Weatherproof Enclosure for RO/DI?

d2mini · 03/27/2017, 07:59 AM

I currently have my whole water change station inside one of those tall plastic tool sheds on my back patio.
I just picked up a larger Spectrapure RO/DI and want to move it out of the shed and hang it on the wall next to it, or on the side of the shed itself.
Either way, I need to protect it from rain and sun.
Any ideas?

PmRg · 03/27/2017, 08:38 AM

I use one of these IP67 boxes http://www.al-sa.pt/Produtos/StoreCA...D/1048/Level/a you should have something similar over there...

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PmRg · 03/27/2017, 08:47 AM

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d2mini · 03/27/2017, 09:02 AM

Yeah, that's the kind of thing I'm looking for (or it can be plastic), but I'm having trouble finding something large enough.
The SpectraPure MaxCap RO/DI is 20"x7"x16".

CafeReef · 03/27/2017, 09:16 AM

Maybe look into some agriculture supply companies. Control boxes for center pivots would be large enough. I'll see if I can find anything

CafeReef · 03/27/2017, 09:50 AM

A little pricey but lots of size options, and are weather resistant and have easy door access.

https://midsouthelectronics.com/nema3rlargewp.htm

PmRg · 03/27/2017, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

Yeah, that's the kind of thing I'm looking for (or it can be plastic), but I'm having trouble finding something large enough.
The SpectraPure MaxCap RO/DI is 20"x7"x16".

This is fiber, it's BIG will fit that easy...

Not cheap thought ... 150$ for a box lol but had to be done... Massive and waterproof ...

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d2mini · 03/27/2017, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CafeReef

A little pricey but lots of size options, and are weather resistant and have easy door access.

https://midsouthelectronics.com/nema3rlargewp.htm

Yikes, yeah... i think that's out of my price range.
Look top notch though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PmRg

This is fiber, it's BIG will fit that easy...

Not cheap thought ... 150$ for a box lol but had to be done... Massive and waterproof ...

Not bad compared to the ones above at more than twice the price.

I would be mounting this under an overhang, so even just "weather resistant" is fine.
I'm more concerned with blocking the sun than I am with moisture.

mcgyvr · 03/27/2017, 10:44 AM

How about something like this.. fairly cheap
http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-36-25...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

d2mini · 03/27/2017, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

How about something like this.. fairly cheap
http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-36-25...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

That's not too bad.
Bigger than I wanted, but I guess I could always use the extra storage.
Thank you, sir.

mcgyvr · 03/27/2017, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

That's not too bad.
Bigger than I wanted, but I guess I could always use the extra storage.
Thank you, sir.

Rubbermaid has one that looks smaller and is wall mount but its more expensive.. So I posted that other link..
Here is the rubbermaid one..
http://www.rubbermaid.com/en-US/24-inch-wall-cabinet
They show it as $82 but most online retailers are like $115 or so for some reason..

Check out US plastics/Amazon and see what you can find there..

iced98lx · 03/27/2017, 07:34 PM

Those cabinets don't keep out the weather, (I have a couple) but you said just sun and rain so they might do enough. (the tops on the HDX cabinets actually are concave and collect water btw)

Dumb question, why not just assemble a small wooden enclosure, caulk it and paint it and have it match the house.

d2mini · 03/27/2017, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iced98lx

Those cabinets don't keep out the weather, (I have a couple) but you said just sun and rain so they might do enough. (the tops on the HDX cabinets actually are concave and collect water btw)

Dumb question, why not just assemble a small wooden enclosure, caulk it and paint it and have it match the house.

Because I'm so freakin busy, that just adds one more item to my plate. lol

But that is my last resort.

iced98lx · 03/28/2017, 06:47 AM

Fair enough, that's completely something I would say I was going to do (I've got siding left over and everything) and then it would delay the tank for 3 months.

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EvenFurther · 03/28/2017, 11:55 AM

You might get lucky on eBay. Look for a weatherproof non-metallic, or FRP fiber reinforced polyester enclosure. I just eBay scored a 24" x 20" $300 to 400 enclosure for 90 shipped. It was new too, but not for outside use.

d2mini · 05/20/2017, 01:45 PM

Wanted to update this thread.
Couldn't find exactly what I was looking for at an affordable price so I finally broke down and built an enclosure.
I mounted the RO/DI to my house, then built a cedar shell around it.
So far it's doing exactly what I needed it to do.

sleepydoc · 05/20/2017, 02:56 PM

Looks nice, Dennis! Is that a solenoid I see on the top? Otherwise, there's nothing in a RO/DI unit that necessarily has to be protected from the elements (although I suppose the UV light might degrade the plastic)

