Seymour water station build

[SeymourDuncan]

Ok, so after about 12 seconds of thought I decided it was a good idea to finally make my water station. I already had an RO system so the rest was all bought new.
32g trash can
30g tote
30ft of PVC and 30ft of 1/4 inch waterline with various fittings:
Total cost: $55 and counting

My basement staircase is going to be where all this stuff is, including my ATO RESERVOIR.

Plan: RO reservoir plumbed to 30g tote and ATO via T with valves. (Eventually float valves will be added as I make more money

The RO system was moved about 5ft away from the future water station.
My plan is to have the reservoir always full, and also the tote, which will have a pump and heater on a reefkeeper to control. Te tote will have a bulkhead drain and be plumbed 30ft into my sump, all gravity. The ATO reservoir will be plumbed inline and onto the pre-existing float valve.

The return pump has a T and the extra line will be the waste water...soon I be directed out my house into the alley where it will flow into the manhole. I'll be able to drain and fill without lifting a bucket soon! Woo! Pictures will be added as I build the sucker. This is already exiting!

 

[eklapp]

You'll love it. I have mine plumbed right to my sump. My sump also has a valve which leads to my drain so I can do a 25 gallon water change in 2 minutes just by turning 2 valves. That's what I call lazy! Lol

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Mine is going straight to the sump too, with 1/2 inch PVC. This is going to be awesome haha! I need to install a sump pump in my basement really badly, then I'm going to run the wc hose there instead of outside.

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

Makes life a lot easier!

FWIW, I would fill the reservoirs with RO/DI, let sit for 24 hours, then drain. Repeat this a couple/few times before using the water. This will leach out everything from the plastic, namely PO4.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

I actually did that outside on the deck so I didn't have to drain it inside, but now that you mentioned that I should add a 3rd line from the trash can to waste just incase I need to drain it. Good thinking

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Going to have dinner than go at it!

 

[SeymourDuncan]

 

[SeymourDuncan]

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Ok so here are some pics. The first is the full setup. Big can for freshwater, tote for saltwater, and jug for ATO. All gravity fed. There is a pump in the tote for mixing salt.

I filled it with 15g, mixed the salt, drained 15g from my display, and turned on the saltwater dump. It filled in about 2 minutes due to the elbows and small pipe, but I didn't need it spraying everywhere so it works great!

I still had to manually move the dirty water 16 feet, so that's my next job. I'm either just gonna get a longer siphon hose or a can with wheels...dunno yet. I like having the option of storing dirty water for cleaning things so I may not do the long hose.

My 90 is great for this because I can drain 20-30 gallons and the rock is just touching the surface, and the powerheads don't need turned off. Just incase something happens where I can't fill the sump.

 

[mcarroll]

Seeing that tote hanging naked over the edge and then imagining it full of water for a few years makes me predict wet floors. Just not sure it has enough structure to sit like that safely for the long term.

I'd pop a hole in the supporting board (2" hole saw?) big enough for that bulkhead and plumbing to fit through so the board can be moved to support the tote under its whole length. Make sense?

-Matt

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Matt, that is what I plan on doing, I just didn't want to make it until I knew it worked. Thanks for looking out! I got a decently sturdy tote, but yeah in a few years it will probably be flimsy. I have 2x4s that I am going to frame beneath it. The trash can is on an old diy 10g stand flipped sideways lol.

 

[mcarroll]

Sweet.

-Matt

 

[SeymourDuncan]

I still can't get over the "perfect run" on my first test. And I just got my reefkeeper elite hooked up. 1pc4 for waves. 1 pc4 for lights. One pc4 for the sump and it also is wired to my basement lighting which has no switch, so now I can turn my light on without plugging it in and out all the time. But more importantly I don't have to run up and down the stairs to turn everything off and on. Now I need 2 more, one for this water station and one to go to my nano. Its actually pretty easy Making bus cable extensions. One of my pc4s is 30ft away and the water station will be about 90s worth of cable

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Oh and a liter meter for complete automation. Does anyone have any automated salt dispenser ideas? I may just pre measure 15g increments and store them in ziplock bags if I have to.

Another question i should probably ask in the chemistry forum...what is the highest salinity water you can make while still dissolving salt? Sounds like a fun experiment!