Saltwater Recycler

jsair

jsair

New Member
Tell me how well you guys think this will work. I have a 32 gallon trashcan that I am going to use as a saltwater recycler. Right now I have a really deep (6-8") sandbed of quickcrete playsand (sadly its the brown sand so it looks and smells like lake water), on top of that sits about 15 pounds of live rock and 1 bag of Calerpa, on top of that there is a 32 watt PC and a temp probe. I plan on dumping my dirty water from my water changes in here and letting it stew for a few weeks and then testing it. I might add a skimmer but I think as long as I prune the calerpa forest I should be ok. Also I will add essential elements back to the water throught suplements. What do you guys think?
 
thegrog

thegrog

Active Member
What you are basically describing is a refugium that is not attached to the tank directly.
I would personally say it won't work. You may be adding the elements back in, but you still are not removing all the waste products. Yes the ammonia, nitrite and nitrates are gone, but there is more to it that that. In addition, there are many, many little trace elements found in salt mixes that you are not putting back in. It would be very hard to replace them all in the correct ratios (not to mention expensive).
Overall, not a bad idea....just that it wont' work. Just do the water changes.
 
jsair

jsair

New Member
What if I did like a 2:1 ratio of new and old water? I'm on a septic system so dumping it down the drain is a no no.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Don't think it will work as stated earlier you can't replace what has been consumed out of the water salt mix components. Why is the old water hard on a septic system?
 
thegrog

thegrog

Active Member
Originally Posted by jsair
Its not, its hard on the pipes.
What kind of pipes do you have? Unless they are cast iron, the water really shold not affect it. PVC is impervious to pretty much anything, copper can take a lot, and lead (hopefully only your drain pipes) lasts forever. :notsure:
 
thegrog

thegrog

Active Member
Originally Posted by shiby1510
off topic a bit.. how do you guys get rid of your old tank water?
Mix it with a little tequila, lime juice and ice and it makes a good margarita!!!

Down the toilet is where it goes. All drains lead to the sea you know!
 
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