Another concern in Houston would be heat - that can degrade the RO membrane. looks like you have it shaded, though, so you should be good.

d2mini · 05/20/2017, 03:20 PM

Yep, and my main concern was sunlight.
I don't want algae growing inside the canisters.

scuzy · 05/20/2017, 04:54 PM

What I did really cheap was get black vinyl wrapped and wrapped all the canister. 0 light no algae

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d2mini · 05/20/2017, 04:56 PM

LOL! I don't want algae cause I want to see the filters!

scuzy · 05/20/2017, 05:12 PM

i figure when i notice any tds changes its time to swap

plus i set a calendard for the sediments and carbon filters anyways

03/27/2017, 07:59 AM	#1
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Weatherproof Enclosure for RO/DI? I currently have my whole water change station inside one of those tall plastic tool sheds on my back patio. I just picked up a larger Spectrapure RO/DI and want to move it out of the shed and hang it on the wall next to it, or on the side of the shed itself. Either way, I need to protect it from rain and sun. Any ideas? __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

03/27/2017, 08:38 AM	#2
PmRg Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Richmond, UK & Madeira Island, Portugal Posts: 72	I use one of these IP67 boxes http://www.al-sa.pt/Produtos/StoreCA...D/1048/Level/a you should have something similar over there... Sent from my MI 5s Plus using Tapatalk __________________ Regards, Pedro Don't forget to check out my Island Reef :) Current Tank Info: Braceless 100cm x 50cm x 45cm

03/27/2017, 08:47 AM	#3
PmRg Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Richmond, UK & Madeira Island, Portugal Posts: 72	Sent from my MI 5s Plus using Tapatalk __________________ Regards, Pedro Don't forget to check out my Island Reef :) Current Tank Info: Braceless 100cm x 50cm x 45cm

03/27/2017, 09:02 AM	#4
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Yeah, that's the kind of thing I'm looking for (or it can be plastic), but I'm having trouble finding something large enough. The SpectraPure MaxCap RO/DI is 20"x7"x16". __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

03/27/2017, 09:16 AM	#5
CafeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Elkhorn, NE Posts: 1,405	Maybe look into some agriculture supply companies. Control boxes for center pivots would be large enough. I'll see if I can find anything __________________ 50 Gallon cube

03/27/2017, 09:50 AM	#6
CafeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Elkhorn, NE Posts: 1,405	A little pricey but lots of size options, and are weather resistant and have easy door access. https://midsouthelectronics.com/nema3rlargewp.htm __________________ 50 Gallon cube

03/27/2017, 10:44 AM	#9
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	How about something like this.. fairly cheap http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-36-25...B&gclsrc=aw.ds __________________ Who me?

03/27/2017, 07:34 PM	#12
iced98lx Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 2,258	Those cabinets don't keep out the weather, (I have a couple) but you said just sun and rain so they might do enough. (the tops on the HDX cabinets actually are concave and collect water btw) Dumb question, why not just assemble a small wooden enclosure, caulk it and paint it and have it match the house.

03/28/2017, 06:47 AM	#14
iced98lx Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 2,258	Fair enough, that's completely something I would say I was going to do (I've got siding left over and everything) and then it would delay the tank for 3 months. Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

03/28/2017, 11:55 AM	#15
EvenFurther Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 352	You might get lucky on eBay. Look for a weatherproof non-metallic, or FRP fiber reinforced polyester enclosure. I just eBay scored a 24" x 20" $300 to 400 enclosure for 90 shipped. It was new too, but not for outside use. __________________ Slowly Building: 38 Gal. DT Cube \| DIY Sump \| DIY Stand

05/20/2017, 01:45 PM	#16
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Wanted to update this thread. Couldn't find exactly what I was looking for at an affordable price so I finally broke down and built an enclosure. I mounted the RO/DI to my house, then built a cedar shell around it. So far it's doing exactly what I needed it to do. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

05/20/2017, 02:56 PM	#17
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	Looks nice, Dennis! Is that a solenoid I see on the top? Otherwise, there's nothing in a RO/DI unit that necessarily has to be protected from the elements (although I suppose the UV light might degrade the plastic) Another concern in Houston would be heat - that can degrade the RO membrane. looks like you have it shaded, though, so you should be good. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

05/20/2017, 03:20 PM	#18
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Yep, and my main concern was sunlight. I don't want algae growing inside the canisters. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

05/20/2017, 04:54 PM	#19
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	What I did really cheap was get black vinyl wrapped and wrapped all the canister. 0 light no algae Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

05/20/2017, 04:56 PM	#20
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	LOL! I don't want algae cause I want to see the filters! __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

05/20/2017, 05:12 PM	#21
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	i figure when i notice any tds changes its time to swap plus i set a calendard for the sediments and carbon filters anyways