Adding Water to Brand New Tank

dankoos · 02/14/2010, 09:39 AM

Ok..I got my RO/DI filter all set up and it is making water. I have it collecting in a 32 gallon trash can (brand new). Now, when I go to fill up my 90 gal and 55 gal sump, can I put water in and then add the salt..since it is a new setup and nothing is in the tank yet? (although there will be live rock when I go to do this...so I am thinking this is not the way). Do I need yet another trash can to mix the salt w/ the RO/DI water? Can I just use something smaller like a couple 5 gal buckets to add the salt to some water, then dump it in? Thinking once tank is set up, once I start doing water changes I will use a smaller trash can or smaller rubbermaid container to keep some saltwater in, ready to go. But since this is the first fillup, we are talking a lot more water. Didn't want to invest in another large trash can if at all avoidable (those things, like everything else in this hobby, are not cheap!)

Thanks!

Jaycen B. · 02/14/2010, 09:54 AM

Where is the live rock now?

I just set my ro unit right in front of the tank and filled er up than turned the pumps on and mixed the salt in the sump.

MrsHaggis · 02/14/2010, 09:54 AM

Get another bucket or whatever and mix the salt to the water before adding the water to the tank.

If you put in unsalted water you will kill your live rock.......

ihavtats29 · 02/14/2010, 10:13 AM

if you add salt straight into the tank you can crack the tank , when salt mixes in water a chemical reaction causes heat any piles of unmixed salt can heat up on you glass and cause it to crack, you should allways mix your nsw before adding it to your tank

dankoos · 02/14/2010, 10:15 AM

Purchasing live rock today..will be keeping in rubbermaid container for now w/ heater and powerhead.

If I mix salt in separate container, can I do it w/ small quantities of water, just to get it mixed? What I am asking is do I have to mix all 90+ gallons in some container outside of the aquarium?

Or could I fill aquarium about half way, then mix in salt, then add live rock? Guess I was wanting to do rock first..thinking that is easiest way to build my aquascape.

ihavtats29 · 02/14/2010, 10:39 AM

mix and fill you will have a hard time getting you salinity correct if you half fill the tank with fresh and adding a strong soulution of sw to it , i did it in the past when i first started in this hobby, you can do it with a couple 5 gal buckets get your salinity where you want it and fill the tank little by littleor get another can put a can dolly ubder it fill with r/o add htr , a pump and measure how much salt mix to the water in your can to get the correct salinity, when you get it right roll it over and pump the water into the tank, it will make waterchanges easier

dankoos · 02/14/2010, 10:43 AM

I have my 32 gal can on rollers right now. Can I mix salt water in that container and then go back to using it for fresh RO water after? I figure that will be my top off water container...prob wouldn't matter if it had a little salt residue, would it? Guess I could hose it out too.

ihavtats29 · 02/14/2010, 10:48 AM

that would work fine, if you have the room too you , id get another can set it on a rack elevated higher than the can on rollers let it fill then when ready you can make your water a day or so in advance and have plenty of top off water.

jmski333 · 02/14/2010, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaycen B.

Where is the live rock now?

I just set my ro unit right in front of the tank and filled er up than turned the pumps on and mixed the salt in the sump.

that stand is pretty awesome

Jaycen B. · 02/14/2010, 11:04 AM

Thanks jmski333 it was a lot of work.

TAB · 02/14/2010, 11:07 AM

I would highly recomend letting the tank run with water in it for a few days before adding anything in it. you never know. I always just use tap water for that. fill it up with the graden hose, then I drain it and dry it really well, then start adding salt water.

dankoos · 02/14/2010, 11:12 AM

already filled and tested w/ tap water, although have not run plumbing yet

jerrym21 · 02/14/2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAB

I would highly recomend letting the tank run with water in it for a few days before adding anything in it. you never know. I always just use tap water for that. fill it up with the graden hose, then I drain it and dry it really well, then start adding salt water.

that is what I was thinking while reading this. It wouldn't be the first time a brand new tank, sump, bulkhead or fitting had a small leak. I would hate to go through the trouble of mixing all the salt (not to mention the expense) then have to get it all out because of a leak.

golfish · 02/14/2010, 11:19 AM

FWIW, When I setup a new tank I fill it from my RO\DI unit. Once its full I turn on the return pump and start adding salt, a little at time.

dankoos · 02/14/2010, 11:26 AM

I know the tank itself doesn't leak (per my testing w/ freshwater)...my holes are drilled up high, so if my plumbing leaks, I won't have to drain the tank much, if at all. Plumbing can be purged of water and adjusted as necessary.

