T316's 280 Reef...continuation

scotts

scotts

Active Member
Awesome set up T3. You certainly did it right when you installed it. Can you show some pictures of your RO set up? I am going to redo my setup this summer and I am looking for ideas.
 
t316

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/2581644
IT is soo cool.

Originally Posted by iyachtuxivm
http:///forum/post/2581882
Very nice set up! what about the fish?

Originally Posted by Scotts
http:///forum/post/2582796
Awesome set up T3. You certainly did it right when you installed it. Can you show some pictures of your RO set up? I am going to redo my setup this summer and I am looking for ideas.
Thanks stdreb
Fish/corals coming soon
Scotts...good lead in. I'll do the RO system next when I start back up.
Thanks for following....T316
 
t316

t316

Active Member
From the start, I had planned on setting up my own water supply at some point in the future, but at first I thought I could get by with just getting water from the lfs. What I didn't anticipate was the fact that this system was evaporating around 3 gals. a day on average. It didn't take long at all to come to the conclusion that these jugs had to be retired...

Here is the fish work room in the basement that I have referred to several times

This room is directly below the tank which is up on the first floor
 
t316

t316

Active Member

I purchased three rubber trash cans (either 32 gal., or 33?) from Home Depot, one for fresh rodi water, one for mixing and storing salt water, and one for whatever...maybe just a backup for holding lr or fish in an emergency.
The next step was to build a stand for the two water containers (I had plenty of scrap left over from the house build).

Since gravity is being used, the top can is fresh water, and the lower is salt.
 
t316

t316

Active Member
The RODI unit itself is an Ocean Reef +1, dual TDS meter, 75 gpd, with the color changing DI resin, from the Filter Guys ($199 complete).


For incoming water to the unit, I tapped into one of my cold water lines which are running throughout the ceiling in the basement. The incoming water runs directly to the RODI unit, then directly into the top rubber container (fresh RODI water storage). PVC pipe connects the top container to the bottom container, so by using the shutoff valves I can fill the lower container for mixing and storing salt water.

 
t316

t316

Active Member
I extended the PVC pipe on down also, so that I can fill up jugs as well. I use this for my 55 tank in the basement, so the jugs were not a total waste.

The long white pipes going up the wall are the outgoing water lines leading to the tank area upstairs. I purchased two, cheap pond pumps from Lowes, one for each container (just measure how much vertical feet you have and look at the chart on the back of the box to determine what size pump you need).
Upstairs, the freshwater line drops into the top off tank, and the saltwater line drops directly into the sump.


The topoff water tank has it's own small pump, and a float valve keeps the sump level topped off automatically
 
t316

t316

Active Member
So that I don't have to run down to the basement each time to turn on the freshwater and/or saltwater pumps, I wired 2 switches upstairs right beside of the topoff tank


Easy enough???
 
iyachtuxivm

iyachtuxivm

Member
You got all that for just shopping sometimes with out complaint! I got ripped off! I only got a 32 gal tank
! And you dont want to know what I have to do for her!
 
t316

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by iyachtuxivm
http:///forum/post/2589850
You got all that for just shopping sometimes with out complaint! I got ripped off! I only got a 32 gal tank
! And you dont want to know what I have to do for her!


But seriously...you don't know how painful "shopping" with a woman is for me...I would just about rather be a piece of mysis in a tank full of octopus
 
t316

t316

Active Member
Temporary interuption in the thread here....my 5" gold maxima passed sometime in the night last night. He's been in the DT for 4 months. Bought him on January 3 this year from a fellow SWF member.
It's been a struggle from the get-go. Some days he has opened up awesome, and others not. I have done extensive research, and have moved him up high on the rocks (lots of light) but for the past 3 months he seemed happier on the sand. About a week ago, he just started retreating, but was still alive until yesterday.
Before I get lectured, I'm taking full responsibility on this one since there are numerous things that could have gone wrong here, first and foremost being the tank was so new. I have read a lot of posts where they should not even be attempted before the tank is at least a year old (wish I was told that on purchase). I have also been getting closer and closer with the turkey baster (cyclopeez) lately, in an attempt to bring him back, knowing that this can cause a clogged gill.
But, it was a no brainer when I come home to see about 20 snails having a buffet party with him. I let them enjoy their little feast for awhile, but finally pulled him out tonight (before I get an ammonia spike), but the kids were upset, wife was bi****ing about my pet care abilities, etc., so I eventually put the shell back in (after a good cleaning)....is this blasphemy??? Anyway, just wanted to vent


