Easy way to make large amounts of saltwater???

[chi6488]

Ok, I have a 4 stage ro and just added a dual stage de ionizer and TDS reads 0. Water out of RO only reads 260 TDS and ordering new filters.

I need to make around 30 gallons of SW for now but soon will be about 15 gal.

First I make the water in a 32 gallon trash can. 2nd pour in the salt and then I either stick my arm with a big spoon or use a paddle from the canoe and stir. The paddle is aluminum with plastic and takes about 30 seconds to stir. I then have a power head to stir for a day.

Any suggestions or ideas to make it seem like less work?

[fchidsey]

Mag 5 or 7 pump in trash can while mixing in saltwater.

[raskal311]

I have a Mag 12 to mix and a small PH to keep it from settling. I also have a Mag 36 for when I need to use the water asap.

[Phishnoob]

I make 15 gallons for water changes. They make a 20 gallon rubbermaid brute trash can with lid that is carried at HD.

This gets 15 gallons of distilled then salt mix and I got a 100W heater and old powerhead to use with this along with a floating hydrometer. Mix it up and let it run overnight then waterchange away. The trash can is good for storing 5g buckets and the other water change stuff in the meanwhile and has a lid.

[Jnicho]

Are you saying water coming out of your RO is 260? If so that is way high...typically the RO should output is no more than 010...mine is like 005-007...a properly functioning RO membrane should remove 95%-99%...at 260 it will fowl your DI pretty fast.

[ckusnierek]

If I were you and everyone else using them I would stay away from the Brute and other brands of trashcans.

Those things are loaded with chemicals and other stuff that can leach into your water.


I have 2 35g NSF approved Food safe drums I use one for RO/DI and one for ASW

[Fat Tony]

Most of the Brutes are foodsafe.. you have to look at the bottom for the label.

[ckusnierek]

Originally Posted by Fat Tony

Most of the Brutes are foodsafe.. you have to look at the bottom for the label.

I stand corrected

These Brute Trash Cans feature a seamless, polyethylene shell which will never dent, rust, or leak and are USDA/NSF approved for food contact (lids sold separately). Rubbermaid Brute Containers are available in white, grey, and black; and 10 gallon, 20 gallon, 32 gallon, 44 gallon, or 55 gallon sizes. Add this to your cart now and have it at your facility's site in just 2-3 days!



I would just make sure what ever you use they have a NSF logo on them

[Fat Tony]

LOL.. although you do bring up a good issue. Just because it is foodsafe, does not mean it is reef safe. There have been some recent findings of Brutes leaching phophates.

[ckusnierek]

I had a friend fight HA for years spending hundreds on PO4 binding media.
After dumping the brute the HA was gone in 6 months

[Hop]

44 gallon brute with a modded mj1200 with the 1800 GPH prop

[fihsboy]

I use a 20 gallon brute trash can.......if its leaching stuff....bummer. But I havent had any problems yet.......knock on wood.

[Jadinop]

Create a whirlpool. I use a Maxijet 1200 in my barrel now for mixing. Hang the pump in the barrel and point the nozzle to the side. This will create a whirlpool in the barrel and soon all of the water will be spinning around. Once it's fully spinning, I slowly add the salt. It mixes in minutes. I used to use a Mag 9.5 but can now accomplish the same mixing with a much smaller pump. The Maxijet doesn't add as much heat to the water and since I mix it for 24-48 hours, I have to be saving some electricity.

[Jadinop]

Originally Posted by fihsboy

I use a 20 gallon brute trash can.......if its leaching stuff....bummer. But I havent had any problems yet.......knock on wood.

I do not believe that this is an issue. Possibly with a new barrel there could be some phosphate leaching but the first few batches of water would strip the contaminants. There can only be a finite amount of phosphate in the plastic and once it's gone,it's gone. If you were truly concerned about the can, filling and dumping a few barrels of RO/DI water would "cure" the plastic.

[Phishnoob]

Originally Posted by ckusnierek

If I were you and everyone else using them I would stay away from the Brute and other brands of trashcans.

Those things are loaded with chemicals and other stuff that can leach into your water.


I have 2 35g NSF approved Food safe drums I use one for RO/DI and one for ASW

My Spectrapure directions call out specifically putting the water into a Rubbermaid Brute container complete with the little circle R thingy.