Filling a Tank for the First Time

[bluecheese]

My aquascape is done. Sand has been washed and placed in the tank. Which means it's ready to be filled.

I gonna start making RODI water tomorrow. I have a 44 gallon brute trash can, so I'll be filling the tank 35 gallons at a time.

My question is this: can I fill the tank with RODI, then add the salt directly into the tank? I figure doing it this way will make my life easier, rather than having to add salt and adjust every 35 gallon batch.

Picture of the tank for attention.

 

[brandon429]

sure that's an ok changeup to run.

 

[brandon429]

dump in a bottle of bac made specifically for cycling, two pinches of ground up fish food and you're done. it will cycle in a few days wo any testing or tinkering. 3 days w be about right wait for most common mixes. (all this after salt is set and mixed in)

 

[TheDragonsReef]

Yeah as long as nothing is alive in the tank you can do ro then add salt directly to the tank

 

[Azedenkae]

My aquascape is done. Sand has been washed and placed in the tank. Which means it's ready to be filled.

I gonna start making RODI water tomorrow. I have a 44 gallon brute trash can, so I'll be filling the tank 35 gallons at a time.

My question is this: can I fill the tank with RODI, then add the salt directly into the tank? I figure doing it this way will make my life easier, rather than having to add salt and adjust every 35 gallon batch.

Picture of the tank for attention.

Yes, you can add RODI in first, then add salt. The benefit of that is also that you can while you are at it keep tracking of how much water you added, and so that'll be your true volume of water (tank volume minus rocks, sand, etc.), which can be very helpful for calculations later on. Like say with cycling.

 

[blaxsun]

Before you run your return pump, I would probably run a few wavemakers cranked up for an hour or so to ensure everything is mixed properly.

 

[bluecheese]

Tank is bone dry with no livestock.

 

[bluecheese]

Yes, you can add RODI in first, then add salt. The benefit of that is also that you can while you are at it keep tracking of how much water you added, and so that'll be your true volume of water (tank volume minus rocks, sand, etc.), which can be very helpful for calculations later on. Like say with cycling.

That's was also my thinking; tracking the working volume of the entire system. I have the brute can marked off in 5 gallon increments up to 35 gallons, so I'll have a fairly accurate idea of what I'm working with.

 

[Beau_B]

Yes, just don’t dump the salt in all at once at the end. It will clump like mad. Add it in along the way or in stages after filled.

 

[bluecheese]

Yes, just don’t dump the salt in all at once at the end. It will clump like mad. Add it in along the way or in stages after filled.

I figured I would add a few cups at a time only adding new salt once the old has completely dissolved.

 

[Azedenkae]

That's was also my thinking; tracking the working volume of the entire system. I have the brute can marked off in 5 gallon increments up to 35 gallons, so I'll have a fairly accurate idea of what I'm working with.

Sweet! Yeah that should defo work. I am super lazy so have ended up doing this way back when, and then since it worked, just did the same for every other tank. XD

Salt dissolves surprisingly easily so long as there's at least some flow in the tank. Even in areas of low flow.