Setting up a New Tank; Question...

[Scott07]

Hello... I've been running a 20 galon long successfully for about a year and a half, so believe I have most of the basics down. I'm starting a 30 galon now as a new home for my green spotted puffer (full marine). The tank, light, etc... are all set up and I'm ready to begin adding sand, water, and rock. I have a 50 gpd RO/DI filter, and a couple of 5 galon mixing buckets that I make salt water in. Here's my question: If I add my live sand, and enough water to cover it... do I need to heat this water from day 1? Or am I ok to allow this to sit at room temperature before I add my rock? I'm anticipating that passively making salt water, it'll take me 3 or 4 days this week to get the tank mostly full, and ready for live rock (probably this weekend). Thanks in advance for your replies!!

[scooter31707]

Question--if you have a 50 gpd RO/DI filter, why aren't you able to produce that in one day and fill the 30 gal up all the way? Next question what type of fileration do you have. I am no expert, but I am thinking it will need to be filled half-way for the filteration purposes.

[MJV0103]

I usually add my rock first then add my sand around it to help hold it in place. But if you want to put your sand in first I'd make sure you have enough water saved up to cover it. Depending on your room temp, you might have some die off but that will just jump start your cycle.

[Scott07]

Originally Posted by scooter31707

Question--if you have a 50 gpd RO/DI filter, why aren't you able to produce that in one day and fill the 30 gal up all the way? Next question what type of fileration do you have. I am no expert, but I am thinking it will need to be filled half-way for the filteration purposes.

Well... I suppose I can produce it all in one day. The filter runs a little less than 50 gpd with the temperature of the water coming out of the tap this time of year. And yes, you're correct.... it would need to be filled probably half to 2/3 for filtration purposes. I guess I'll just try and do it all in one day instead of taking the easy way out and doing it throughout the week lol.

[Scott07]

Originally Posted by MJV0103

I usually add my rock first then add my sand around it to help hold it in place. But if you want to put your sand in first I'd make sure you have enough water saved up to cover it. Depending on your room temp, you might have some die off but that will just jump start your cycle.

Thanks for the advice... I'm thinking that either way I go this will end up one of those decisions that a year down the road made no difference one way or the other on the overall health of the tank. I would do rock first and sand second, but I think I'm going for a relatively shallow sand bed in this tank. I've decided I kind of like the partially sand, partially BB look....