Total n00b question

tfleming09 · 02/10/2007, 01:08 PM

Hey guys,

I've been lurking around here for a while, and I've been picking my local aquarium store's brain as I'm looking to do my first saltwater setup. I think I have a lot of it figured out, but there's one question that sort of stumps me.

Please don't laugh.

In larger tanks, how do you fill them with water? For example, I have a 20G freshwater and when I filled it I just used a gallon jug and tapwater and then used a solution to neutralize the pH. How do you go about filling a large aquarium?

littlemannin · 02/10/2007, 01:12 PM

5 gallon buckets

tfleming09 · 02/10/2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by littlemannin
5 gallon buckets

Far enough, and then mix the salt before pouring it in, correct?

xenon · 02/10/2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tfleming09
Hey guys,

I've been lurking around here for a while, and I've been picking my local aquarium store's brain as I'm looking to do my first saltwater setup. I think I have a lot of it figured out, but there's one question that sort of stumps me.

Please don't laugh.

In larger tanks, how do you fill them with water? For example, I have a 20G freshwater and when I filled it I just used a gallon jug and tapwater and then used a solution to neutralize the pH. How do you go about filling a large aquarium?

Don't even bother getting into the hobby without an RODI system.

I use 5g buckets and dump it into my sump, then turn my return pump on in the sump and it pumps it into my display tank.

shag26272 · 02/10/2007, 01:22 PM

I agree , dont use tapwater, you will be wasting your time

tfleming09 · 02/10/2007, 01:29 PM

Where would one install a reverse osmosis system?

gillianandjoe · 02/10/2007, 01:33 PM

There are a lot of no-tapwater fanatics on here, but depending on where your water comes from, and what you intend to keep, it may be fine. I think, "don't even get into this hobby without an RODI unit" is a little harsh. RO DI water is best, but my tank is fine not using it. My nitrates run a little high, but for my corals and fish, I have seen no issues. I will say if you use tapwater, get a good water conditioner, preferably without the 'slime replacer' or aloe, they tend to keep microbubbles around for a while.

Shagsbeard · 02/10/2007, 01:40 PM

Tap is a crap shoot. One day it can be fine, the next day, they add some chemical to it that is good for us, but knocks out our fish. Don't trust it... even if it's "good".

You can install a RO/DI unit in your garage. Most will T off your washing machine.

I have a ladder that I pull out to put my water jugs on and siphon it into the tank. The first time, you can just dump it in and mix the salt in right in your tank (no sand/rock yet). Remember to leave some volume for the rock and sand.

tfleming09 · 02/10/2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shagsbeard
Tap is a crap shoot. One day it can be fine, the next day, they add some chemical to it that is good for us, but knocks out our fish. Don't trust it... even if it's "good".

You can install a RO/DI unit in your garage. Most will T off your washing machine.

I have a ladder that I pull out to put my water jugs on and siphon it into the tank. The first time, you can just dump it in and mix the salt in right in your tank (no sand/rock yet). Remember to leave some volume for the rock and sand.

No garage. It's a second story apartment.

Mariner · 02/10/2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

No garage. It's a second story apartment.

LOL, not likely your landlord would take to kindly to you tapping into the washing machine line in your apartment complex.

You could do what I do and get your water from an RO water dispenser at a grocery store -- 33 cents per gallon. In our area, all the Walmart's have these RO water dispensers maintained by Culligan. I've tested the water many times with a TDS meter, and it is always quite good, although not usually AS GOOD as you can get with a home RO/DI system.

Also, the only time you'd want to mix your saltwater in a tank is when the tank has nothing else in it. Otherwise, mix it in a rubbermaid tub, and get the temp and salinity right before adding to your tank.
HTH,
Mariner

Mariner · 02/10/2007, 01:56 PM

Oh, and to your inititial question about how to fill a tank -- I use a 3 gallon bucket; but if you want to save your back, you could put a powerhead or pump in your mixing tub, run tubing to your tank, and fill it that way.
Mariner

rush07 · 02/10/2007, 02:01 PM

I won't claim that this is as good as an RO/DI unit, but until I can get one it has worked well for me. My tap water is very high in Copper and Phosphates. This unit removes 100% of both. You can hook it up to you faucet. The key is to run it slow, no more than a couple of gallons per hour. If you run it faster, it still seems to remove the phosphates but some copper gets through.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113775

virginiadiver69 · 02/10/2007, 02:02 PM

RO units can be had for $124 at filterguys.net Barring that I would check out your LFS, they probably sell RO water. You can tote your water from them in 5 gal buckets. This is a great hobby and it does not have to be expensive but there are just some short cuts that are not worth it.

