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180 Gallon Build

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by dead fish, Jul 15, 2012.

Page 2 of 5
  1. Jul 16, 2012 #21
    AchillesTang23 Cedar Rapids

    AchillesTang23

    134
    Cedar Rapids
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Yeah, you will not regret purchasing an RO unit, they are amazing!
     
  2. Jul 16, 2012 #22
    AchillesTang23 Cedar Rapids

    AchillesTang23

    134
    Cedar Rapids
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I am very excited to see it all come together though /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif
     
  3. Jul 17, 2012 #23
    dead fish Iowa City

    dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Man, I'm glad I can run it off the washer line. That'll make things so much easier. And I can drain the waste water right down the drain for the washer!
    I'm excited to see this come together as well. I have a 24" light sitting on the empty tank just so I can look at it. 
    Leaving for a short vacation tomorrow and I'm going to order a bunch of stuff I need to get going. Taking an extra day off next Monday to start working on the plumbing and if all goes well, getting some water flowing through there.
     
  4. Jul 17, 2012 #24
    dead fish Iowa City

    dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Re; RODI Unit:
    I just did a few quick calculations and in order to fill this tank (180 gallons and 30-40 in the 65 gallon sump) it will cost me about $90 in RO from  the LFS and then about $60-75 for the salt, which is more than the cost of an RODI unit.
    So, I don't know anything about one unit from the next. What do folks have an like?
     
  5. Jul 17, 2012 #25
    Pete H.

    Pete H. Well-Known ReefKeeper

    853
    Ratings:
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    a typical 4 stage unit is probably going to be what you are looking for. the first 2 stages are sediment filters/carbon blocks. Then the RO membrane and finishes with a DI unit. I have a 4 stage that can make close to 100 gallons of 0 TDS water in 24 hours. I got mine used so not sure which company it is from but maybe someone can chime in where they got there unit from. Happy RODI hunting. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif
     
  6. Jul 17, 2012 #26
    Killernights

    Killernights Inactive User

    217
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    a good and known place for RO/DI units is Bulk Reef Supply. They are made with GE products and have many different types. I just got their 6 stage Chloramine Delux unit. It comes with all the fittingsyou will ever need and has easy instructions on how to maintain it. You can also get one from Air Water and Ice. Whatever company you get one from make sure all the filters hang vertically and not horizontally (except for the RO membrane, it will sit horizantally). The only difference in the regular units and the Chloramine units is that some water treatment facilities use Chloramine to treat their water, if you don't know if your water is treated with this i would just get the Chloramine unit.
     
  7. Jul 17, 2012 #27
    dead fish Iowa City

    dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    What about this guy, the 50GPD 4 stage version? $119 ain't half bad.
     
  8. Jul 17, 2012 #28
    Killernights

    Killernights Inactive User

    217
    Ratings:
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    i would say to get at least a 4 stage if not a 5 stage otherwise you will probably end up buying a new RODI unit later on. Also get one with a carbon block in it, you want an RO/DI unit and not just an RO unit. Here is a good 4 stage one with carbon block http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/reverse-osmosis-filters-and-systems/reverses-osmosis-deionization-systems/standard-ro-di-systems/75-gpd-ro-di-4-stage-economy-system.html

    Also with a tank your size a 50gpd can be used but i would suggest at least a 75gpd unit, will make the initial fillup faster and if anything goes wrong you can make more water faster. You also dont need the powered pump unless you have really weak water pressure. I personally would get a 5 stage if you can afford it
     
  9. Jul 17, 2012 #29
    dead fish Iowa City

    dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    I like that BRS unit. I wish BRS carried more of a variety of stuff . Looks like I'll still need to order other stuff from dr. fosters and smith.
     
  10. Jul 17, 2012 #30
    Bela

    Bela Inactive User

    2,210
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    Theisen's also carries the sch80 bulkheads, but sizes are limited. For what you are doing, they should have them. They are very well priced for being sch80. and very well worth it IMO.
     
  11. Jul 17, 2012 #31
    MXC207 Cedar Rapids

    MXC207 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    634
    Cedar Rapids
    Ratings:
    +7 / 0 / -0
    150 gpd 6 stage from filterdirect on ebay. Works great and for 130 bucks its same price as most 4 stages under 100 gpd. Easy decision for me. Acc does have a very nice selection of bulkheads and sch80 valves. I believe menards has the valves as well. Dont buy the cheap white valves, ive seen them in person compared to the nice ones and its a no brainer. Unions are your best friends. Depending how fancy you want to get with your water storage, a 33 or 55 gallon brute trash can works great, what i use now. My new system ill be upgrading to 65 gallon water containers from theisens.
     
