Saltwater Mixing Station assistance

pdiehm · Jun 10, 2017

Using my 2 brutes, I'm tired of using buckets to fill the saltwater container. Thinking of making a contraption similar to some on here where a pump pulls from the RODI, fills the saltwater container and then I can just hook up my hose to an outlet and run it to the tank.

The run is about 30' into the next room, and then about 5' up to the tank lip.

What would be a good quiet pump for this purpose and also have enough horses to mix the saltwater sufficiently?

hartin461 · Jun 10, 2017

Got a panworld 50px-x on mine and works well... This was my choice because I could also use it as a backup in case my main dt pump failed.

Billdogg · Jun 10, 2017

I use a Mag18 as my mixing barrel pump. I have to move water from the basement up to the living room and it works just fine for that,

sundog101 · Jun 10, 2017

The pan-worlds work well for mixing stations. I have the 40px for my setup. Just make sure it can handle the head pressure.

Jason_MrFrags · Jun 10, 2017

I run a panworld on mixing station.

pdiehm · Jun 10, 2017

Thanks! I think I'm leaning toward the pan world 50x...just need to make sure it can handle the 30' horizontal run and then the 5-6' vertical run.

bif24701 · Jun 10, 2017

I have an old Iwaki 40RLT and it's great. Has enough power/pressure to push water through my long 3/4" hose and fills the tank quick, about 100gallons in a few minutes. I even attached a 50' 1/2" hose to the end of it to fill my Discus tank with RO and it had no problem with it. When mixing I have to close the main valve for some back pressure.

I put a Cepex valve at the end of my hose to have full control of the flow when filling

RO float valve fills the Brutes and shut off the RO when full.

Just finished it this week and did my first water change with it. So easy now and quick, very pleased.

Big G · Jun 10, 2017

Hi Bif. I'm in the middle of setting up a similar system. Instead of the Brutes, I am using 2 Norwesco 35 gallon horizontal tanks. Your plumbing hookup looks very clean. Could you tell me a bit more about the connections between the two tanks. Thanks. I really like what you have done.

RoryJ · Jun 10, 2017

bif24701 said:
I have an old Iwaki 40RLT and it's great. Has enough power/pressure to push water through my long 3/4" hose and fills the tank quick, about 100gallons in a few minutes. I even attached a 50' 1/2" hose to the end of it to fill my Discus tank with RO and it had no problem with it. When mixing I have to close the main valve for some back pressure.

I put a Cepex valve at the end of my hose to have full control of the flow when filling

RO float valve fills the Brutes and shut off the RO when full.

Just finished it this week and did my first water change with it. So easy now and quick, very pleased.

I like what you have done...Looking to do something very similar..do you have a blueprint of your build? And how does it work?..Thank You

bif24701 · Jun 10, 2017

I used 1" uniseals on the bottoms and there at the top.

I'll take some more pictures

bif24701 · Jun 11, 2017

All Sch 80 fittings for maximum durability. Lots of unions so I can take it all apart. I used two true union valves from the hardware store that cost 1/2 as much as the Cepex and they work just fine, for now. I do like the Cepex valve and recommend there use especially where you will need to use them a lot.

1" uniseals in the middle and just a 1" PVC through it to a 90.

Each Brute drain has a union and valve before the pump.

Both feed to a T and then to the pump

Pump feeds the T for my 3/4" hose or up through a valve for the Brute returns

I also use the valve to keep some back pressure on the pump since it requires it to function properly.

Big G · Jun 12, 2017

Very cool. I too like those Cepex valves. I used them on my DT setup. Awesome use of the pump to mix and circulate your mix station, with the option of pumping from their out to your DT. Very clean setup. Thanks for posting the pictures. This will really help me with my own mixing station. You have saved me a lot of work in the long run. Thanks.

bif24701 · Jun 12, 2017

Big G said:
Very cool. I too like those Cepex valves. I used them on my DT setup. Awesome use of the pump to mix and circulate your mix station, with the option of pumping from their out to your DT. Very clean setup. Thanks for posting the pictures. This will really help me with my own mixing station. You have saved me a lot of work in the long run. Thanks.

Awesome! Good luck!

emvanburen · Jun 12, 2017

I added a top return and a bottom return to my salt tank so that I can turn the water over or send it to the bottom to stir up salt. I have a valve on each so can pick and choose while mixing. Works well.

Big G · Jun 20, 2017

bif24701 said:
Awesome! Good luck!

Hello Bif,
Just wanted to thank you again for the help. Here's a pic of my version of mixing station, inspired by your very cool setup.

bif24701 · Jun 20, 2017

Big G said:
Hello Bif,
Just wanted to thank you again for the help. Here's a pic of my version of mixing station, inspired by your very cool setup.

Very nice!

Gustavo Martinez · Jun 25, 2017

Thanks for the inspiration fellas, I'm working mine out as I type.... Fun stuff, many options.... Just want to make sure it's all smooth before I finalize with glue.....

Big G · Jun 25, 2017

Gustavo Martinez said:
Thanks for the inspiration fellas, I'm working mine out as I type.... Fun stuff, many options.... Just want to make sure it's all smooth before I finalize with glue.....

You are going to love it. When you think about it, water is the most important thing we do. Keep going!