of the bulkhead doesn’t totally seal to the round surface.

Have heard of both of them leaking so I just went with bulkheads. The problem is the barbed adaptor leaking and not the actual bulkhead on the trash can.

CindyKz · Mar 4, 2020

Duncan Tse said:
I was trying this with the lid open and the water flow is still very slow

open the top and bottom lids, see if that helps. Air needs to get out as well as in

Big G · Mar 4, 2020

reefwiser said:
You do not want to use bulkheads on a round container. They are not made for that type of container. They are made for flat surfaces. You want to use Uniseals.

Uniseal Bulkheads

Why does BRS recommend this? Uniseals are one of the secrets in life you wish you knew about years ago. By conforming to round surfaces they allow you to plumb directly into 5 gallon buckets, brute trash cans, or any round surface. They accept standard Sch. 40 or Sch. 80 PVC and allow DIY...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

+1 This exactly ^^^ I have these on my RO/mix tanks. The uniseals work on those slightly round surfaces pretty good. Have never had a leak.

Duncan Tse · Mar 5, 2020

Just an update for everyone

I ended up buying teflon tape before reading all of your replies and it does work for the moment. No more leaks.

With the water pressure, I am getting better flow when the barrel is filled but it's still slow due to the barb adapters. Would prob take 2-3 mins to fill a 5 gallon bucket. Guess it's okay for now.

If it does start leaking in the future, I would probably dismantle and hard plumb everything with pvc. Seems like less of a hassle to tinker with and less prone to leaking.

Flippers4pups · Mar 5, 2020

Duncan Tse said:
Just an update for everyone

I ended up buying teflon tape before reading all of your replies and it does work for the moment. No more leaks.

With the water pressure, I am getting better flow when the barrel is filled but it's still slow due to the barb adapters. Would prob take 2-3 mins to fill a 5 gallon bucket. Guess it's okay for now.

If it does start leaking in the future, I would probably dismantle and hard plumb everything with pvc. Seems like less of a hassle to tinker with and less prone to leaking.

Teflon will work on threads just fine.

Hard plumbing with pvc is what a lot of us do. Just use unions to allow to be taken apart for cleaning.

My mixing station.

Duncan Tse · Mar 5, 2020

Flippers4pups said:
Teflon will work on threads just fine.

Hard plumbing with pvc is what a lot of us do. Just use unions to allow to be taken apart for cleaning.

My mixing station.

Can't seem to wrap my head around this but how does the pump move RODI water to the saltwater bucket? If you open the valves won't the saltwater also rush into the RODI bucket?

And how do you collect RODI water for topoff?

rolibr24 · Mar 5, 2020

1/2" is pretty small IMHO in you're situation. I would personally do 3/4 minimum or larger. The few buckets will fill pretty quick but as the head pressure drops the last few will take forever.

I have bulkheads in my mixing station, yes they leaked like crazy because like others said they won't seal on a round surface. I ended up putting silicone around the seal of mine to make mine leak free.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 5, 2020

Yes on teflon tape and a vent tube on the fill side will alleviate back pressure.
Never enough unions and shutoff on the stations and a float shutoff is invaluable !

Duncan Tse · Mar 5, 2020

rolibr24 said:
1/2" is pretty small IMHO in you're situation. I would personally do 3/4 minimum or larger. The few buckets will fill pretty quick but as the head pressure drops the last few will take forever.

I have bulkheads in my mixing station, yes they leaked like crazy because like others said they won't seal on a round surface. I ended up putting silicone around the seal of mine to make mine leak free.

Yea I had no idea what I was thinking when I was buying 1/2" fittings. Should have went 1"

I was getting mixed opinions on either installing bulkheads or an union so I ended up with just the bulkhead

The problem before was not the bulkhead leaking but the barb adapter that was connecting to it. Teflon tape seems to solve the problem for now

Duncan Tse · Mar 5, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Yes on teflon tape and a vent tube on the fill side will alleviate back pressure.
Never enough unions and shutoff on the stations and a float shutoff is invaluable !

Yup got the float valve installed on both barrels. Because the 2 barrels aren't connected, I have to move the RODI output tube to the next barrel once the first one gets full. Kind of a hassle for me but I'm too lazy to re-plumb the system lol

Flippers4pups · Mar 5, 2020

Duncan Tse said:
Can't seem to wrap my head around this but how does the pump move RODI water to the saltwater bucket? If you open the valves won't the saltwater also rush into the RODI bucket?

And how do you collect RODI water for topoff?

When filling the RO/DI can, the blue valve on the left is closed. When full, open the left blue valve and close the blue valve on the right. Plug in the pump and fill the saltwater can to how much I want to make. When the amount is reached, close the left blue valve and open the right blue valve. Mix salt into the left can and wait overnight to use. This recirculates the mixed saltwater.

When it's time for a change, the red valve at the top of the manifold is closed. I attach a vinyl tube to the union at the lower red cable and place the end into my sump.

Duncan Tse said:
Can't seem to wrap my head around this but how does the pump move RODI water to the saltwater bucket? If you open the valves won't the saltwater also rush into the RODI bucket?

And how do you collect RODI water for topoff?

Uploading a video for you.

Flippers4pups · Mar 5, 2020

Duncan Tse · Mar 5, 2020

Thanks for the video tutorial! This will probably have to be my summer project later on haha

Last question would be the RODI topoff water. Does it come out through the hose the same way saltwater does? So closing the bottom right and top valve