Adding water during cycle.

[Djmike]

I've been cycling my red sea Max reefer 170 now just about 3 weeks and levels are slowly doing what they are supposed to. I woke this morning to water sounds and saw that my pump was producing a lot of small air bubbles. I looked at my sump and see that a lot of water had evaporated in 3 weeks and now I need more to keep the pump fully submerged. I have no choice but to add water but am wondering what's going to happen now to my readings and cycle. Will it slow down or mess it up being I have to add new water? My overflow tank never dripped either so I believe there's a problem there with the float system.
Mike

 

[ArcKatana]

You're just going to be adding water due to evaporation, won't hurt a thing.

 

[Djmike]

Thank You.

 

[Brew12]

You're just going to be adding water due to evaporation, won't hurt a thing.

Just want to clarify... add RO/DI water to make up for the evaporation, not salt water. I know.. should be obvious but....

 

[Djmike]

Thank you for the clarification because I will be very honest I didn't know that...
Mike

 

[Brew12]

Thank you for the clarification because I will be very honest I didn't know that...
Mike

Than I am very glad I said something. You use RO/DI water to make up for evaporation, salt water when you do water changes.

If water evaporates it leaves almost all the salt behind. You should really try to keep a fairly constant level in your tank by frequently making up for evaporation using fresh water. If you would measure your salinity right now you would find it much higher than when you mixed it. By keeping a constant level you will maintain much more stable salinity levels and happier fish.

 

[Albz]

try to not wait 3 weeks to add tho. better to add like every 4-5 days than wait all 3 weeks..

 

[Djmike]

well I'm glad I wasn't afraid to ask. I had about 5 gallons of fresh RO/DI I just made this morning since I noticed the low level. It wont need that much. What could have happened to my cycle if I added salted just to know?
Mike

 

[Albz]

oh Brew has already said it lol my bad

 

[Albz]

well I'm glad I wasn't afraid to ask. I had about 5 gallons of fresh RO/DI I just made this morning since I noticed the low level. It wont need that much. What could have happened to my cycle if I added salted just to know?
Mike

your salinity would rise

 

[Pg513]

If you don't have an auto top off, I would top off AT LEAST once a day. Especially in a 43 gallon tank.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

There have been a lot of problems reported with their drip ato system. keep your eye on it.