Storing Saltwater/RODI Water

[Wizzy]

EDIT-

 

I think I've decided on two 30 gallon rubbermaid trashcans w/wheels.

 

One for RODI, one for saltwater.

 

No circulation on RODI.

 

Circulation/heat for a few minutes before use for saltwater.

 

Sound Good?

 

 

ORIGINAL-

 

I just ordered a Spectrapure RO/DI Unit.

 

I plan on storing around 10-15 gallons of water at any given time.

 

I want to store saltwater and RO/DI water.

 

How do I do this?

 

Container, circulation, etc?

 

Thanks- Wizzy

[C.I._Reefer]

If you store in a covered container that light doesn't penetrate you can store RO/DI almost indefinitely. no circ needed. Find one of those small blue 22g plastic drums... those are perfect!

[chris']

I store saltwater in a few large bottles, nothing much except shake well before use XD

[Wizzy]

Thanks for the responses.

 

Does anyone know what plastics are safe to use and any more opinions on circulation?

 

Is storing the water for a couple weeks safe?

 

-Wizzy

[majtek862]

I just use 5 gallon buckets with a cover from Home Depot. I keep it in the basement for weeks at a time with no circulation. No problems...

[nye15]

I just use 5 gallon buckets with a cover from Home Depot. I keep it in the basement for weeks at a time with no circulation. No problems...

 

+1

[Wizzy]

I just use 5 gallon buckets with a cover from Home Depot. I keep it in the basement for weeks at a time with no circulation. No problems...

 

Ro or saltwater?

 

Any more opinions on specific containers, circulation, etc?

[gutterguy]

Ro or saltwater?

 

Any more opinions on specific containers, circulation, etc?

For my RO water I keep it in a 7 gallon water jug used for camping from wally world. Pre mix saltwater just in a Home Depot bucket with lid, powerhead and heater.

[Tbone675]

keep my top off in 2 gatoraid jugs, keep my fresh salt water in a rubbermaid 32gal Brute trash can (you can get at Home depot) with a 2 k3s and a heater.. the brutes come in 10 20 32 and 44gal. i like to have enough on hand to do a 100% water change if i ever had to.

[aquakevem]

I've been using

this 30 gallon FDA-USDA approved drum for storing RO/DI water.

[altolamprologus]

I've been using

this 30 gallon FDA-USDA approved drum for storing RO/DI water.

^ Definitely get something food grade. If it's not approved for storing food/water for human consumption, it will likely leach toxic crap into the water

[aquakevem]

^ Definitely get something food grade. If it's not approved for storing food/water for human consumption, it will likely leach toxic crap into the water

 

Yeah! There's nothing like having piece of mind.

 

As 'Tbone675' has suggested.

 

Rubbermaid's Brute containers are also USDA and Poultry approved.

[Wizzy]

I would love to purchase a food grade, totally safe container.

 

But they are so darn expensive Lol

 

I've read that the different types of plastic aren't harmful to your aquarium and that something such as a Rubbermaid Storage Tote would be safe?

 

Alternatively, the Brute Trash Cans are OK to use as well?

 

Thanks- Wizzy

 

P.S. So it seems like everyone's saying that I need to circulate Saltwater but not RO/DI water correct?

[jnicita]

What about tropic Marin's new bio-activ? Anyone got storage suggestions on this salt mix???

 

 

 

I would love to purchase a food grade, totally safe container.

 

But they are so darn expensive Lol

 

I've read that the different types of plastic aren't harmful to your aquarium and that something such as a Rubbermaid Storage Tote would be safe?

 

Alternatively, the Brute Trash Cans are OK to use as well?

 

Thanks- Wizzy

 

P.S. So it seems like everyone's saying that I need to circulate Saltwater but not RO/DI water correct?

[Wizzy]

What about tropic Marin's new bio-activ? Anyone got storage suggestions on this salt mix???

 

Storage suggestions as in storing the unused salt mix or the used saltwater?

[Wizzy]

bump

[Wizzy]

I would love to purchase a food grade, totally safe container.

 

But they are so darn expensive Lol

 

I've read that the different types of plastic aren't harmful to your aquarium and that something such as a Rubbermaid Storage Tote would be safe?

 

Alternatively, the Brute Trash Cans are OK to use as well?

 

Thanks- Wizzy

 

P.S. So it seems like everyone's saying that I need to circulate Saltwater but not RO/DI water correct?

[jnicita]

Storage suggestions as in storing the unused salt mix or the used saltwater?

 

Storing fresh mixed bio activ & to/di. I use 5 gal +-, but like having 4-5 1 gallon jugs with stored mixed sw on hand, since I know mixing 24 hours and then moving to smaller 1 gal jugs (sealed) might be a issue with bio-activ, I wonder if 5-10 gallons in my 25 gal drums would keep 2-3 weeks as long as a power head (the one used to mix it) was in it keeping it turning over. Like I said in another thread, I used to keep natural seawater 3-4 weeks in light proof sealed drums (agitating for 24 hours before use) would love to be able to do this with mixed saltwater as well, it's the bio-activ that's got me double checking , but I (and my tank and inhabitants) love the bio activ...

 

 

-John

[chris']

P.S. So it seems like everyone's saying that I need to circulate Saltwater but not RO/DI water correct?

 

It depends on what type of Saltwater if it is straight from the sea which contains lots of micro organisms, you might want to circulate it to keep the micro organisms alive. However the micro organisms will not survive long, so if you are planning to store it for a long time, it will eventually die off, then there is no use circulating the water at all. If your saltwater is made from a packet of sea salt that you bought from the fish store, there is also no need to circulate the water because there is no life in it. However, you would want to circulate both type of saltwater for a few hours right before usage so that the salinity and chemicals in the seawater could be equally distributed. Hope this helps you.

