Water storage tanks

[Mark_Ames]

Wow! This is a really clean setup and it seems to be well laid out. Just to make sure that I am understanding the flow - it appears that the top container is for RO and the bottom one is for mixed salt water. The orange pipes can take the RO to bucket or to the SW tank. The yellow pipes can take the SW to bucket/hose or recirculate back to the SW tank. Is this correct? What size is the piping? What size is the pump?

Yes, correct on all observations! The piping is 3/4”, but you could go larger. 3/4” fittings and bulkheads were more cost effective for me even with having to transition to 1” on the pump. You can also get by with just 3 valves, but I wanted to be able to dial the flow down. Pan World 50PX-X is plenty for this size tank.

Additionally, do you have any aeration in the RO? How much do you run the SW recirc (i.e., only when mixing, periodically, etc.)? Is there any venting in either container to allow for any potential of gassing?

No aeration on the RO tank as I go through it pretty quickly. I usually run the SW for about 24 hours for mixing (Reef Crystals). Other than that, I run it to fill buckets for weekly changes. There’s no venting, but there is a pressure release button on the fill cap. I usually keep it loosely capped so there should be no pressure build up.

I apologize for overwhelming you with questions! Thanks in advance for the reply!

No worries! I’m happy to help!!!

 

[clm65]

I just picked up one of these for $65 on Facebook. Not really sure what I’ll need one so big for but for some reason I saw it and felt I needed it.

Sounds like a great price on the tank. I hope you got a deal on shipping too! $900!!

 

[Merv49]

Has anyone ever used this tank from tractor supply company? Was thinking about getting two of them for a mixing station.
Norwesco Horizontal Leg Tank, 35 gal.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/horizontal-leg-tank-35-gal?cm_vc=-10005

I’ve got two Norwesco tanks and they seem bulletproof. Very sturdy! Probably outlast my whole system.

 

[jsvand5]

Sounds like a great price on the tank. I hope you got a deal on shipping too! $900!!

Pick up. $0.00

 

[K7BMG]

These are 65 gallon, I currently just store RO/DI water in them, the 65G vertical tank is for my ATO.
I bought the shelves at HD and added supports to hold the weight.
I recently picked up two Norwesco 165G vertical tanks.
I intend on a re-do of the RO/DI mixing station here shortly.
I may decide to sell the smaller containers at a later time, unless I decide to put a tank in another part of the house.

 

[TheLost]

If you are lucky enough to live around a Norwesco warehouse (CA, GA, IA, MN, NY, OH, OK, TX, UT, WA) the tanks are much cheaper.

$110 for Norwesco 65gal vertical from 'the factory'...
https://www.ntotank.com/65gallon-norwesco-white-vertical-storage-tank-x9458146

(vs. the $199 tractor supply charges for the same tank)

Local pickup is $25 for any number of tanks (so you save when you buy two).

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nice looking stations !1 I used a similar poly tank with success. Those from Tractor are nice looking !!!

 

[Daniel400G]

2, 275 gallon food grade totes

 

[Oldsalt]

I just picked up one of these for $65 on Facebook. Not really sure what I’ll need one so big for but for some reason I saw it and felt I needed it.

IBC tanks are great. It's exactly what I have. I covered it in black builders plastic to prevent algae. It holds enough to do 4 x 250 litre water changes for my 1500 litre system. I keep it outside (never freezes in Perth Western Australia) and I have a 500 watt heater at 26°C with a pump that moves the water and doubles as my supply pump to tank. Got mine delivered for $50. Put it on top of a pair of levelled, used wooden railway ties so the bottom sits higher than the bottom of my sump - never know if power will go out when pumping. Gravity is your friend (enemy in certain circumstances).

 

[Oldsalt]

2, 275 gallon food grade totes

Same as what I use.

 

[Oldsalt]

IME, these used containers usually sell in the $100-$125 range so good job on the deal! These containers are really deep so, unless you really need a large volume of water, I have found cutting them in half horizontally and then inverting the top provides a wider range of options and potential uses. Good luck!

I paid $50 delivered for mine. I covered it with black builders plastic to stop algae (outside storage in Perth Western Australia). They are excellent. I have a 1500 system so I left mine intact. Put in a S/W bilge pump and 500 watt heater (only needed for our(at lowest) 40° F "winters" ). I change 200 litres every 2 weeks. This holds enough for 5 water changes (10 weeks). Then I get Indian Ocean water delivered for $50 per 1000 litres which fills this up all the way. No mixing salt here.

 

[fattiremike]

I collect rainwater in the big 1000 gallon tank, run it through 1 micron filters to the first tank, then through RO/DI to the second tank. Then I mix salt in a 32 gallon trash can.

 

[KenO]

If you are lucky enough to live around a Norwesco warehouse (CA, GA, IA, MN, NY, OH, OK, TX, UT, WA) the tanks are much cheaper.

$110 for Norwesco 65gal vertical from 'the factory'...
https://www.ntotank.com/65gallon-norwesco-white-vertical-storage-tank-x9458146

(vs. the $199 tractor supply charges for the same tank)

Local pickup is $25 for any number of tanks (so you save when you buy two).

I picked up my 2 - 105 gallon Norwesco tanks locally in AZ. There was no pickup charge.

 

[Saveafish]

Kentucky tank.

 

[Aquavaj]

There are tons of those used 275g IBC totes on craigslist for cheap but be careful cause you'll never know what was put in there before. I inquired about one and it had a cleaner to wash driveways in it before. I settled on one that is food grade and used for avocado oil. Turns out I'll have to use a plastic liner inside because the walls still have a strong oil residue even though it was pressure washed.

 

[First-time Reefer]

That's a nice setup. I like that it is up out of the way.

 

[Higher Thinking]

Would you mind sending me photos of your setup. Want inspiration for my build.

Here's another example to possibly spike your thought process. I have the standard plumbing to move RO into the salt barrel as well as mix salt water. I've also plumbed a PVC line to my tank for water changes from this station. Based on the valves, I can first suck water from the sump and pump it outside to the downspout. Then I can flip valves and send new saltwater to the sump.

 

[N2950H]

I didn't have any luck picking up a Norwesco from their warehouse in WA, so I snagged a 65gal at Coastal Farm and Ranch in the Seattle area for $189. Not the cheapest option, but most online vendors wanted to charge me that just for shipping.

 

[Bailly]

Really like your setup, Started putting the items together. I am new to this hobby and if you don't mind, I have a couple questions about some of the parts. What are the 2 "bulkhead" on the top of the SW tank and do you have any piping going down into the tank?

 

[Mark_Ames]

Thanks! The bulkheads allow a clean, water-tight connection to/from the tanks with the PVC pipes. You can get by without them if you don’t plan to fill to capacity. These are the ones I used:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulkhead-abs-slip-x-slip-1-7c63a554c36ea63c77723a472b7ca20f.html

The bulkhead on the right (orange pipe) is the inlet for fresh RODI water, while the one on the left (yellow) is the return to tank for mixing/recirculating. On my set-up, both pipes terminate at the bulkhead, but you could certainly extend into the mixing tank.

Hope this helps!