  12. Jul 17, 2012 #32
    dead fish Iowa City

    dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Ok, just placed a big order tonight. The wife is mad at me, but had to be done I guess...
    Here's what I have on the way:
    1) CD-970393 Glass Only Mag-Float® Medium
       Quantity: 1
    2) CD-967052 Aragamax Sand 30 lbs
       Quantity: 3
    3) CD-18977 Double Threaded Bulkhead Fittings 3/4"
       Quantity: 2
    4) CD-18985 Slip Bulkhead Fitting Kits 1"
       Quantity: 1
    5) CD-18826 Theo Heater 400 watt
       Quantity: 1
    6) CD-70397 Auto Top Off Float Valve Float Valve
       Quantity: 1
    7) CD-74854 Marineland Maxi-Jet PRO 1200 PRO
       Quantity: 2
    [table]

    75 GPD RO/DI 4 Stage Economy System2004001
    BRS Felt Filter Sock 7" x 16" 200 Micron (w/ Plastic Ring)2059034

    [/table]
    It all should be waiting for me when I get back from Okoboji along with the used pump I just got through buy/sell/trade.
    If all goes well I'll have water flowing through this thing by middle of next week! 
     
  13. Jul 23, 2012 #33
    dead fish Iowa City

    dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Progress! I was out of town for a few days and in the meantime, I had a couple orders of stuff. come in. My pump, my RODI unit, some filter socks (much bigger than I anticipated), sand. I'm still waiting on a box from Drs. Foater and Smith. I'm a little chapped about it, as I made the order on Tuesday of last week and while the sand I ordered came, the rest of the stuff was held up because of a backorder that wasn't indicated on the website. And I wasn't notified, either. 
    Anyway, I started getting the tank wet last night and went out to buy the PVC I needed. This moring I put the piping together and soon I'll see it it'll hold water. I'm pretty psyched.
    I'll post a few pics below, but I also decided to do a video diary of the build, as it was hard to find a soup to nuts video account of putting together a large tank and maybe my experience will help others. You can check it out here. 
    http://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...re=edit_ok Everything will be in installments.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Jul 24, 2012 #34
    Kpotter2 North liberty, IA

    Kpotter2 Expert Reefkeeper

    3,721
    North liberty, IA
    Ratings:
    +7 / 0 / -0
    Oh nice progress and looking good. You are so lucky you had money and I didn't, because I was all over that tank, but just had no funds..Glad you got it you will be very happy. I am not sure I would be using standard electrical out let boxs and 14-2 ga strait wire right around your sump. It will get wet down there and there will be moisture from the sump not to mention the salt creep. I would rethink that a little maybe.
     
  15. Jul 24, 2012 #35
    rgreene

    rgreene

    246
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    another thing that you can do is put an arc fault breaker in at your panel with a gfi just for better protection an arc fault breaker also trips if it has stray voltage or a short from a wire
     
  16. Jul 24, 2012 #36
    dead fish Iowa City

    dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    I'm glad I was able to pry the money away from the rainy day fund so I could pick it up. Hope you find one as good as this when you're ready, Kyle.

    Those outlet boxes are mounted to the stand, but not wired to anything. I'll be making other arrangement for power when the time comes.

    I think I finally got the bulkheads watertight. Yikes, that was a job.

    Tomorrow: I see if the return plumbing holds up.
     
  17. Jul 25, 2012 #37
    dead fish Iowa City

    dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    The water's aflowin'. Had a few leaks to tend to and maybe one more, but I'll wait to see about that tomorrow. Quite a busy few days, but I'll be ready to move the 75 gallon over soon, I think.

    Got a video of plugging the thing in and watching the leaks come and then go. I'll post that soon.

    Also picked up a Coralife CP 2900 for flow. Anyone have opinions on that pump?
     
  18. Jul 25, 2012 #38
    dead fish Iowa City

    dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    The video:

     
  19. Jul 25, 2012 #39
    Killernights

    Killernights Inactive User

    217
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    just so you know, you shouldn't need teflon tape on your unions. They stay seeled from the o-ring in them.
     
  20. Jul 26, 2012 #40
    dead fish Iowa City

    dead fish Dead Fish

    832
    Iowa City
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    Well, 3 out of 4 of them were leaking. Hmm.
     
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