Mixing station in a closet, space-saving barrels?

[GreenJeans]

I'm starting to plan out what my mixing station will look like, and I could use help finding the appropriate barrels.

Ideally, I'd like to keep everything in a 26" x 46" bedroom closet.  The sump will be placed on the floor, and I'd like to build a stand to hold the rodi and salt barrels above it.

The reef system will be around 140gallons, and I'd like to keep as much salt water around as possible to minimize my mixing chores (and pave the way for eventual auto water changes).

The common Brute cans or 55gallon drums are too wide to fit inside the closet.

These pet food containers only hold 20gal https://www.amazon.com/Vittles-Vault-Outback-Airtight-Container/dp/B0002DJOP2/ref=pd_sim_199_2/139-7097042-8854934?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0002DJOP2&pd_rd_r=b057629d-77ac-4302-8d73-d13612c8add2&pd_rd_w=VtQsD&pd_rd_wg=kzfAl&pf_rd_p=5abf8658-0b5f-405c-b880-a6d1b558d4ea&pf_rd_r=WP87BSC5QMZH5VNT01JC&psc=1&refRID=WP87BSC5QMZH5VNT01JC

These 55gal containers would just BARELY fit, plumbing would be a nightmare - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0785BHYFG?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&pf_rd_r=Z8H67VTBY4081NEFMPZS

 

Is this a bad idea, should I just set up two standard 55gal containers next to the closet and commit to turning the guest room into a fish room?  I want to set this up to be a scalable system, able to support auto water changes down the road.

[SuncrestReef]

Have you looked for the square Norwesco containers, like this:

You might want to call Green Concepts in Gresham to see if they carry square containers.  I know they have a huge selection of round ones, but they might have square.  See https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bfd/d/portland-norwesco-tanks-super-store/7013043589.html

[SuncrestReef]

On 10/10/2019 at 9:04 AM, obrien.david.j said:

Another option is to order on-line from National Tank, and only order a tank within driving distance to pick it up yourself.  (skip the shipping fees)   

https://www.ntotank.com/vertical-storage-tanks

Enter your zip code, and be careful on the distance from you.   I picked mine up directly from Norwesco in Washougal.

Two of the 75 gallon tanks, for $140 /ea.  (when all was said and done)

https://www.ntotank.com/75gallon-norwesco-white-vertical-storage-tank-x9749447

 

Also see this post from @obrien.david.j about ordering direct for local pickup.

[GreenJeans]

Great advice, I'll definitely give them a call.

I can't find any square ones on their site at least - do you know the dimensions of those pictured? Those look hard to clean, is that an issue?

These could potentially work (albeit very tall), but also look nearly impossible to clean... https://www.ntotank.com/50gallon-norwesco-white-vertical-storage-tank-x4297366

[SuncrestReef]

Any of the vertical tanks are difficult to clean.  I'm actually cleaning my 75 gallon mixing tank today, and do this every 6 months.  I take it out in the driveway and use a garden hose and long handled mop to wipe all the sediment that builds up on the bottom and walls.  Then I rinse it with RO/DI and put it back in service.  Just be sure you install unions to make it easy to disconnect the plumbing for maintenance.

[SuncrestReef]

37 minutes ago, GreenJeans said:

Great advice, I'll definitely give them a call.

I can't find any square ones on their site at least - do you know the dimensions of those pictured? Those look hard to clean, is that an issue?

These could potentially work (albeit very tall), but also look nearly impossible to clean... https://www.ntotank.com/50gallon-norwesco-white-vertical-storage-tank-x4297366

This is the model from the photo above:  https://www.tanksforless.com/p/2157/ace-roto-mold-55-gallon-portable-utility-tanks-a-sp0055-mm

They're 18 in. L x 18 in. W x 44 in. H  

[GreenJeans]

Those look perfect, and should fit nicely.  A difficult cleaning job once every 6 months sounds totally fine. I'll check with Green Concepts first, but might end up ordering a pair of those.

 

Good tip about the unions. How did you run your plumbing?

 

 

[SuncrestReef]

44 minutes ago, GreenJeans said:

Those look perfect, and should fit nicely.  A difficult cleaning job once every 6 months sounds totally fine. I'll check with Green Concepts first, but might end up ordering a pair of those.

Good tip about the unions. How did you run your plumbing?

I wrote up a detailed post about my mixing station with a full parts list here:  https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/suncrestreefs-red-sea-reefer-xl-425-build.358990/post-6173194

[MorseReef]

I ended up using these 25 gal tanks and building a stand to raise the RODI tank above the salt tank. I just finished setting up my auto water changes last week and so far I love it. 

[GreenJeans]

That Norwesco place in Gresham has a few tanks that I think would work great - https://www.ntotank.com/50gallon-norwesco-white-pco-tank-x5664147

Here's a sketch of the space they'd take...a little tight, but do you think this would work?

The tanks are 50gal.  Each blue line scales to 4", and I'd use 2x4's to build the shelf for them. This means I'd have 12-16" clearance above my sump (4-6" clearance above the top of my skimmer), and 2-6" clearance between the tanks.  I could maybe raise them up a little higher, but they're already tucked under the overhang in the closet, and I will need to be able to remove them occasionally...

[SuncrestReef]

28 minutes ago, GreenJeans said:

That Norwesco place in Gresham has a few tanks that I think would work great - https://www.ntotank.com/50gallon-norwesco-white-pco-tank-x5664147

Here's a sketch of the space they'd take...a little tight, but do you think this would work?

The tanks are 50gal.  Each blue line scales to 4", and I'd use 2x4's to build the shelf for them. This means I'd have 12-16" clearance above my sump (4-6" clearance above the top of my skimmer), and 2-6" clearance between the tanks.  I could maybe raise them up a little higher, but they're already tucked under the overhang in the closet, and I will need to be able to remove them occasionally...

 

I have a few thoughts/questions:

1. Do these tanks have bulkheads to attach plumbing?  It doesn't mention that in the product description, or show it in the technical drawing.
2. Is there a flat surface near the top of the tank to attach an additional bulkhead for the circulation/mixing plumbing?
3. How much space will you have above the saltwater tank to be able to add the salt into the opening?  You're going to be doing this frequently, so be sure to have enough working room.

 

[GreenJeans]

I figured I'd be adding the bulkheads myself, and expect to be able to find a way to fit one to the top of the salt tank despite the curve.

Great point about adding salt...I feel like I can make these tanks work with some clever plumbing (fingers crossed), I guess I'll have to experiment with how high I can place the rodi tank and still get it out for cleaning every now and again.

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[GreenJeans]

Another option, I could use a smaller (shorter) rodi tank...how small of a tank would be reasonable? Seems like I could get away with something much smaller...

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