RO/DI storage

Drewcipher · #1 10/20/2007, 12:22 PM

Does anyone store water for regular and emergency use? We have an RO system on our whole house, which is rated for 1.75 gallons per minute. Because of the source water we only realize about 1 gallon/minute. I put a 300 gallon storage tank to make sure we don't run out of water in the house.

We are building a fish room for our 225 soon. I was planning on placing another tank of maybe 100 gallons in that room for RO/DI. This way I have plenty of water for all needs of the aquariums without worrying about the house running out. Our well is strong, it just takes a while to make the water.

If anyone does this...do you have a circulation pump in the RO/DI tank? A heater? Do you have a limit to the time you keep it?

Any other ideas?

Thanks

AZDesertRat · #2 10/20/2007, 12:27 PM

You have a 2,500 gallon per day RO system? Thats huge. Do you mean 1.75 gallons per hour or maybe 100 GPD? Thats more normal.
Storing RO/DI is not a problem as long as it is kept sealed or covered, I keep 25 gallons on hand at all times.

SlowCobra · #3 10/20/2007, 01:52 PM

I keep on average 80 gallons of RODI water on hand at all times. My tank evaporates about 5 gals a day. About once a week I fill my 35 gal ATO tank with water from my 65 gal holding tank(with the float valve position only holds about 58gals). Then refill the holding tank. They are closed bulk liquid storage containers.

Drewcipher · #4 10/20/2007, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZDesertRat
You have a 2,500 gallon per day RO system? Thats huge. Do you mean 1.75 gallons per hour or maybe 100 GPD? Thats more normal.
Storing RO/DI is not a problem as long as it is kept sealed or covered, I keep 25 gallons on hand at all times.

It is rated at 1.75 gallons/minute. It comes off the well pump and supplies all the house piping with RO water. Because we live at 9000 feet in CO, our source water is very cold. This lowers our actual output to about 1 gallon/minute. It is a big unit, and the waste ratio is about 3:1.

Our water here is very drinkable, but TDS from the well was 750. When we filled a sink or tub, the water was yelloish, so we filtered the entire house.

So, if the storage tank for the RO/DI is fully enclosed I can store it. That is good news.

Drewcipher · #5 10/20/2007, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SlowCobra
I keep on average 80 gallons of RODI water on hand at all times. My tank evaporates about 5 gals a day. About once a week I fill my 35 gal ATO tank with water from my 65 gal holding tank(with the float valve position only holds about 58gals). Then refill the holding tank. They are closed bulk liquid storage containers.

Do you keep a circulation pump and/or a heater in there? Our house is at about 65 degrees where this water will be stored.

SlowCobra · #6 10/20/2007, 07:16 PM

No. The containers are in a room that is usually 72-78 so I don't bother with a heater. As for circulation. Most of the water is rotated out within a week and it is in a sealed container so I feel no need for a circulation pump.

marc nichols · #7 10/20/2007, 07:29 PM

Drew:

related question; I use well water too with a pressurized RO system (not whole house). I'll assume therefore that you are on a drain field septic system if you are on a well. Do you have any idea what your salt water from water changes does to the septic system chemistry?

Marc

Drewcipher · #8 10/20/2007, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by marc nichols
Drew:

related question; I use well water too with a pressurized RO system (not whole house). I'll assume therefore that you are on a drain field septic system if you are on a well. Do you have any idea what your salt water from water changes does to the septic system chemistry?

Marc

I have read that a small amount of salt flushed into the septic system can be good for it. I am not overly concerned as we have a septic system rated for 3 bedrooms, and there are only 2 of us.
I would hope that the bacteria in the tank water would also be good.