Automatic Saltwater Mixing Station (& ATO!) SOLVED!

[@MatanIluz]

Can you share plumbing parts list i want to build exactly the same build great work you did there 👌

[@RatherBeTraveling]

Thank you. Great walkthrough. Just setting up a "dream tank" . Your video here is one of the best I have watched.

[@jodiekitt2670]

Thanks Barrett, I have the same tanks. Just getting started on buying new equipment.

[@barrettseal8115]

Yes sir! It's actually a fun process to see through because it adds so much stability to your system. Good luck!

[@jodiekitt2670]

@@barrettseal8115 Thank You

[@SCUBACRAZY69]

Great job…and thanks for taking the time to document in detail! What did you use to make your storage tank stands?

[@bpseal]

Hey Darryl, I just got those at Home Depot for hot water tank stands.

[@anthonyhernandez7582]

Nice video man super easy to follow along and great instructions. Do you have a video on your macro algae container in your sump next to your skimmer

[@stevenb007]

Hi, not sure if you will see this, as I realise this was posted 4 years ago. I have 2 questions, if you dont mind; 1) Do you drop the entire amount before refilling, as I would have thought you are removing a percentage of the clean water you just added, thus not getting the full amount of new water vs old? 2) How do you inhibit the operation of the ato during water draining for top ups? Thanks.

[@hellofriends5833]

Why do you reduce the bulkheads down to 3/4" instead of using 3/4" threaded bulkheads? Instead of using that Hydor to circulate the salt water. Using the current configuration, you could close the ball valve from the freshwater tank, and run the pump as a closed loop, it would draw from the bottom and be thorough in mixing the salt and RO/DI

[@Twinnny_Twinnn]

Awesome video. Do you have a list of the items you bought???

[@ryangryniewicki953]

Barrett great video very helpful! Is there a reason your not using the external pump for mixing the salt water? Also how to have your tubing in the salt water to make sure it stays at the bottom of the container? Thanks

[@barrettseal8115]

Hey Ryan gosh sorry I am just now seeing this. I used a small 1/2'' PVC and put the 1/4'' RO Tubing through it and it keeps the tubing rigid and it is cut to sit directly on the bottom of the tank.

[@markstover984]

So, I take it you had to run a cable from the DOS to the Apex controller? How long is the run, and where did you get a cable that long? I would also like to ask you about your setup for your UV and how you plumbed it in. Thanks for the video.

[@bpseal]

Yes sir a 75 foot male to male USB 2.1 cable. Monoprice is a great place for that. I ran it through my attic to the garage. The UV was plumbed behind my stand with a simple Eheim 292gph pump and had it cycling in my sump area.

[@noeyscoffee]

I’m working on a very similar setup. How did you get your RODI system to stop the waste water from constantly flowing when the rodi is not making any water?

[@bpseal]

The rodi unit shuts off from the float valve inside the fresh water tank.

[@PaulFraser4]

Hi there, I’m wondering how you connected the bulkheads to the pipes? At the bottom of the tanks

[@bpseal]

I believe with 90 degree threaded pipe then the ball valve.

[@Andy_Wenzel]

Love the solution for a mixing station, can you describe the parts/steps for running the piping near the top of your saltwater? Thanks

[@duffleaver6108]

Do you let your RO container drain down before refilling so that the RO isn't running continually?

[@bpseal]

Yes I do sir. To about 10 gallons or so.

[@duffleaver6108]

Good to know. Thank you

[@njjeff201]

Great info. What size tubing do you recommend to go from basement up to first floor... about 12 feet. Is pex too small diameter??

[@jodiekitt2670]

Where did you get the tank stands?

[@manuelvinas7104]

Where did you buy the storage tank

[@flathead1319]

This is awesome thank you so much for sharing. I know it’s been what year since you posted this is there any chance you could share what you did through your walls and ceiling to make everything safe?

[@bpseal]

Actually, I should do a follow up... to clarify some requests!

[@herbertmyles5988]

Great video!. Thanks for all the details that most mixing station videos omit! There appears to be a special lid adapter permitting passage of the Koralia cord. Is there or did you simply drill the lid?

[@barrettseal8115]

All I did for the lid, (sorry I just now saw this) is wind the cord through the center of the lid because it's removable and it works fine.

[@Erajsrajapakse]

this is awesome, thank you. Can you pls let me know at what point of this process do you add the Salt powder to the water, do you wait till the Salt tank is empty to do a refill?

[@bpseal]

I fill salt bin with the RO water and then add appropriate amount of salt to get the 1.026. And yes I wait until it’s mainly empty to repeat the process.

[@djmjr77]

Very cool setup!! Nice job!!