shag26272 · 02/10/2007, 02:02 PM

it wont mess up the washer machine, just use a splitter like you use for a garden hose

virginiadiver69 · 02/10/2007, 02:08 PM

I posted this before I saw that you live in an apartment. Check your LFS. I didn't know walmart did RO water! That's awsome.

spence0416 · 02/10/2007, 02:43 PM

I've been fine with tap for the last two years, and you can take that for what it's worth. All I add is salt...no conditioners or treatments. I just let it mix for 24 hours before using it.

Had some algae problems, but never any trouble keeping fish (fresh water for about 6 or 7 years). Again it depends on your local water supply but it's not always necessary for an RO DI

mk820 · 02/10/2007, 10:39 PM

We just get RO water from our LFS, we mix the RO with Oceanic salt mix in a 30 gallon garbage can, drop in a heater and a powerhead and the next day you are good to go.

To initially fill the tank we buy the saltwater from our LFS, ours offers Ocean and mixed saltwater. We use 5 gallon water jugs which we also purchased at the same store.

gbtrain · 02/10/2007, 10:56 PM

You could also just but the fitting and hook up RO/DI unit to the kitchen or bathroom sink.

When I do a water change, I use a water pump to pump the water out of my 40g mixing can. On daily top offs I have 50g can I store RO/DI water in and just use a 1g jug

gbtrain · 02/10/2007, 10:59 PM

That should be just "BUY" the fitting. lol

emoore · 02/11/2007, 12:07 AM

You can also try a water store. I live in an apartment and get RO water from a water store for 20 cents a gallon. They have a TDS meter at the store that constantly monitors the water. The TDS averages 3. I also test the water sometimes with my own TDS meter and it agrees with the store. Anyway check out a water store and get a couple of 5 gallon water containers. The only drawback is lugging 10 gallons of water to my second floor apartment but it is not that bad.

02/10/2007, 01:08 PM	#1
tfleming09 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 23	Total n00b question Hey guys, I've been lurking around here for a while, and I've been picking my local aquarium store's brain as I'm looking to do my first saltwater setup. I think I have a lot of it figured out, but there's one question that sort of stumps me. Please don't laugh. In larger tanks, how do you fill them with water? For example, I have a 20G freshwater and when I filled it I just used a gallon jug and tapwater and then used a solution to neutralize the pH. How do you go about filling a large aquarium?

02/10/2007, 01:22 PM	#5
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	I agree , dont use tapwater, you will be wasting your time __________________ .

02/10/2007, 01:56 PM	#11
Mariner Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,952	Oh, and to your inititial question about how to fill a tank -- I use a 3 gallon bucket; but if you want to save your back, you could put a powerhead or pump in your mixing tub, run tubing to your tank, and fill it that way. Mariner __________________ DESIGN DEMANDS A DESIGNER. ~The perception is that perception is reality, but the reality is that it isn't. Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef; 135g mixed reef

02/10/2007, 02:02 PM	#13
virginiadiver69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va. Posts: 4,400	RO units can be had for $124 at filterguys.net Barring that I would check out your LFS, they probably sell RO water. You can tote your water from them in 5 gal buckets. This is a great hobby and it does not have to be expensive but there are just some short cuts that are not worth it. __________________ Semi-aggressive mixed reef w/ shallow sand bed 96x30x27 310gal custom acrylic w/ ext. "fail safe" overflow 125gal sump/cryptic fuge w/ 6" DSB 3 400w Plus Rite 20k MH in Lumembrights 2 250w Plus Rite 20k MH in spider reflectors VHO actinic supplementation 2 Tunze wave boxes 2 Tunze 6060 in Tunze Rocks 2 Tunze 6125 Reeflo 250 skimmer Hammerhead return on OM 4 way Aqua controller lll Leviton power panel Deltec Eco-Cooler Randy's Two part 6.5 kw generator

02/10/2007, 02:02 PM	#14
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	it wont mess up the washer machine, just use a splitter like you use for a garden hose __________________ .

