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Critique my mixing station plans

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by softieatheart, May 2, 2013.

  1. May 2, 2013 #1
    softieatheart

    softieatheart Inactive User

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    Ok, so I am totally not a Google Sketch person. LOL! Help me out with this plan and tell me if I am missing something or if there is an easier way to accomplish the same thing. (Aside from switching from 4 barrels to two bigger ones. 4 barrels is what I have.)


    4 barrels, gravity fed from RODI to SW. I am thinking with this design I can isolate the right RODI and SW Barrels to only utilize the barrels on the left, or I can run all 4, or I can pump all of the contents in the right barrels into the left barrels. I can unhook any barrel or pump at any time for maintenance and still run the rest of the system.


    Do you think two mag 5s would do the job? One circulating the FW barrels and one mixing and circulating the SW barrels? Overkill?


    Feedback appreciated!





    [​IMG]



     
  2. May 2, 2013 #2
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

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    I would use dual union valves all around, no need for both unions and valves, or gate valves.

    Also you will need valves on either side of each interconnection to the pump in the center if you want to isolate each tank individually. You only show valves on the right tanks, you would need them on the left tanks also if you wanted to remove a left tank and circulate in the right one.
     
  3. May 2, 2013 #3
    softieatheart

    softieatheart Inactive User

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    Thanks, Bud! Good catch. Will add those other unions. So with those changes you think it will work well and have enough umph to mix and circulate well with a mag 5, even when circulating both barrels?


    Also, I want 1" pvc, right? Or do I need bigger? Those valves get $$$ the bigger you go.
     
  4. May 2, 2013 #4
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

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    Actually I think 3/4" would be fine. How big are your tanks?
     
  5. May 2, 2013 #5
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

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    BRS

    http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/cepex-ball-valve-1.html

    Premium

    http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/DPP-ST8-007.html

    You can also get dual-union / true-union ball valves at Lowes and they are cheaper I believe, like $8

    http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=209666-34146-P200U-40+3%2f4&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3351044&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

    But they are only socket, which is fine if all you want to do is solvent weld them in place. The BRS/Premium ones come with both socket and threaded connectors
     
  6. May 2, 2013 #6
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

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    Also for reference I have a 100g polypro tank and a little giant pump and it is plumbed with 1/2" pipe, works fine. I bought it that way from BigD, I plan to switch the piping to 3/4" though.

    In the end, you only need rapid circulation to dissolve salt. Once it's dissolved, gentle agitation is all you need really.
     
  7. May 2, 2013 #7
    Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

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    I don't think you need 4 tanks. you should be able to do it with two
     
  8. May 2, 2013 #8
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

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    Geez Andy, can't you read?



     
  9. May 2, 2013 #9
    Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

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    lol, I try to avoid it.
     
  10. May 2, 2013 #10
    softieatheart

    softieatheart Inactive User

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    55 gallon drums



     
  11. May 2, 2013 #11
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

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    Just out of curiosity, why do you have a need for such large water volumes? How many tanks do you have and how big are they?
     
  12. May 2, 2013 #12
    softieatheart

    softieatheart Inactive User

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    Yeah, those Cepex valves are super nice. $$$ when you add it up, but nice. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif



     
  13. May 2, 2013 #13
    softieatheart

    softieatheart Inactive User

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    LOL!


    FWIW, my thinking on this is that once the 220 is set up and things are moved to their permanent homes, there will be 3 systems of appx 400 gallons total, so I want to be able to have 100 gallons of each on tap if needed. This mixing 35 gallons at a time has been a pain with multiple tanks.


    The perfectionist in me would love a couple nice big poly tanks from Tank Depot, and going with 4 barrels adds some complexity to the system, but the barrels cost me $40 rather than $350, which more than makes up for the extra valves I will have to buy, and the perfectionist in me is pacified by reminding myself that I will have that money to spend on other stuff. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/laugh.gif



     
  14. May 2, 2013 #14
    softieatheart

    softieatheart Inactive User

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    A 220 with 60 in the sump, a 60 cube with 35 in the sump (my son's), and a 46 with 25 in the sump. Also the occasional QT or hospital tank. So around 400 gallons total. 100 gallons RODI and 100 gallons mixed isn't overkill, is it? Because I would gladly only set up two of the barrels and regain some space.






     
  15. May 2, 2013 #15
    Lee

    Lee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    With over 400gallons of tank water I don't blame you for wanting that much extra water on hand. But do you really need a separate pump to circulate the RODI? Maybe I'm wrong, but I've always just let it sit still and I've never had trouble.





    Edit:


    Hehe, the light bulb just went off, I think... I'm assuming you have the pump on the RODI so you can also use those tanks to mix saltwater if absolutely needed..?
     
  16. May 2, 2013 #16
    jnjsad

    jnjsad Inactive User

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    In my humble opinion, I had a similar, yet different setup that was smaller...and had a mag 12 on it b/c it's what I had on hand. I don't think I would use a mag 5 on your setup....especially when you want to switch both valves on a dual mix salt.


    For what it's worth, I have a 180 and 40 gallon sump and have auto water change and auto top off...and it's the slickest thing ever. Very very happy with the setup, low maintenance, and constant steady water perameters. Spectrapure Litermeter II is awesome. I can post some pictures if interested. I just fill a 35 gallon tote about once a week from a 60 gal RODI storage cylinder and add salt. Done.





    Jason
     
  17. May 2, 2013 #17
    softieatheart

    softieatheart Inactive User

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    I know I could aerate with a couple airstones, but I like having the back up pump just in case, being able to pump either one into the other, and the ability to mix more SW if I need to in an emergency.



     
  18. May 2, 2013 #18
    MXC207 Cedar Rapids

    MXC207 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I LOVE my cepex valves from brs. So nice n smooth to turn. I agree if i read right 2 containers is enough. I have about 400 gallons and i do well with 2 65gallon containers. I think a mag 5 will be fine.
     

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