Can salt water be mixed and stored for 3-4 months without harm as long as it is aerated before use? Due to the slow rate of supply from my RO unit I would like to pre mix some water and hold some in reserve for emergencies and then use it for water changes when needed. Would it be better to store RO water and mix the salt when needed?
Storing mixed saltwater?
- Thread starter Jeff_S
- Start date
I have been practising storage of mixed salt water in a 80gal drum for more than a year with no problem. A circulation pump is on 24/7.
Save me time for routine partial changes and like you say, for emergency.
It also help me ensure proper dissolution and pH adjustment when needed.
cheers
Save me time for routine partial changes and like you say, for emergency.
It also help me ensure proper dissolution and pH adjustment when needed.
cheers
I would mix as needed. You would have to adjust the sg anyway due to evaporation. You would be better off storing your ro water in a 32 gallon rubber trash barrel with a lid. Rig your unit to drain directly into the barrel for best results. You would need an automatic shutoff though.
HTH
HTH
I use two seven gallon aquatainers (camping drinking water tanks. They have an on/off spigot making it easy to fill directly into the sump. They're not too heavy to move around when full and are relatively cheap ($7-$8). I have kept pre-mixed water for well over a month with no adverse effects. Since I top off with R/O, I only use these for the occasional water change.
great idea, ryan! I actually have one of those with my backpacking stuff. I personally have a rubbermaid container that's roughly 30 gallons or so for top-off and kalkmixing. When I do water changes (very rarely, I'm afraid) I mix the water and circulate/aerate for a few days. At my last apt., I lost very little water through evap, and kept mixed sw. in the container for as long as a month or two at a time with no problems. I also did keep a circulation pump running--I figured the 7 or 8 watts of continuous power was justified--and not much in the way of $$$bill.
Just thought I'd add, I've seen people using gasoline containers (never used for gas, of course) for transporting h2o. Actually, when I serviced tanks at the lfs, that's what we would use to bring either mixed sw or ro freshwater. The gas containers are relatively small-5 or 6 gallons capacity.
Just thought I'd add, I've seen people using gasoline containers (never used for gas, of course) for transporting h2o. Actually, when I serviced tanks at the lfs, that's what we would use to bring either mixed sw or ro freshwater. The gas containers are relatively small-5 or 6 gallons capacity.
Posted by Henry:
They are known as Harcostar drum, made of high density polyethylene, blue in colour with a snap on black lid.
I have a 50 gallon drum that is similar to what Henry describes. The drum I have was used to store apple cider in, the top was fixed (molded on) and so I cut it off using a skill saw. I purchased this drum for $10 locally.
Steve
They are known as Harcostar drum, made of high density polyethylene, blue in colour with a snap on black lid.
I have a 50 gallon drum that is similar to what Henry describes. The drum I have was used to store apple cider in, the top was fixed (molded on) and so I cut it off using a skill saw. I purchased this drum for $10 locally.
Steve
Posted by SPC:
The drum I have was used to store apple cider in, the top was fixed (molded on) and so I cut it off using a skill saw. I purchased this drum for $10 locally.
Certainly a great buy.
I think it look like the one on this link.
http://www.harcostardrums.co.uk/pages/xlring.htm
cheers
The drum I have was used to store apple cider in, the top was fixed (molded on) and so I cut it off using a skill saw. I purchased this drum for $10 locally.
Certainly a great buy.
I think it look like the one on this link.
http://www.harcostardrums.co.uk/pages/xlring.htm
cheers
Jeff_S,
Can't really say where you can get one of those '80G' drum . . . I made a mistake, it should be 58G . .. apology.
The one I've got, I bought it off my company which deals in pharmaceuticals manufacturing many years back. They are known as Harcostar drum, made of high density polyethylene, blue in colour with a snap on black lid.
This is the link showing the actual drum and the manufacturer I hope you can contact to see if they have local distributors near you.
http://www.harcostardrums.co.uk/pages/univ.htm
[ April 01, 2002: Message edited by: Henry ]</p>
Can't really say where you can get one of those '80G' drum . . . I made a mistake, it should be 58G . .. apology.
The one I've got, I bought it off my company which deals in pharmaceuticals manufacturing many years back. They are known as Harcostar drum, made of high density polyethylene, blue in colour with a snap on black lid.
This is the link showing the actual drum and the manufacturer I hope you can contact to see if they have local distributors near you.
http://www.harcostardrums.co.uk/pages/univ.htm
[ April 01, 2002: Message edited by: Henry ]</p>
I've looked into food grade/chemical grade containers before. They tend to be very expensive. I just use a rubbermaide container - one for FW, one for SW. I'm thinking about getting a 40G rubbermaide trash can for a larger holding capacity. A verticle container will also take up less space.
-T
-T
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