Best Way to add water to new tank

St3w · 11/27/2011, 05:21 PM

Hey everyone,
Im starting a new 90 gallon tank. I was just wonder what tricks everyone uses to add water to a new tank when it has sand in there to minimize the nastiness? Or if its better to add sand to a full tank or add the water to a tank with just sand? ive heard it done both ways, just wonder what is the best way to do it.

Juena · 11/27/2011, 05:24 PM

I'm interested in this, too. There must be some optimal solution, I guess...

Bluemon · 11/27/2011, 05:27 PM

put a small bowl in the tank and pour the water onto the bowl.

Raul-7 · 11/27/2011, 05:34 PM

Use anything with a large surface area. I've seen people use plastic wrap, newspaper, plastic plates, etc.

Alex1524 · 11/27/2011, 06:38 PM

Im a complete newbie and set up my tank 2 weeks ago. I posed this question and ended up putting the rock, sand, then placed an upside down plate with a plastic zip block bag over it. Worked fine for me. I wouldnt change a thing. Within a few hours everything settled.Good luck!

St3w · 11/27/2011, 07:25 PM

Ive hard of people laying garbage bags on the sand, just wonder what people have had the most success with.
I was planing putting in sand and rock then putting something in the tank to not make a mess. Upside down plate or small wide bowl is a great idea thanks. Thanks for all the feedback. let you guys know how is goes this week... Still waiting on enough rodi water to fill the tank.

kotu100 · 11/27/2011, 07:33 PM

I just use a dinner plate on the sand, keeps it from stirring the sand up, and doesnt have to drip down the sides like a bowl.

lambchops · 11/27/2011, 10:20 PM

You could use the bags that the sand come in.

AlexS95 · 11/27/2011, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambchops

You could use the bags that the sand come in.

That's what I do, works great.

Wildisme02 · 11/27/2011, 10:28 PM

I have a spare piece of acrylic. I just set it in there and poured it in.

I've also seen people set a large rock on one side close to the glass, then pour the water against the glass. It will run down the glass the the rock will break up the stream when it hits the bottom.

ssick92 · 11/28/2011, 02:32 AM

I just poured it on my rock since it was a semi flat surface. It was dry rock so I wasn't worried about hurting anything living on the rock. I literally did this tonight. It has been 7 hours, and it is still pretty cloudy, so I would recommend using a plate or something big and flat.

I need to go to my LFS tomorrow and pick up some good live rock to seed it all though. It was closed today for some reason.

jasimek · 11/28/2011, 07:48 AM

To minimize the cloudiness I would dump water in your sump and let your return pump fill the tank. You will have to keep shutting off the pump as you add water but it worked for me

carpenterman23 · 11/28/2011, 08:00 AM

I took a garbage bag, cut in half, laided it down ocross the sand, filt the tank half way, then slowly remove it, and finished filling it up.

EllieSuz · 11/28/2011, 08:02 AM

This can be done with very little clouding of the water. Add your rock on a bare bottom and then add saltwater. Purchase a long necked funnel in the automotive department of your local big box store and add some vinyl hose if needed to reach the bottom of the tank. Spoon damp, rinsed sand into the funnel and guide the sand wherever you want it. I've used this method through two upgrades with fish and corals in the tank and it works perfectly with no cloudy water. No reason to suppose it wouldn't work with a new setup.

St3w · 11/28/2011, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EllieSuz

This can be done with very little clouding of the water. Add your rock on a bare bottom and then add saltwater. Purchase a long necked funnel in the automotive department of your local big box store and add some vinyl hose if needed to reach the bottom of the tank. Spoon damp, rinsed sand into the funnel and guide the sand wherever you want it. I've used this method through two upgrades with fish and corals in the tank and it works perfectly with no cloudy water. No reason to suppose it wouldn't work with a new setup.

ive heard of people doing that to add sand. i like the idea, i might have to try that with a new setup. it would be easier to mix water and salt in the tank anyway right?

