Freshwater

Mussin · 09/06/2020, 07:30 AM

Filling up my setup with freshwater then adding salt. Can I put sand and dry rock in freshwater for a few days until I add salt? Ordered it online but want to start setting the rock work up today.

billdogg · 09/06/2020, 07:47 AM

If it's all dry, then yes. But only for initial setup. Once there is livestock in the system, DO NOT add salt directly to the tank. Mix it in a separate barrel or bucket to get it to the correct salinity and then add.

Also - be careful not to overshoot your goal - it is easy to overestimate your water volume and add too much salt.

Mussin · 09/06/2020, 08:07 AM

Thanks.. I usually just add saltwater to start a build. But with this much water volume I think it's easier to do it this way.. I'm adding straight tap water. Add prime to cancel the chlorine. Let it run fro a few days then add salt and let the cycle begin..

billdogg · 09/06/2020, 11:58 AM

If you have a rodi, you'll be further ahead to fill it using that. No Prime needed. There wouldn't be any nasties in there.

Mussin · 09/06/2020, 12:43 PM

I do... My sump is filled with rodi but I have no way of getting it up stairs to my 180 unless I carry buckets and that's not happening. Lol

SantaMonica · 09/07/2020, 08:09 PM

Yea prime would not be a great idea if you are planning corals, even though they say it won't harm them.

Michael Hoaster · 09/09/2020, 05:16 PM

Having RO/DI and not being able to use it is a shame. Couldn't you add it to your sump and use the return pump to get it into your display?

Sk8r · 09/09/2020, 05:23 PM

We have a similar situation, and looked at this nice AC vent beside our freshwater tank. That vent is accessible in the basement. We take the cover off the vent, punch a nice little hole in the bottom of the vent, thread a small hose up to the level of the living room and out through the grille, then use it and a 5 gallon bucket at either end to pump ro/di up to fill our discus tank. Can't overflow if we pump from a 5 gallon to a five gallon. we COULD pipe it directly to the discus tank, but just getting it up there is enough for us.

billdogg · 09/11/2020, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Hoaster

Having RO/DI and not being able to use it is a shame. Couldn't you add it to your sump and use the return pump to get it into your display?

^^^DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER!!!^^^

How were you planning on getting it up from the sump once it's all set up? Maybe a return pump???

09/06/2020, 07:30 AM	#1
Mussin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lima,Ohio Posts: 728	Freshwater Filling up my setup with freshwater then adding salt. Can I put sand and dry rock in freshwater for a few days until I add salt? Ordered it online but want to start setting the rock work up today. __________________ 120RR tank/ 30g sump, mag 9.5, SWC cone 160, Reefbreeders photon 48

09/06/2020, 07:47 AM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	If it's all dry, then yes. But only for initial setup. Once there is livestock in the system, DO NOT add salt directly to the tank. Mix it in a separate barrel or bucket to get it to the correct salinity and then add. Also - be careful not to overshoot your goal - it is easy to overestimate your water volume and add too much salt. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

09/06/2020, 08:07 AM	#3
Mussin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lima,Ohio Posts: 728	Thanks.. I usually just add saltwater to start a build. But with this much water volume I think it's easier to do it this way.. I'm adding straight tap water. Add prime to cancel the chlorine. Let it run fro a few days then add salt and let the cycle begin.. __________________ 120RR tank/ 30g sump, mag 9.5, SWC cone 160, Reefbreeders photon 48

09/06/2020, 11:58 AM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	If you have a rodi, you'll be further ahead to fill it using that. No Prime needed. There wouldn't be any nasties in there. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

09/06/2020, 12:43 PM	#5
Mussin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lima,Ohio Posts: 728	I do... My sump is filled with rodi but I have no way of getting it up stairs to my 180 unless I carry buckets and that's not happening. Lol __________________ 120RR tank/ 30g sump, mag 9.5, SWC cone 160, Reefbreeders photon 48

09/07/2020, 08:09 PM	#6
SantaMonica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Monica, California, USA Posts: 2,511	Yea prime would not be a great idea if you are planning corals, even though they say it won't harm them. __________________ Inventor of the easy-to-DIY upflow scrubber, and also the waterfall scrubber that everyone loves to build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1424843

09/09/2020, 05:16 PM	#7
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Having RO/DI and not being able to use it is a shame. Couldn't you add it to your sump and use the return pump to get it into your display? __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

09/09/2020, 05:23 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	We have a similar situation, and looked at this nice AC vent beside our freshwater tank. That vent is accessible in the basement. We take the cover off the vent, punch a nice little hole in the bottom of the vent, thread a small hose up to the level of the living room and out through the grille, then use it and a 5 gallon bucket at either end to pump ro/di up to fill our discus tank. Can't overflow if we pump from a 5 gallon to a five gallon. we COULD pipe it directly to the discus tank, but just getting it up there is enough for us. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.