RO Water Storage...Circulation Pump Needed?

[LoneStar]

I'm getting my Tunze Osomolator tomorrow :D I'm going to have a 16 gallon storage tank holding my ro water until its ready to be pumped into the sump. I am wondering while the water sits in the topoff tank, will there be a need to put a small powerhead in there to keep the water moving? Or since it is just ro water, is there no need to? I'd hate to add ANOTHER pump to my system if I don't have to!! :unsure

[GaryP]

You shouldn't need to. Its going to become de-aerated in the container but its going to be added so slowly it shouldn't have a negative impact.

[jaded]

I have the same question... I hold 35 or 40 gallons for top off. Lately I've noticed a slick feeling on the side of the storage container.

???

[Henry]

I have an airstone in my 35gal storage tank

[Polkster13]

I put a small Little Giant pump connected to a hose in mine and use that to recirculate the water. That way I can pump out water to a bucket if I need to.

[JeffCo]

You shouldn't have to aerate or circulate the water at all. I keep mine in a 40 gallon container and just take it out every few months and clean it with vinegar and water.

[GaryP]

I have the same question... I hold 35 or 40 gallons for top off. Lately I've noticed a slick feeling on the side of the storage container.???

The slick feeling is bacteria growing on the wall of the container. No problems. Its amazing how anything can grow it such nutrient poor water, isn't it? It just shows you the environmental adaptability of these guys.

[jaded]

thanks for the help!!!

[LoneStar]

cool v.v

[aquadoc]

I have found that when useing a pump to circulate water, it tends to heat up the water that is in the container. useually gets pretty warm. I use a 36 gallon pressure tank to hold my water, so no dirt or anything of that nature can ever get in the water. The plus side to one of these tanks is that you do not need a pump to put water in your tank or bucket, because of the simple fact that it is under pressure, and it comes out pretty fast too.

[Polkster13]

That is the other reason why I DO have a pump in their for recycling the water. Otherwise the water would come out at about 72 degrees. That is okay for a slow drip to maintain water level (not much going in at once), but I also use this for my water changes. My reserve tank is also located behind a second refrigerator in the garage and that helps keep it a toasty 80 to 82 degrees.

[Dozer]

I have the same question... I hold 35 or 40 gallons for top off. Lately I've noticed a slick feeling on the side of the storage container.

???

Yep, same here. The other day I let it get pretty low and stirred it up a bunch and some of the slimy stuff came off into the water, just some simple greenish algae stuff. I figured it was probably harmless but since I had some time I emptied it completely and wiped the can totally dry/clean with towels and then started filling it back up.

[LoneStar]

Ok I ended up changing the size of my reserve tank to a 37 gallon Brute trash can. It will hold my RO water for the Tunze Osmolator top off and also for a storage for water changes. I will just drain out the water I need to a mixing bucket when I do the water changes. (sure beats waiting for a bucket at a time :blink )

The question is for all you OSMOLATOR users: Do you use a holding container larger than what your sump can handle? I'm worried if the Osmolator ever fails it might keep pumping and overfill the sump. I've researched on RC that it hardly ever fails but would like to know if anyone has experienced a failure here. I might put a milkcrate or two inside the trash can to move the Osmolator pump higher so it would turn off before it would overfill the sump. That should leave me plenty of water below the pump run dry line to still use for a water change.