ElectroScan brine tank - coloring the brine.

[Davidhoy]

My boat is docked up the New River in Fort Lauderdale, and while it is tidal the salinity is low enough that my ElectroScan MSD is warning me about low electrode amps. Fortunately I found the the PO had installed a 2 gallon brine tank, so I just need to fill it up.

But, that got me thinking - how will I know, without periodically inspecting the tank level, whether I'm getting brine flow into the toilet bowl. I though that if I added some colorant to the brine, I would easily be able to see, just by looking in the bowl, whether the brine is getting where it needs to go. If I use food-grade coloring it should present no problem to the ElectroScan. Any thoughts, pro or con?

Regards,
David.

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by Davidhoy

My boat is docked up the New River in Fort Lauderdale, and while it is tidal the salinity is low enough that my ElectroScan MSD is warning me about low electrode amps. Fortunately I found the the PO had installed a 2 gallon brine tank, so I just need to fill it up.

But, that got me thinking - how will I know, without periodically inspecting the tank level, whether I'm getting brine flow into the toilet bowl. I though that if I added some colorant to the brine, I would easily be able to see, just by looking in the bowl, whether the brine is getting where it needs to go. If I use food-grade coloring it should present no problem to the ElectroScan. Any thoughts, pro or con?

Regards,
David.

David--

That's not a bad idea although you might need to add quite a bit of coloring to be able to see it as the brine tank uses a super saturated salt concentration so not much is needed in the head. Your low salt indicator will also tell you when you're not getting enough into the system. (Please note, however, that the New River is within a no discharge zone and you should be using shore side facilities rather than the heads aboard the boat unless you're discharging into a holding tank.)

[Davidhoy]

According to the EPA website, the only NDZs in Florida are Destin Harbor, City Of Key West waters, and the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary. Do you have a reference for the New River NDZ? I want to do the right thing...

https://www.epa.gov/vessels-marinas-...-ndzs-state#fl

Thanks,
David

[egallina]

The Electroscan pumps brine into the treatment unit as needed, not the toilet bowl (that is, if you have the Electroscan brine tank with a hose going to the treatment unit). AFAIK Only very old systems injected water into the toilet. I have the 4-gal tank, which is plumbed into my fresh water supply and automatically fills itself. I check it whenever I get consistent Amp readings in the 14-15 range, rather that 18-21, and add water softener salt.

[peghall]

I have the 4-gal tank, which is plumbed into my fresh water supply and automatically fills itself.

Yours isn't a brine tank, it's a salt feed tank that loads with rock salt. There are two versions--one with pump, one without.

2 gallon brine tank 2 gallon salt feed tank owners manual
4 gallon salt feed system 4 gallon salt feed tank owners manual
4 gallon salt feed system with pump 4 gal salt feed tank w pump owners manual

It's necessary to create a brine solution to fill the 2 gallon brine tank..a lot of people make enough to fill a bunch of 1-gallon milk jugs 'cuz you can go through it fairly quickly.

The two 4 gallon systems are loaded with rock salt.... solar salt is recommended.

[Davidhoy]

Originally Posted by peghall

It's necessary to create a brine solution to fill the 2 gallon brine tank..a lot of people make enough to fill a bunch of 1-gallon milk jugs 'cuz you can go through it fairly quickly.

I found that 2.5 gallon pool chlorine jugs work very nicely, after suitable rinsing of course. The jugs are square-sided, so use up less space.



The jugs I have are a little bit different, in that they have a vent cap too, which really helps to reduce spillage.

Fortunately I only need the brine solution when at the dock, far enough up the New River in Fort Lauderdale that the salinity is too low. When I head off cruising I likely won't have that problem...

-David