Smelly Water Change Barrel

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Welch4
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Smelly Water Change Barrel

Post by Welch4 »

Keeping salt water mixed on hand is considered one of the basics of keeping a salt water tank. But with water changes being as infrequent as every month how long is it ok to hand standing water in a holding barrel. I noticed a musty smell when going to perform a water change today. Has anyone else come across this? A few details. When filling the barrel i use tap water, condition with prime, then add salt while circulating and heating over a 12-48 hour period. Once at the correct salinity, it will sit un-circulated and unheated until the next change.

The smell from the barrel is only noticeable when i start circulating the water.
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Re: Smelly Water Change Barrel

Post by Pufferpunk »

You must keep the water moving or it will get stagnant. Why are you using tap water for marine?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Re: Smelly Water Change Barrel

Post by Welch4 »

Because i don't have a good spot to hook up an rodi system. I'm in the process of trying to make an attachment to mount a system to the side of the barrel. Thank you for the response.
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Welch4
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Re: Smelly Water Change Barrel

Post by Welch4 »

So people that keep mixed saltwater on hand keep a circulating pump running 24/7 in the container? Just trying to get a grasp on how people keep their setups long term.
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Re: Smelly Water Change Barrel

Post by Welch4 »

Asked without looking. Basic searches have turned up that most keep unheated until 24 hours before a WC and have a pump that turns on in intervals throughout the day. Looks like ill be looking for a timer that can handle motor starting.
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Re: Smelly Water Change Barrel

Post by Iliveinazoo »

I wouldn't leave it standing for more than a few days especially if at room temperature:

http://www.water-drop.co.uk/services/le ... ction.aspx

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9489037
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Re: Smelly Water Change Barrel

Post by Pufferpunk »

Welch4 wrote:Asked without looking. Basic searches have turned up that most keep unheated until 24 hours before a WC and have a pump that turns on in intervals throughout the day. Looks like ill be looking for a timer that can handle motor starting.
Most motors can't handle this kind of treatment. Best to keep a pump running 24/7. It will also keep the water warm, so no heater necessary.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Re: Smelly Water Change Barrel

Post by Welch4 »

Thank you for your replies I will be looking into putting some sort of foam under my pump to reduce noise and keep it running. Also the barrel mount option doesn't look feasible I think I'm going to make some sort of caddy that I can carry the rodi system into my bathroom and roll in the barrel when I need to make rodi. Now to call my town to find out if its chlorine or chloramines it's need to be tailoring an rodi system to.
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Pufferpunk
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Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: Smelly Water Change Barrel

Post by Pufferpunk »

www.bulkreefsupply.com can answer all your Qs about these systems. Great instructional vids, too.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Re: Smelly Water Change Barrel

Post by Hillehaus »

I typically only store RODI and mix saltwater about 48 hours before I anticipate needing it. I store them in 5 gallon carboys that holds deionized ultra-filtered water that we discard every now and again for work.
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Re: Smelly Water Change Barrel

Post by Welch4 »

Pufferpunk wrote:http://www.bulkreefsupply.com can answer all your Qs about these systems. Great instructional vids, too.
Their YouTube videos are fantastic. When I'm planning to get my system from. Been calling my towns treatment facility all day. Finally got through and was transferred to someone's cell phones voicemail. Once I know if the treat with choline or chlorine I can get my order in.
Forget other advice about puffers you don't hear here - Pufferpunk
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