[Wizzy]

Storing fresh mixed bio activ & to/di. I use 5 gal +-, but like having 4-5 1 gallon jugs with stored mixed sw on hand, since I know mixing 24 hours and then moving to smaller 1 gal jugs (sealed) might be a issue with bio-activ, I wonder if 5-10 gallons in my 25 gal drums would keep 2-3 weeks as long as a power head (the one used to mix it) was in it keeping it turning over. Like I said in another thread, I used to keep natural seawater 3-4 weeks in light proof sealed drums (agitating for 24 hours before use) would love to be able to do this with mixed saltwater as well, it's the bio-activ that's got me double checking , but I (and my tank and inhabitants) love the bio activ...

 

 

-John

 

Sounds like you're asking the same question as I am. I don't think that the different synthetic salt mixes will be different enough that their storage is going to be different.

 

 

It depends on what type of Saltwater if it is straight from the sea which contains lots of micro organisms, you might want to circulate it to keep the micro organisms alive. However the micro organisms will not survive long, so if you are planning to store it for a long time, it will eventually die off, then there is no use circulating the water at all. If your saltwater is made from a packet of sea salt that you bought from the fish store, there is also no need to circulate the water because there is no life in it. However, you would want to circulate both type of saltwater for a few hours right before usage so that the salinity and chemicals in the seawater could be equally distributed. Hope this helps you.

 

I will be storing RO/DI water and Synthetic Saltwater made from Reef Crystals salt mix.

 

I read somewhere that water needed to be circulated because the oxygen levels would become inadequate and the water would then become poisonous?

 

Don't quote me on that, but what I read was along those lines.

 

Thanks- Wizzy

[chris']

I will be storing RO/DI water and Synthetic Saltwater made from Reef Crystals salt mix.

 

I read somewhere that water needed to be circulated because the oxygen levels would become inadequate and the water would then become poisonous?

 

Don't quote me on that, but what I read was along those lines.

 

Thanks- Wizzy

 

Okay, did they specifically said synthetic saltwater from reef crystals salt mix would become poisonous without adequate oxygen levels?

In my opinion, the water that requires circulation is most probably natural seawater that has lots of micro organism. not circulating it gives you die offs which would lead to a small rise in ammonia. It is poisonous but most aquarists wouldn't worry about it since they have already cycled their tank so their biological filtration would be able to fix that.

Does this answer your question?

[Wizzy]

Okay, did they specifically said synthetic saltwater from reef crystals salt mix would become poisonous without adequate oxygen levels?

In my opinion, the water that requires circulation is most probably natural seawater that has lots of micro organism. not circulating it gives you die offs which would lead to a small rise in ammonia. It is poisonous but most aquarists wouldn't worry about it since they have already cycled their tank so their biological filtration would be able to fix that.

Does this answer your question?

 

Not specifically Reef Crystals, just any salt mix that isn't circulated will eventually develop poisonous oxygen levels... something like that.

 

I'll try to do some additional research, but I'm still trying to get a 100% answer whether RO/DI water and Synthetic Saltwater need to be circulated and whether a standard Storage Tote from target (as an example) would be safe to store water in.

 

Thanks- Wizzy

[Wizzy]

So, I did some research and I'm not seeing any flaws with purchasing a rubbermaid storage container.

 

Any input on that?

 

Alternatively could I use a glass aquarium?

 

Would I have to cover the aquarium sides to prevent algae growth?

 

Also, it seems like I need to keep the water agitated with a pump.

 

Sound right?

 

Thanks- Wizzy

[Wizzy]

So, I did some research and I'm not seeing any flaws with purchasing a rubbermaid storage container.

 

Any input on that?

 

Alternatively could I use a glass aquarium?

 

Would I have to cover the aquarium sides to prevent algae growth?

 

Also, it seems like I need to keep the water agitated with a pump.

 

Sound right?

 

Thanks- Wizzy

 

Bump

[jnicita]

So, I did some research and I'm not seeing any flaws with purchasing a rubbermaid storage container.

 

Any input on that?

 

Alternatively could I use a glass aquarium?

 

Would I have to cover the aquarium sides to prevent algae growth?

 

Also, it seems like I need to keep the water agitated with a pump.

 

Sound right?

 

Thanks- Wizzy

 

 

I am in the same boat as you, in asking about premix, however, where I think I am ahead of you is in storage containers. I live in San Diego, and have 3 or 4 locations to choose from, I simply looked for a water recycling business (of which there are 3 or 4 in my immediate area). They had 20gallon, 26g, 36g, 40g, and 55g, along with 110g and 220g drums available. I guess food storage containers for vinegar and other substances are plenty full. I ended up with 2 18gallon plastic drums, with lids that had liners on them and clamped down with medal locking devices, I could tumble them down a 45 degree hill and hey wouldn't break. I paid $1 per gallon, and they had a entire back yard filled with hundreds of them, so I gotta figure you can find such a thing in your neighbor hood. Looks for composting, worm raising, any of those "green" water recycling type hippe type areas and you'll be set up. I had no problems finding containers that fit in my trunk, in my pickup, and in my garage, it was easier than finding a good LFS to sell me the specialized stuff that I wanted to find.

 

Good luck, if in San Diego, or near San Diego, I can point you to the locations, and I've even found them in Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, so Id say they are ABUNDANT, and you just need to search knowing what you are looking for.

 

 

Good luck...

 

-John