Algae in Drain Back Solar Heating System

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sunny20kin2010
sunny20kin2010 Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭
in General Solar Power Topics #1
I like the drainback hot water system for raidiant floor heat, but how do you stop all the algae from growing ing the storage tank?
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,442 admin
    #2
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    Re: Working Thread for Solar Beginner Post/FAQ

    Are you sure you have algae growth? I would think that you need some sunlight for the algae to take hold.. You could have bacterial growth--and high temperatures (in the 125-165 F range) should kill much of that (I would guess).

    Are you using city water, your own well water, or some other working fluid (like non-toxic antifreeze) for your system?

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,442 admin
    #3
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    Re: Algae in Drain Back Solar Heating System

    sunny20kin2010,

    I also moved your post to its own thread... Easier to follow your questions/answers.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • peterako
    peterako Solar Expert Posts: 144 ✭✭
    #4
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    Re: Algae in Drain Back Solar Heating System

    Hi there i have a twin system. The radiant floor heating, storage and gas heating plus wood stove are pressure 1 ATM. the collectors on the roof are a sepperate system having drain back as requird by local code. bove systems are filled by a mixture from deionzed water and a 10% cooling liquid for cars.

    I do not have any slug settlements or algae in my system.

    Greetings from Greece
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  • LucMan
    LucMan Solar Expert Posts: 223 ✭✭✭
    #5
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    Re: Algae in Drain Back Solar Heating System
    sunny20kin2010 wrote: »
    I like the drainback hot water system for raidiant floor heat, but how do you stop all the algae from growing ing the storage tank?

    Flush the system with #01311 Purging Compound (Pre & Post Operational Cleaner) then add #01205 Molybdate Based Closed System Inhibitor. available from HeatLink group. www.heatlink.com.
    NEVER use car antifreeze (ethylene glycol) it is toxic.
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  • russ
    russ Solar Expert Posts: 593 ✭✭
    #6
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    Re: Algae in Drain Back Solar Heating System

    İf it is an open system, is it a once through system?
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #7
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    Re: Algae in Drain Back Solar Heating System

    Add a few feet of copper plumbing. As the copper slowly leaches out, it posions the growths. also stuff a couple lengths in the septic drains, same thing - helps keep roots out too.
    Or some "blue stone" - copper sulphate.
    Copper ridge cap, keep moss off roof.
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