We have the problem at my house of not performing water changes as we should because I have to rely on someone else like Randy or Travis (setflyer) to help. They are both graciously willing to help when I ask but I want to get the water change procedure to the point where Kathy and I can do it without asking for help. Here's what I've come up with. You may recall that I have a narrow cabinet (designed for mops and brooms) next to my tank that currently houses the RO/DI top-off solenoid, kalkwasser reactor and dog food. I also have a 1/2" drain line coming from my sump that's plumbed into the kitchen drain. Here's what I want to do: Flip a switch to fill a container for saltwater mixing and have the water fill stop automatically. Add salt and flip a switch to turn on mixing pump. Wait a couple of days and turn off mixing pump. Flip a switch to activate pump to drain sump. Flip a switch to pump the fresh saltwater into sump. Repeat weekly. I need a float switch and solenoid valve, some tubing and accessories, a couple of Maxi-Jets and a switch panel of some sort. The difficult item so far is locating a container that will fit in the 14" x 24" cabinet. Rubbermaid makes one (23g) that would be a perfect fit but it's $50. Before I spend that much, do any of you have any other suggestions for a container?
you could make one out of figerglass use the reisen and hardner. you could use some wood to make a form then go get some fleece from walmart staple it to the wood to make your form. Then mix your reisen and hardner and make it as large or small as you want. then just wait for it to dry we used this exact setup to make a speaker box. In my old camero you just make it pretty thick but just a thought. I dont know how cost effective it would be but it would work.
I will be out at a couple of stores in the morning. I will take my tape measure and see if I can find something to fit 14x24 and that is cheap.
Joe becarefull with float switches. You could flip that switch and the float could get stuck and flood your floor. It has happened before, and something that needs to be PM'd(prevenative maintance).
Thanks James. It needs to be about 20g. Travis, that sounds pretty cool but way too labor-intensive for me.
Yep. I'm getting a redundant unit and we'll make sure to keep the floats clean. My sump top-off is from autotopoff.com and seems to be working well.
Triton, those power panels might work. I guess we'd need to build a box to mount them in since they're rack-mount?
Yo Joe, I looked at all the regular haunts. Home Depot has a "Slim Jim" which is 16 gallons and measures 11"x20"x24" tall, it is $23. They also had the not so slim jim, it was 14.5"x14.5"x24" tall and it held 23 or 25 gallons, the numbers are all running together, it was $40. Both seemed kind of pricey to me for trash cans, but they were heavy duty and made in America...cue National Anthem. All the "tote" style storage containers were 16" wide at the top. These are the ones you store sweaters in and such. Is the doorway into your closet 14" wide and it gets bigger once inside? If so one of those 20 something gallon totes could squeeze through the door and fit. they are all pretty flexible....read cheap.
The cabinet is the same size from the door to the back. I found the 23g Slim Jim on-line which I think has the same footprint as the 15g but is 30" tall. ~$50 is about average. I'm almost to the point of spending a little more to get someone to make me a 12" X 18" X 24" acrylic box. :lol:
I picked up a 15g Rubbermaid Slim Jim trash can and four switches with receptacles Saturday at Home Depot. Now I need another float switch and solenoid valve, a couple of 1/4" T's and a box in which to mount the AC switches/receptacles. I'm getting there...
