Brine Tank Maintenance

Many  have BRINE  tanks on Brandy Lake for water purification or softener systems.    I clean mine once a year.

What happens  ..dirt accumulates at the bottom and prevents the brine from being sucked up the tiny hole….   The principle was invented by  Giovanni Battista Venturi.  Hence Venturi.  Basically two converging cones…big to small..small to big.  This increases the speed of the fluid between them.  This speed creates a vacuum thus sucking brine from the tank through a pipe connect to the high flow speed area.   This same pipe is used for fill

My tank has a raised bottom maybe 60 mm preventing salt particles from clogging the pipe.    A high level float level switch prevents tank  overflow on fill…

The only trick part is removing  pipe from the tank.   Do not overtighten….just snug when installing

Note..the white flange/pipe , in the end of the long pipe… that needs to be pulled out before nut will come off.  It is maybe 15 mm long.  Inside the nut is another grommet that prevents leaking.    See picture

Usually let the salt run low….then scoop it out and save it for winter ice.    The residue  water would have high salt concentration so make sure it goes over ground before hitting the lake…if at all.

Thoroughly wipe the tank with a safe solvent…that’s it.    To fill the tank..fast forward through the settings  until you reach ..:”REFILL” and let that go.  I measure my level with one bag of salt…..so I have a mark inside tank

Hummingbird Mixture

Hummingbird sites do not recommend most store bought pre packaged mixtures.

They recommend a 4:1 mix of 4 parts water 1 part sugar for better nourishment

We fill 2 feeders every 8 days ish.   We use 4 cups of kettle warmed water to 1 part sugar and mix till clear.   Refrigerate till cool.

Also added a picture of our paint can cap water mote to drown ants.

 

Innovation

Example of Brandy Lake Innovation…making it enjoyable for their dog

Apparently..the challenge was  ..engineering the correct floatation and angle at rest yet buoyant enough not drop quickly when the dog stepped on.

You don’t want the  ramp top. ..fixed so it rests underwater as slime would accumulate on the walking surface making it slippery.

I assume it is removable for the winter as the ice movement would rip it off.

Nice job…Brandy Lake cottager talent.   Who else has unique innovation.