R.I.P.
 
scotts

scotts

Active Member
Sorry to hear about your clam. Even sorry to hear baout your wife b-ing to you about it.
Next time she says it is time to go shopping, tell her you can't because you are researching clam care.
Anyway you are my idol. In fact I think I am going to copy some of the stuff you have done with your equipment. So with that in mind, one question. What do you use for a shut off for your DI water going into the container?
 
t316

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by Scotts
http:///forum/post/2590143
Sorry to hear about your clam. Even sorry to hear baout your wife b-ing to you about it.
Next time she says it is time to go shopping, tell her you can't because you are researching clam care.
Anyway you are my idol. In fact I think I am going to copy some of the stuff you have done with your equipment. So with that in mind, one question. What do you use for a shut off for your DI water going into the container?
That is an excellent question Scotts, and you are going to think this is childish, but here goes: The rodi unit did come with a float valve just for this purpose. It is designed to go inside of the top rubber container (freshwater storage) and shut off the unit when the tub is full. But I thought about this a lot, and have read too many stories about these float valves malfunctioning, so I elected not to use it. I do have a manual shut off handle located right beside the water containers, so I turn it on/off manually. Here was another problem...I could not trust myself to remember to turn it off (there's lots of those stories on these boards too). So I took a piece of scrap pvc and cut off a small 1/2" piece, like a ring so that it fits my finger. When the unit is off, the white ring hangs on the shut off handle. But when it is on, it stays on my finger, or in my pocket if I leave the house.
Corny...yes, but I am yet to overflow the bin. I have forgotten about it several times, but finding the ring in my pocket before going to bed has saved the day. And I have filled the container so many times now, I can just about know, mentally when it's about full, so leaving the house is no problem.
 
scotts

scotts

Active Member
T3, not corny at all. I have to fill 5 gallon containers with the RO water and I set the timer on the oven for 5 minutes each time I do it. But it only fills the container 1/2 way. So I am looking more for a system like yours that will make water changes easier instead of what I am doing now. I have the pumps and I can make anything, it is just the shut off for the water that I need to make idiot-proof, or as I in our house, Scott-proof.
 
stdreb27

stdreb27

Active Member
Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/2590196
That is an excellent question Scotts, and you are going to think this is childish, but here goes: The rodi unit did come with a float valve just for this purpose. It is designed to go inside of the top rubber container (freshwater storage) and shut off the unit when the tub is full. But I thought about this a lot, and have read too many stories about these float valves malfunctioning, so I elected not to use it. I do have a manual shut off handle located right beside the water containers, so I turn it on/off manually. Here was another problem...I could not trust myself to remember to turn it off (there's lots of those stories on these boards too). So I took a piece of scrap pvc and cut off a small 1/2" piece, like a ring so that it fits my finger. When the unit is off, the white ring hangs on the shut off handle. But when it is on, it stays on my finger, or in my pocket if I leave the house.
Corny...yes, but I am yet to overflow the bin. I have forgotten about it several times, but finding the ring in my pocket before going to bed has saved the day. And I have filled the container so many times now, I can just about know, mentally when it's about full, so leaving the house is no problem.
I"ve left it on before all night filling a 5 gallon bucket, I live on the third floor. IT was not a good morning
 
yukon

yukon

Member
I was worried about overflowing my ro water too so I put a emergency overflow at the top of the garbage can and ran it to my laundry tub. This way if the float fails I just loose some RO down the drain and not all over the floor.
BTW Sweet Tank


 
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