11/27/2011, 05:21 PM	#1
St3w Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 12	Best Way to add water to new tank Hey everyone, Im starting a new 90 gallon tank. I was just wonder what tricks everyone uses to add water to a new tank when it has sand in there to minimize the nastiness? Or if its better to add sand to a full tank or add the water to a tank with just sand? ive heard it done both ways, just wonder what is the best way to do it.

11/28/2011, 02:32 AM	#11
ssick92 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: San Clemente, CA Posts: 911	I just poured it on my rock since it was a semi flat surface. It was dry rock so I wasn't worried about hurting anything living on the rock. I literally did this tonight. It has been 7 hours, and it is still pretty cloudy, so I would recommend using a plate or something big and flat. I need to go to my LFS tomorrow and pick up some good live rock to seed it all though. It was closed today for some reason. __________________ John IM Nuvo 10g Mixed Reef Nano \| Kessil A160we \| Mp10QD \| Osmolator Nano

11/28/2011, 08:02 AM	#14
EllieSuz Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,858	This can be done with very little clouding of the water. Add your rock on a bare bottom and then add saltwater. Purchase a long necked funnel in the automotive department of your local big box store and add some vinyl hose if needed to reach the bottom of the tank. Spoon damp, rinsed sand into the funnel and guide the sand wherever you want it. I've used this method through two upgrades with fish and corals in the tank and it works perfectly with no cloudy water. No reason to suppose it wouldn't work with a new setup. __________________ "You can't learn this hobby one question at a time." (Mr. Tuskfish) Eileen Current Tank Info: I'm out of the hobby, but used to have a60 gal. reef, refugium in sump, Internal Mag 9 return, SC 302 skimmer, two Maxi-Jet 1200's modded, four bulb T5 Lighting, Reefkeeper Lite Controller with three PC4's, Little Fishes GFO reactor.

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11/27/2011, 05:24 PM	#2
Juena Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1	I'm interested in this, too. There must be some optimal solution, I guess...

11/27/2011, 05:27 PM	#3
Bluemon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 902	put a small bowl in the tank and pour the water onto the bowl.

11/27/2011, 05:34 PM	#4
Raul-7 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lomita, CA Posts: 891	Use anything with a large surface area. I've seen people use plastic wrap, newspaper, plastic plates, etc.

11/27/2011, 06:38 PM	#5
Alex1524 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Davie, Fl Posts: 583	Im a complete newbie and set up my tank 2 weeks ago. I posed this question and ended up putting the rock, sand, then placed an upside down plate with a plastic zip block bag over it. Worked fine for me. I wouldnt change a thing. Within a few hours everything settled.Good luck!

11/27/2011, 07:25 PM	#6
St3w Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 12	Ive hard of people laying garbage bags on the sand, just wonder what people have had the most success with. I was planing putting in sand and rock then putting something in the tank to not make a mess. Upside down plate or small wide bowl is a great idea thanks. Thanks for all the feedback. let you guys know how is goes this week... Still waiting on enough rodi water to fill the tank.

11/27/2011, 07:33 PM	#7
kotu100 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: easton, ma Posts: 75	I just use a dinner plate on the sand, keeps it from stirring the sand up, and doesnt have to drip down the sides like a bowl.

11/27/2011, 10:20 PM	#8
lambchops Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagan, MN Posts: 166	You could use the bags that the sand come in.

11/27/2011, 10:28 PM	#10
Wildisme02 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 133	I have a spare piece of acrylic. I just set it in there and poured it in. I've also seen people set a large rock on one side close to the glass, then pour the water against the glass. It will run down the glass the the rock will break up the stream when it hits the bottom.

11/28/2011, 07:48 AM	#12
jasimek Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Plainfield, Illinois Posts: 692	To minimize the cloudiness I would dump water in your sump and let your return pump fill the tank. You will have to keep shutting off the pump as you add water but it worked for me

11/28/2011, 08:00 AM	#13
carpenterman23 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 181	I took a garbage bag, cut in half, laided it down ocross the sand, filt the tank half way, then slowly remove it, and finished filling it up.