Re-using water

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

<snip>  Dunk Tank makes me think of a mid-west county fair fundraiser!  You know dunk the principal or 4-H leader by throwing a ball at a target.  3 balls for $5, watch 'em fall. Depending on the volunteer it could also be a wet t-shirt contest. 

~Kitson

((Speechless....))


Okay, nearly speechless.   

We MUST have been twins in previous life.

[dsh]

I'd pay to see a to see a screen printing guru get dunked.

[kingscreen]

we get a ton more time out of a dunk tank than that...add some dawn detergent to it, about 1-3 tablespoons depending on the size of the tank.

Same here.  We fill ours using water from the dehumidifier tanks in the screen room as it gets low.

[jvanick]

I wonder if it's a difference due to the ink jet inks that we use in the I-Image... the water definitely gets stinky after 6 weeks or so...

gonna try the dawn trick tho... anything to make it last longer, as it's kinda a pita to empty it out.

Somebody else told me bleach, but after talking to Greg and Richard, I learned that's not a good idea due to bleach and emulsion remover being somewhat close chemically.

[redwoodtees]

I was talking to the guy who manages our residential water system about my plan to store/reuse water. He suggested that I get an aerator for the storage tank. He said that adding oxygen to the water would prolong the amount of time I could store the water without it turning "nasty". Something to do with the oxygen helping to break down hydrogen sulfide in the water. Anyway, I have no direct experience, but perhaps this technique would help prolong the life of the water in the presoak tank. If/when I get a presoak tank I will give it a try.

[mk162]

i think the inkjet ink does funk up the water faster, but dawn really helps cut that.  Also, get a cheap clean water pump from Harbor Freight.  Empties in about 10 minutes or so(our tank is pretty big).

never thought about an aerator, makes sense though.

[bulldog]

I wonder if it's a difference due to the ink jet inks that we use in the I-Image... the water definitely gets stinky after 6 weeks or so...

gonna try the dawn trick tho... anything to make it last longer, as it's kinda a pita to empty it out.

Somebody else told me bleach, but after talking to Greg and Richard, I learned that's not a good idea due to bleach and emulsion remover being somewhat close chemically.

I've put bleach in mine before when it got funky, actually started getting mildew around the edges and I've seen no issues. I probably put a few cups worth in...just splashed it around really.

I figured a few cups to 30 gallons or so isn't really much.

[mimosatexas]

My tank isn't very big, just enough for one 23x31 screen (actually it just BARELY fits a 25x36 also), but I put maybe 3 cap fulls of bleach in and only switch the water once every two months or so.  It definitely will suddenly start to smell when it's time to change it.  I've seen no issues with the bleach and my emulsion.

[redwoodtees]

Well, I am learning. I probably should have waited until I had more experience before trying to reinvent the wheel.

My idea of diverting "clean" water from de-grease into a storage tank and then re-using it is not practical. There a significant amount of water in the system between the drain of the sink and the diverter valve. So you can't flip the valve and start de-greasing -- the water you are diverting into the storage tank will be the water from what you were doing previously (probably reclaiming or dehazing). Without having separate sinks, there is no practical way I can think of to avoid accumulating a tank of nasty-looking water full of chemicals from all phases of reclaim. I have such a tank, and it does not look like water I want to run back through my new expensive pressure washer.

So.. I am now thinking I will change my approach, and try using the filtered water to water the garden. Not quite as efficient as re-using the water, but it will still help me keep my overall water consumption lower. I asked FranMar about this -- they said there was nothing biologically toxic in their chemicals, but they were concerned that the soy content might "suffocate" the plants. Does anyone using FranMar chemicals have firsthand experience with using filtered waste water to water plants?

Chris

[ScreenFoo]

I would probably limit my recycled water use to plants I am not planning on eating, but that's just me.

[mk162]

i would send anything from the shop down the drain.  i don't know if anything would make it down to groundwater, but I wouldn't chance it.

I have often thought about putting rain barrels out back and collecting rain water for reclaim or ink removal.  I doubt I would use it for degreasing, but it might work...or just use that to water your plants.

[redwoodtees]

I'm on a septic system, so it will end up in the groundwater one way or another.

[mk162]

at least through the septic it would breakdown a bit.  all the bacteria and microbes in there.

but yeah, still going to make it there eventually.

[Maxie]

I am about to start using a "post exposure soak tank"
I think I"ll use the same air pump I have in my fish tank to add oxygen. The fish tank water lasts forever without smelling.
I might also put a small fish tank filter in it, it won't filter to the bottom of the tank but will filter anything that floats to the top.

[jvieira]

I am about to start using a "post exposure soak tank"
I think I"ll use the same air pump I have in my fish tank to add oxygen. The fish tank water lasts forever without smelling.
I might also put a small fish tank filter in it, it won't filter to the bottom of the tank but will filter anything that floats to the top.

I've been reading about this as I'm adding a dunk tank to our shop as well. Does the air pump really makes a difference? I've seen people swear by it and others say it won't make a difference. I hate spending money on useless crap