I would like to hear from anyone running a reef tank that has well water and a septic system for their home. Is it possible? I may be moving from municipal water/sewer and I would hate to give up this hobby. Any tips and advice would be appreciated. Do I still need an rodi system if its untreated water?
Reefing using a well/septic system.
- Thread starter jw10604
- Start date
- Location
- Ossining, NY
JW - there are plenty of people in this situation - drop swimmer a line - he has both a septic and well.
Good luck
House
Good luck
House
- Location
- NY
I'm on well and septic for over 10 years. You most certainly have to use RO/DI. The reason for that is the minerals in the ground are being brought up in your well water and not treated. You want to remove EVERYTHING from the water.
As for the septic end of things. I do things a bit more conservative than I've heard others do. I do not dump any of my saltwater change water down my drains. Septic tanks are made from concrete. Salt eats away concrete. I know, I know, the concentrations from the 10-20 gallons of saltwater at a time being dumped into a 1200 gallon septic tank won't do it any harm, but I don't want the accumulated effect to wreak havoc on my system. Anyway, I just dump it in the street.
As for the RO/DI discharge/waste water......I also do not dump that down the drain. Overloading the system with excessive water is not ideal either. I make about 100 gallons of RO/DI at a time. That equates to about 400 gallons of waste water. I don't want to tax my septic.
As long as you do things with the knowledge of how a well and septic work, you will have no issues.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I was a general contractor for many years, a reefer for many years, and a homeowner for longer than most of the members on this forum have been alive......... yes, I'm almost geriatric. :sad2:
Russ
As for the septic end of things. I do things a bit more conservative than I've heard others do. I do not dump any of my saltwater change water down my drains. Septic tanks are made from concrete. Salt eats away concrete. I know, I know, the concentrations from the 10-20 gallons of saltwater at a time being dumped into a 1200 gallon septic tank won't do it any harm, but I don't want the accumulated effect to wreak havoc on my system. Anyway, I just dump it in the street.
As for the RO/DI discharge/waste water......I also do not dump that down the drain. Overloading the system with excessive water is not ideal either. I make about 100 gallons of RO/DI at a time. That equates to about 400 gallons of waste water. I don't want to tax my septic.
As long as you do things with the knowledge of how a well and septic work, you will have no issues.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I was a general contractor for many years, a reefer for many years, and a homeowner for longer than most of the members on this forum have been alive......... yes, I'm almost geriatric. :sad2:
Russ
- Location
- NY
:shhh: It makes it slightly more dramatic.
If you don't believe me, here I am in a bathing suit many years ago:
Attachments
- Location
- NY
I live in the sticks my friend. I have no neighbors. I dump my salt water in the woods. My RO/DI waste water just runs onto the driveway (which is just item 4, not paved).
If you're moving to a place with storm drains, then you've got your 'removal system'
.Russ
- Location
- NY
Pedro, I know a lot of people do dump their saltwater into their septics. A couple of things should be noted. First, I run MANY tanks. System totals about 600 gallons. Long term accumulations of salt in those quantities might be fine......might not. I don't want to be concerned with replacing a septic tank, or worse, my leech field in any number of years, 5, 10, 15 or 20. The unknown isn't worth it to me. Like I said, many people here have seen where I live. I have 100's of acres around me with no neighbors. It's just as easy for me to dump it outside.
swimmer
- Location
- NY
Next time you're up visiting Frank, stop by. I'm less than a mile down the road.
R
R
- Location
- NY
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