First tank - advice on first fill please

gridley · 05/25/2012, 10:28 PM

My wife and I just completed the plumbing for our first tank. It is a 90G and the sump (if my calculations are correct will hold 23G when operating.

We want to fill the system with freshwater tomorrow to test the plumbing and figure out what the appropriate water level will be in the sump. I was told once how to go about doing that in a way that doesn't flood the family room . . . but that was months ago.

What is the best procedure for doing this? Thanks.

bnumair · 05/25/2012, 10:47 PM

first fill up the tank. then let it over flow into the sump once you have sump filled half way turn all equipment on. (return pumps and other etc). if pumps start running dry fill more water and just keep checking where pumps dont run dry and there is few inches of water above the point where pumd do run dry. once u have that level then turn everthing off. water will flow down from drains and returns to fill up in the sump. if sump does not over flow and accomodates all the water you are good to go.

05/25/2012, 10:28 PM	#1
gridley Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Calgary, AB Canada Posts: 39	First tank - advice on first fill please My wife and I just completed the plumbing for our first tank. It is a 90G and the sump (if my calculations are correct will hold 23G when operating. We want to fill the system with freshwater tomorrow to test the plumbing and figure out what the appropriate water level will be in the sump. I was told once how to go about doing that in a way that doesn't flood the family room . . . but that was months ago. What is the best procedure for doing this? Thanks. __________________ - George - Current Tank Info: 90G mixed reef, 23g sump, 20g QT, 2 radions, Waveline 5000 retrun pump, RLLS R8u skimmer, filter socks, GFO/Carbon, RO/DI

05/25/2012, 10:47 PM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	first fill up the tank. then let it over flow into the sump once you have sump filled half way turn all equipment on. (return pumps and other etc). if pumps start running dry fill more water and just keep checking where pumps dont run dry and there is few inches of water above the point where pumd do run dry. once u have that level then turn everthing off. water will flow down from drains and returns to fill up in the sump. if sump does not over flow and accomodates all the water you are good to go. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE