What do you do with your RO waste water?

Chibils · 03/22/2016, 08:32 PM

As the title says. I'm getting back in back to the hobby and this time I have a house. When I buy my RO system I'd like to be able to do something useful with the waste water.

ca1ore · 03/22/2016, 09:50 PM

Other than the very coldest months, I route mine to a cistern outside and use it to water the plants and veggies.

Timfish · 03/23/2016, 06:42 AM

I run mine to one of my peach trees

CritterHeaven · 03/23/2016, 12:42 PM

If you have a top loading washer that might work as well.

TinaMcCord · 03/23/2016, 01:28 PM

Ours is run out to a container on the deck then we use it for the lawn and roses.

DivingTheWorld · 03/23/2016, 03:21 PM

Top off our pond, water the lawn.

jgraz · 03/24/2016, 06:44 AM

down the drain.

One of these days I'll do something smart with it

davocean · 03/24/2016, 08:31 AM

Also top off pond, water garden

Alexraptor · 03/24/2016, 09:43 AM

Down the drain and some used for plant water.

Chibils · 03/30/2016, 05:20 PM

Watering plants seems like a popular one - I'll keep it in mind. 😊

Quote:

Originally Posted by CritterHeaven

If you have a top loading washer that might work as well.

How do you do this? Is it plumbed in, or do you just put the waste water line feeding into the washer tub?

boojumsnark25 · 04/02/2016, 01:47 PM

Hate to say it, but down the drain...really hoping to set something up to water the flowers/shrubs with it this year

Greatwyte · 04/10/2016, 08:19 AM

I run mine to a flower bed except during winter months.

I have heard of others using it to fill washers and toilets.

snorvich · 04/10/2016, 10:46 AM

My wife uses it in her greenhouse.

fishchef · 04/11/2016, 08:46 PM

Great for Africans. They like hard water.

Chuckd76 · 04/17/2016, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chibils

you just put the waste water line feeding into the washer tub

^^This.
Just don't forget the water is on and go to bed like someone I know did (me).

Burtonboy182 · 04/18/2016, 08:24 PM

Right now down the drain and I hate it. I feel so wasteful. Once I'm in my own home it's going to water the lawn.

ksigaekdb · 04/20/2016, 08:40 AM

I setup an herb garden on the opposite side of the wall from the RO unit, complete with low pressure drip line from the system. Nothing beats good water and fresh herbs when you are making Italian.

d0ughb0y · 04/20/2016, 09:57 AM

I used to collect the RO waste water in top load washer, but I got a lot of grief from people in the house complaining they cannot do their laundry. So that was not worth it.

As for collecting it in a container outside the house, make sure it does not become a mosquito breeding ground (e.g. zika).

Right now, it just goes down the drain. I just do less water change instead, half what I used to. I'd say most people are probably doing too much water change.

Rotorocious · 04/21/2016, 12:28 PM

I need to start containing mine. That water is much too nice to keep dumping down the drain!
I'm going to move my ro/di to the garage and will likely setup a collection bucket

PedroMurcia · 04/21/2016, 03:00 PM

I bred canaries and use enough water to wash in lye feeding, watering ... The use for this.

Maxiusg · 04/24/2016, 09:32 AM

I collect it in a 1000ltr IBC container and use it pumped with an external tap & sink for the garden, cleaning (power washing) the patio & deck,bar-b-que grill shelves, wash bicycles and kids muddy boots and anything external that isn't consumable..

vashawn · 04/25/2016, 12:06 PM

i use the left over for watering garden and planets

FuzzyZipperbaum · 05/01/2016, 08:32 PM

I ran a line to my pool. I live in Florida and have huge evaporation problems... I have yet to encounter any problems with the pools natural balance in doing this.

csellers · 05/10/2016, 02:39 PM

When I first purchased my RO/DI system I ordered an extra 30 feet of line for the waste water. Ran it through the dog door on my porch to my back yardand. I use it to water vegetables and fruit trees. Four years and counting and everything seems fine.

Greybeard · 05/10/2016, 02:55 PM

Swimming pool, in season, and it doesn't generate near enough to keep up with evaporation.

Out of season, it goes down the drain. Not as bad here as it might be elsewhere... our water comes out of the ground from a well, drain goes right back into the ground. All we're really wasting is the electricity we used pumping it out.

