Filling a 180g

[ibryson]

I’m finally to the most exciting part for me! All of my rock work is glued in place so tonight I plan to dump the sand in and start filling it up. Here’s my question: how do I go about filling a large aquarium with RO/DI water?
I’ve got my water station set up with a 30 gallon brute can. It takes several hours just to fill it up. Is filling my tank going to be a week long process?? Is there any issues with filling up 30 gallons tonight, 30 gallons tomorrow, and so on until it’s full? I have live sand, will that be fine with no flow for a few days until the water level reaches the power heads and I can get them going?

Bonus question: should I run my skimmer during the entire cycle process? Should I be using filter socks during this time?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Here's what I'd do....using your 30 gallon Brute.

Fill it up and add the necessary salt. Put a powerhead or two in the Brute to help stir the salt. Once the salt dissolves, add to the tank, and now repeat until the tank is full. So yes, it's going to take a week or so to fill the tank. Not an issue.

You also started with dry rock, so sit back and let the rock cure. No lights, skimmer (or heat) is required. Just a little water motion.

 

[ibryson]

Here's what I'd do....using your 30 gallon Brute.

Fill it up and add the necessary salt. Put a powerhead or two in the Brute to help stir the salt. Once the salt dissolves, add to the tank, and now repeat until the tank is full. So yes, it's going to take a week or so to fill the tank. Not an issue.

You also started with dry rock, so sit back and let the rock cure. No lights, skimmer (or heat) is required. Just a little water motion.

Thanks for the info! What about filling the tank completely then adding the salt mix in a bag at a time? I’d have two mp40’s pushing water to help it mix that way.

 

[Supertanker]

I'm doing the same thing right now. 30ga two days ago, 30 yesterday, 30 today..etc going to 125 (less rock). I found it easy to mix salt and check SG in the tub rather than try and make adjustments in the tank itself. But any way will work, I guess. I'm new too, so this is not expert advice, just how I've been doing it.

 

[redfishbluefish]

You mentioned you have live sand. Fresh water would make that dead sand.

You would also have better agitation in the Brute versus a six foot tank. Could it be done.....yes...but you'd most likely have dead spots in the tank were undissolved salt settles.

 

[ibryson]

You mentioned you have live sand. Fresh water would make that dead sand.

You would also have better agitation in the Brute versus a six foot tank. Could it be done.....yes...but you'd most likely have dead spots in the tank were undissolved salt settles.

Good to know! I’ll mix in the brute! Thanks

 

[PatW]

I have a 300 gallon tank. My water storage is a 44 gallon Brute. Yeah and it takes over a week to fill the tank. With larger storage tanks and a higher capacity RODI, you could go faster. But, after you fill the tank, you switch to water change mode which usually no more than once per week and 10-15% of your tanks capacity. 15% of 180 is 27 so a 30 gallon Brute is about right. Why go with a bigger capacity when it would be a one time deal?

 

[ibryson]

How’s she lookin’ so far!?

 

[ludnix]

Looking good, now you just need some mangroves sticking out the top and some fiddler crabs to hang out on the islands!

 

[Hemmdog]

Looking good, now you just need some mangroves sticking out the top and some fiddler crabs to hang out on the islands!

That would be sweet! lol

 

[Marco S]

You mentioned you have live sand. Fresh water would make that dead sand.

How long does it take for the bacteria in the sand to die in freshwater? I messed up and dumped mine into freshwater. It was sitting for about five hours before I saw this and mixed up saltwater real quick. It's at 0.124 now. Hopefully I didn't just kill the live sand I paid extra for.