Storing RODI water

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dreamcatcherr9 said:
Can I just sit? Uncirculated, Unheated? 50g at a time? 1-2 weeks at a time?

For my small ATO I see no issues. Just curious about larger volume for longer length of time.
Click to expand...

Yes, I stored mine for weeks in Brute trash cans.
 
In one of their videos, BRS has a video that reflects on storing both RODI and salt water for long periods of time--i.e., months. They basically conclude that as long as it is stored in a container that doesn't leach into the water that you can store it for an extended time unimpaired.
 
What about salt water? I keep a large brute can filled with RODI and, once a week, drain it into another brute can below it then mix in the salt. I'll keep it at temperature and circulated with the lid on the can for a few hours each Saturday before using it for a water change. A couple weeks back, I didn't do the water change for various reasons so I cut the circulating pump and heater in the container off. Several days later I went to use the salt water and it smelled "off". I was afraid to use it so I dumped it and made a new batch.

Anyone else experience this?

I only use this can for mixing salt water.....
 
DudeBoy said:
What about salt water? I keep a large brute can filled with RODI and, once a week, drain it into another brute can below it then mix in the salt. I'll keep it at temperature and circulated with the lid on the can for a few hours each Saturday before using it for a water change. A couple weeks back, I didn't do the water change for various reasons so I cut the circulating pump and heater in the container off. Several days later I went to use the salt water and it smelled "off". I was afraid to use it so I dumped it and made a new batch.

Anyone else experience this?

I only use this can for mixing salt water.....
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you are talking about, and have made a similar decision to dump. Not sure why it does this, but seems to be a universal experience. Interested in the group's thoughts, but there are several threads you can Google where reefers mix, hold and use saltwater for several weeks (6-8 weeks).
 
I don't like to use the Brute cans for storage of anything. They are great for movement of water, but for some reason they will smell "fishy" (like DI resin) after a few days or with elevated temperatures. I have used this water before with no ill effect, but mostly I have gone away from using the trash cans at all for storage.

My RO storage is one of the large 65 gallon polyethylene containers that you can get from here: https://www.tank-depot.com/

These are made for potable water whereas the trash cans are not. They aren't particularly expensive and they last forever. IMHO a far better solution.

image0.jpg
 
I leave 50g of rodi and fresh salt (RSCP) on standby 24/7. The only time I’ve had an issue is when I’ve left the mixing pump on in the salt tank over night. It developed a smell. I turned it off in the morning. I used it as I normally would without issue. the smell was gone in a couple days.


The RSCP buck says not to mix for more than a few hours....
 
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HuduVudu said:
I don't like to use the Brute cans for storage of anything. They are great for movement of water, but for some reason they will smell "fishy" (like DI resin) after a few days or with elevated temperatures. I have used this water before with no ill effect, but mostly I have gone away from using the trash cans at all for storage.

My RO storage is one of the large 65 gallon polyethylene containers that you can get from here: https://www.tank-depot.com/

These are made for potable water whereas the trash cans are not. They aren't particularly expensive and they last forever. IMHO a far better solution.

image0.jpg
Click to expand...
@HuduVudu I'm looking at a similar tank (Norwesco) and have two quick questions for you.

1. How much water is left in the tank if you simply drain from the spigot?
2. Do you find that undissolved salt collects in the "leg" portions of the container?

Thanks in advance.
 
I have a Chem-Tainer portable water storage tank for my ATO reservoir and it is excellent in every way. I tried to order a Norwesco first, but the size I needed had a very long back order because of the C-19 environment. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Chem-Ta...ith-3-4-in-PolyPro-Outlet-TRANS25-1/306531062

Regarding Brute cans, the hobby/industry has used these universally to mix and store water for decades with no ill effects. Just an opinion, but I can't imagine that if there were water issues with these containers that we wouldn't have heard about it.
 
mike550 said:
@HuduVudu I'm looking at a similar tank (Norwesco) and have two quick questions for you.

1. How much water is left in the tank if you simply drain from the spigot?
2. Do you find that undissolved salt collects in the "leg" portions of the container?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
I use this for RO not salt, so I can't speak to any issues involving salt water storage.

I would say that once it gets down to a trickle there is about 2-3 gallons left. Usually at that point I lift up the back of the container with a 2x4 to get most of the water out. I got this about 5 years ago and it was because I needed drinking water for hurricanes and also for top off for the tank. I choose this form factor specifically so that I can access the water with a tap. If I were to do it over I would be looking for a bottom fed container, but I needed a tank so this is what I came up with.

If you are using it for dispensing salt water I would definitely consider a bottom fed container. The link I put up gives you pretty much everything you might encounter out there so it is very good for planning.
 
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The brutes are food safe, I've stored and mixed water in them for extended periods of time. I've had one case of washing all 3 of mine after a couple month long storage period with impure water, they developed a smell and I wanted them clean. I haven't had this issue when using DI water though.
 
So what I get from this thread is.

It is perfectly fine to store Rodi in plastic containers long period, so long as they are food safe and sealed.

It is also perfectly fine to store salt water long term in food safe plastic, with or without a continuously running powerhead?

Interested to know as I have a line on two 55 gallon food safe drums for cheap.
 
DudeBoy said:
What about salt water? I keep a large brute can filled with RODI and, once a week, drain it into another brute can below it then mix in the salt. I'll keep it at temperature and circulated with the lid on the can for a few hours each Saturday before using it for a water change. A couple weeks back, I didn't do the water change for various reasons so I cut the circulating pump and heater in the container off. Several days later I went to use the salt water and it smelled "off". I was afraid to use it so I dumped it and made a new batch.

Anyone else experience this?

I only use this can for mixing salt water.....
Click to expand...

If the mix does not contain organics additives such as vitamins, it can be stores unstirred and unheated for as long as you want.

Very high alk salt mixes may have some calcium carbonate precipitate, especially if heated, which will reduce alk but they are still likely fine to use.

I would not store mixes with vitamins unstirred due to the potential for stagnation and H2S formation.
 
FWIW, I like the grey Brute cans. 44 gallon, typically. I used at least 12 of them in my system. 3 for limewater/kalkwasser, 2 for RO/DI, 2 for new salt water, 2 for sump, 3 for refugia.
 
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