[@jz319]

Thank you for all the info from this video. I am planning to buy the Apex DOS for automated water-change, but I am not sure on what size are the RO DI tubing that you used in the video. Mind telling me what’s the size of the tubing that you used ? Thanks in advance.

[@jz319]

Thank you so much for the quick response !!

[@robertcousins9106]

Great video Barrett and much appreciated as I'm setting up my system tonight. I'm trying to figure out the best way to get water to my tank if I have to do a big water change. I see a valve directly behind the output of the pump, then a T with the 3/4 braided tubing, then another valve before going into the saltwater barrel. Do you have a valve at the end of the tubing to keep it from coming out when you don't want water coming out? I was also wondering the reason for the valve right after the output. Sorry if it's obvious, just want to get this right the first time. Thanks again for your video

[@robertcousins9106]

@@bpseal Thanks for your help and quick reply, now I can keep trucking on this thing and get it done:-)

[@mjweismann111]

@@robertcousins9106 did you get a PM'd response to this? I was wondering the same thing about how he keeps water from coming out of the braided tubing.

[@j-s2526]

What kind of rubber grommet are you using to connect water flow to the side of the tank? Any issues with leaking? Is it glued?

[@bpseal]

Hey man it’s the uni seals from bulk reef. No leaks but it also is above the water line.

[@countyliving]

Good video would like to see a lot more of your set up

[@bpseal]

More to come!

[@philb6105]

Anything you’d do differently or you’ve changed since the video?

[@bpseal]

Well, probably not my friend. Works as intended. I do realize I just need a 200 gpd RO system and then a booster pump to give me all the water I need quickly. storage in my opinion is not really necessary with tanks less than 150-200 gallons.

[@davidsteele5767]

Great job on your setup.

[@bpseal]

Thanks David!

[@tommycristaldi9037]

Awesome video. Simple and clear instructions!

[@bpseal]

Glad it was helpful!

[@flreefshark76]

Nice set up mate!! Quick question - what cord did you use to run to your DOS that connected to your Apex controller? My mixing station is in my garage and my tank is about 30ft away from where my Apex controller sits..

[@bpseal]

Thanks bud. Just a giant 50 foot USB 2.1 male to male cable.

[@flreefshark76]

@@bpseal , so that 50 foot USB 2.1 male to male cable will plug right into my DOS which gets connected to my ApexEL CONTROLLER correct?

[@bpseal]

@@flreefshark76 yes sir!

[@djmjr77]

Technically the max length for usb 2 is 16.5 feet, so make sure the cable is "powered" otherwise weird things can happen.

[@shantanumathur1059]

Love your setup ❤

[@Two1owT]

You mentioned your ATO line from the mixing station but didn’t show what pump you are using. Also, are you just using optical sensors in the sump to trigger the ATO pump? Any safe guards used?

[@bpseal]

Great question, I use a 50ml BRS pump that brings my ato water in from the garage. And I use electrode sensors and they work fantastic.

[@djmjr77]

Have you encountered any issues with the ato turning on when the water change is happening, or does the add and remove happen simultaneously so the ato doesnt know anything is happening.. lol.. maybe i answered my own question ...

[@jaibieblanco6229]

How much did all this cost you? Did you have some one plumb it for you?

[@bpseal]

It as probably around $1k or so. And no I plumbed it all myself. It's around a 2 or 3 out of 10 for difficulty.

[@TheDcm0388]

Where did you order those tanks from?

[@barrettseal8115]

Norwesco if you haven't gotten them already.

[@jeffsreeftank]

Looks nice and clean 👍🏾👍🏾

[@will24s1]

Great video just what I needed

[@zachb86]

Awesome setup!

[@bpseal]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@chrisb2996]

This is an awesome set up. I’m curious why you did an arbitrary number as .8 gallons a day? Is there a benefit of doing that small of an amount per day instead of doing a say a 25% all at once ? Also I love your hose, wire management. Very clean

[@aaroncanedo5546]

Very good!!! Video

[@TheirWorldAquatics]

Awesome video and we'll explained! Keep up the great work and keep pushing out those videos! We're getting ready to hook up our water changing station on the 1000 gallon saltwater system, be sure to check us out on KZbin!

[@bpseal]

We will!

[@meshakvanlalliana1667]

Can I get your Instagram I have a lot of questions

[@barrettseal8115]

I don't have a page instagram only my personal. Post them here and I'll do my best to answer sir.

[@meshakvanlalliana1667]

@@barrettseal8115 okok... My question is can we use normal sea salt and how many salt per a gallon

[@thewarwithin4776]

#tankgoals

[@garrettorlando3733]

Where did you get your 65 gallon drums ?

[@bpseal]

A place called norwesco who manufactures tanks for agriculture.