03/22/2016, 08:32 PM	#1
Chibils halide loyalist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sugar Hill, GA Posts: 2,213	What do you do with your RO waste water? As the title says. I'm getting back in back to the hobby and this time I have a house. When I buy my RO system I'd like to be able to do something useful with the waste water. __________________ always learning Current Tank Info: 75G new world cichlid, 25G reef in planning

03/22/2016, 09:50 PM	#2
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Other than the very coldest months, I route mine to a cistern outside and use it to water the plants and veggies. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

03/23/2016, 06:42 AM	#3
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	I run mine to one of my peach trees __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

03/23/2016, 12:42 PM	#4
CritterHeaven Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 83	If you have a top loading washer that might work as well. __________________ Kim at CritterHeaven "Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace." -Dr. Albert Schweitzer

03/23/2016, 03:21 PM	#6
DivingTheWorld Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: San Ramon, CA Posts: 1,963	Top off our pond, water the lawn. __________________ Current Tank Info: LeeMar Rimless (40x24x22), ATI 8x39 Dimmable w/Reefbrite XHO, 2x Vortech MP40w QD w/ Battery Backup, Apex Gold, Trigger Systems Ruby30S, Reef Octopus POV-DC1 w/Auto Waste Collector

03/23/2016, 01:28 PM	#5
TinaMcCord Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Bay Area Posts: 40	Ours is run out to a container on the deck then we use it for the lawn and roses.

03/24/2016, 06:44 AM	#7
jgraz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Bordentown, NJ Posts: 697	down the drain. One of these days I'll do something smart with it

03/24/2016, 08:31 AM	#8
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Also top off pond, water garden __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/24/2016, 09:43 AM	#9
Alexraptor Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Sweden Posts: 352	Down the drain and some used for plant water.

04/02/2016, 01:47 PM	#11
boojumsnark25 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 67	Hate to say it, but down the drain...really hoping to set something up to water the flowers/shrubs with it this year

04/10/2016, 08:19 AM	#12
Greatwyte Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 104	I run mine to a flower bed except during winter months. I have heard of others using it to fill washers and toilets.

04/10/2016, 10:46 AM	#13
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	My wife uses it in her greenhouse. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

04/11/2016, 08:46 PM	#14
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,222	Great for Africans. They like hard water.

04/18/2016, 08:24 PM	#16
Burtonboy182 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 54	Right now down the drain and I hate it. I feel so wasteful. Once I'm in my own home it's going to water the lawn.

04/20/2016, 08:40 AM	#17
ksigaekdb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Chandler, Arizona Posts: 36	I setup an herb garden on the opposite side of the wall from the RO unit, complete with low pressure drip line from the system. Nothing beats good water and fresh herbs when you are making Italian.

04/20/2016, 09:57 AM	#18
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	I used to collect the RO waste water in top load washer, but I got a lot of grief from people in the house complaining they cannot do their laundry. So that was not worth it. As for collecting it in a container outside the house, make sure it does not become a mosquito breeding ground (e.g. zika). Right now, it just goes down the drain. I just do less water change instead, half what I used to. I'd say most people are probably doing too much water change.

04/21/2016, 12:28 PM	#19
Rotorocious Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 54	I need to start containing mine. That water is much too nice to keep dumping down the drain! I'm going to move my ro/di to the garage and will likely setup a collection bucket

04/21/2016, 03:00 PM	#20
PedroMurcia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 55	I bred canaries and use enough water to wash in lye feeding, watering ... The use for this.

04/24/2016, 09:32 AM	#21
Maxiusg Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 13	I collect it in a 1000ltr IBC container and use it pumped with an external tap & sink for the garden, cleaning (power washing) the patio & deck,bar-b-que grill shelves, wash bicycles and kids muddy boots and anything external that isn't consumable..

04/25/2016, 12:06 PM	#22
vashawn Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: queens, NY Posts: 179	i use the left over for watering garden and planets __________________ Shawn Current Tank Info: 300gal reef

05/01/2016, 08:32 PM	#23
FuzzyZipperbaum Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wayne Manor, Tampa Florida Posts: 474	I ran a line to my pool. I live in Florida and have huge evaporation problems... I have yet to encounter any problems with the pools natural balance in doing this.

05/10/2016, 02:39 PM	#24
csellers Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chico, CA. Posts: 20	When I first purchased my RO/DI system I ordered an extra 30 feet of line for the waste water. Ran it through the dog door on my porch to my back yardand. I use it to water vegetables and fruit trees. Four years and counting and everything seems fine. __________________ Chuck Current Tank Info: 135 g reef, 65g hex FOWLR, 50 gal clown fishes and their BTA's, 50g FW, plus all the little ones

05/10/2016, 02:55 PM	#25
Greybeard Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Buffalo, MO Posts: 651	Swimming pool, in season, and it doesn't generate near enough to keep up with evaporation. Out of season, it goes down the drain. Not as bad here as it might be elsewhere... our water comes out of the ground from a well, drain goes right back into the ground. All we're really wasting is the electricity we used pumping it out.