02/10/2007, 01:12 PM	#2
littlemannin Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 276	5 gallon buckets

02/10/2007, 01:29 PM	#6
tfleming09 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 23	Where would one install a reverse osmosis system?

02/10/2007, 01:33 PM	#7
gillianandjoe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 242	There are a lot of no-tapwater fanatics on here, but depending on where your water comes from, and what you intend to keep, it may be fine. I think, "don't even get into this hobby without an RODI unit" is a little harsh. RO DI water is best, but my tank is fine not using it. My nitrates run a little high, but for my corals and fish, I have seen no issues. I will say if you use tapwater, get a good water conditioner, preferably without the 'slime replacer' or aloe, they tend to keep microbubbles around for a while.

02/10/2007, 01:40 PM	#8
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Tap is a crap shoot. One day it can be fine, the next day, they add some chemical to it that is good for us, but knocks out our fish. Don't trust it... even if it's "good". You can install a RO/DI unit in your garage. Most will T off your washing machine. I have a ladder that I pull out to put my water jugs on and siphon it into the tank. The first time, you can just dump it in and mix the salt in right in your tank (no sand/rock yet). Remember to leave some volume for the rock and sand.

02/10/2007, 02:01 PM	#12
rush07 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central, NY Posts: 146	I won't claim that this is as good as an RO/DI unit, but until I can get one it has worked well for me. My tap water is very high in Copper and Phosphates. This unit removes 100% of both. You can hook it up to you faucet. The key is to run it slow, no more than a couple of gallons per hour. If you run it faster, it still seems to remove the phosphates but some copper gets through. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113775

02/10/2007, 02:08 PM	#15
virginiadiver69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va. Posts: 4,400	I posted this before I saw that you live in an apartment. Check your LFS. I didn't know walmart did RO water! That's awsome. __________________ Semi-aggressive mixed reef w/ shallow sand bed 96x30x27 310gal custom acrylic w/ ext. "fail safe" overflow 125gal sump/cryptic fuge w/ 6" DSB 3 400w Plus Rite 20k MH in Lumembrights 2 250w Plus Rite 20k MH in spider reflectors VHO actinic supplementation 2 Tunze wave boxes 2 Tunze 6060 in Tunze Rocks 2 Tunze 6125 Reeflo 250 skimmer Hammerhead return on OM 4 way Aqua controller lll Leviton power panel Deltec Eco-Cooler Randy's Two part 6.5 kw generator

02/10/2007, 02:43 PM	#16
spence0416 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 106	I've been fine with tap for the last two years, and you can take that for what it's worth. All I add is salt...no conditioners or treatments. I just let it mix for 24 hours before using it. Had some algae problems, but never any trouble keeping fish (fresh water for about 6 or 7 years). Again it depends on your local water supply but it's not always necessary for an RO DI

02/10/2007, 10:39 PM	#17
mk820 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Suisun City CA Posts: 107 Blog Entries: 1	We just get RO water from our LFS, we mix the RO with Oceanic salt mix in a 30 gallon garbage can, drop in a heater and a powerhead and the next day you are good to go. To initially fill the tank we buy the saltwater from our LFS, ours offers Ocean and mixed saltwater. We use 5 gallon water jugs which we also purchased at the same store.

02/10/2007, 10:56 PM	#18
gbtrain Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 443	You could also just but the fitting and hook up RO/DI unit to the kitchen or bathroom sink. When I do a water change, I use a water pump to pump the water out of my 40g mixing can. On daily top offs I have 50g can I store RO/DI water in and just use a 1g jug __________________ It's OK to drink like a fish provided you drink what the fish drinks.

02/10/2007, 10:59 PM	#19
gbtrain Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 443	That should be just "BUY" the fitting. lol __________________ It's OK to drink like a fish provided you drink what the fish drinks.

02/11/2007, 12:07 AM	#20
emoore Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 570	You can also try a water store. I live in an apartment and get RO water from a water store for 20 cents a gallon. They have a TDS meter at the store that constantly monitors the water. The TDS averages 3. I also test the water sometimes with my own TDS meter and it agrees with the store. Anyway check out a water store and get a couple of 5 gallon water containers. The only drawback is lugging 10 gallons of water to my second floor apartment but it is not that bad.