02/14/2010, 09:39 AM	#1
dankoos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 271	Adding Water to Brand New Tank Ok..I got my RO/DI filter all set up and it is making water. I have it collecting in a 32 gallon trash can (brand new). Now, when I go to fill up my 90 gal and 55 gal sump, can I put water in and then add the salt..since it is a new setup and nothing is in the tank yet? (although there will be live rock when I go to do this...so I am thinking this is not the way). Do I need yet another trash can to mix the salt w/ the RO/DI water? Can I just use something smaller like a couple 5 gal buckets to add the salt to some water, then dump it in? Thinking once tank is set up, once I start doing water changes I will use a smaller trash can or smaller rubbermaid container to keep some saltwater in, ready to go. But since this is the first fillup, we are talking a lot more water. Didn't want to invest in another large trash can if at all avoidable (those things, like everything else in this hobby, are not cheap!) Thanks!

02/14/2010, 09:54 AM	#3
MrsHaggis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St Louis, France Posts: 675	Get another bucket or whatever and mix the salt to the water before adding the water to the tank. If you put in unsalted water you will kill your live rock....... __________________ Nothing scarier than a clown!! ----------------------------- 1 ClownFish 1 SixLine Wrasse 1 Foxface Rabbitfish Mushrooms Long Polyp Leather Green Anchor Coral Zoanthids Trumpet Coral Goniopora Current Tank Info: 360 litre (95 US Gallons), Tunze DOC Skimmer 9010, Lights: Metal Halide 250 Watt and 2x24 Watt Moon Lights, Tunze MultiController 7095

02/14/2010, 10:13 AM	#4
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	if you add salt straight into the tank you can crack the tank , when salt mixes in water a chemical reaction causes heat any piles of unmixed salt can heat up on you glass and cause it to crack, you should allways mix your nsw before adding it to your tank __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

02/14/2010, 10:39 AM	#6
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	mix and fill you will have a hard time getting you salinity correct if you half fill the tank with fresh and adding a strong soulution of sw to it , i did it in the past when i first started in this hobby, you can do it with a couple 5 gal buckets get your salinity where you want it and fill the tank little by littleor get another can put a can dolly ubder it fill with r/o add htr , a pump and measure how much salt mix to the water in your can to get the correct salinity, when you get it right roll it over and pump the water into the tank, it will make waterchanges easier __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

02/14/2010, 10:48 AM	#8
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	that would work fine, if you have the room too you , id get another can set it on a rack elevated higher than the can on rollers let it fill then when ready you can make your water a day or so in advance and have plenty of top off water. __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

02/14/2010, 09:54 AM	#2
Jaycen B. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: GA Posts: 265	Where is the live rock now? I just set my ro unit right in front of the tank and filled er up than turned the pumps on and mixed the salt in the sump.

02/14/2010, 10:15 AM	#5
dankoos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 271	Purchasing live rock today..will be keeping in rubbermaid container for now w/ heater and powerhead. If I mix salt in separate container, can I do it w/ small quantities of water, just to get it mixed? What I am asking is do I have to mix all 90+ gallons in some container outside of the aquarium? Or could I fill aquarium about half way, then mix in salt, then add live rock? Guess I was wanting to do rock first..thinking that is easiest way to build my aquascape.

02/14/2010, 10:43 AM	#7
dankoos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 271	I have my 32 gal can on rollers right now. Can I mix salt water in that container and then go back to using it for fresh RO water after? I figure that will be my top off water container...prob wouldn't matter if it had a little salt residue, would it? Guess I could hose it out too.

02/14/2010, 11:04 AM	#10
Jaycen B. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: GA Posts: 265	Thanks jmski333 it was a lot of work.

02/14/2010, 11:07 AM	#11
TAB Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Fair Oaks Posts: 1,302	I would highly recomend letting the tank run with water in it for a few days before adding anything in it. you never know. I always just use tap water for that. fill it up with the graden hose, then I drain it and dry it really well, then start adding salt water. __________________ If its not Broken, play with it until it is.

02/14/2010, 11:12 AM	#12
dankoos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 271	already filled and tested w/ tap water, although have not run plumbing yet

02/14/2010, 11:19 AM	#14
golfish Team RC Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Alta Loma, Ca Posts: 6,776	FWIW, When I setup a new tank I fill it from my RO\DI unit. Once its full I turn on the return pump and start adding salt, a little at time. __________________ grow em, frag em, trade em... Current Tank Info: TOTM curse

02/14/2010, 11:26 AM	#15
dankoos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 271	I know the tank itself doesn't leak (per my testing w/ freshwater)...my holes are drilled up high, so if my plumbing leaks, I won't have to drain the tank much, if at all. Plumbing can be purged of water and adjusted as necessary.