Filling up tank first time

[njreejer]

How do I go about filling up my tank? It has a drilled overflow & drilled return.
Also let me know if there are any things I should be weary of while filling the tank
Thank you

 

[Hemmdog]

We need some more details haha. Is it plumbed? Do you have saltwater made with RODI water ready and mixed to 1.025 ? Is your sand and rock in? Pictures would be helpful.

 

[njreejer]

We need some more details haha. Is it plumbed? Do you have saltwater made with RODI water ready and mixed to 1.025 ? Is your sand and rock in? Pictures would be helpful.

I was just thinking a little ahead, gonna be setting up the plumbing, making the aquascape & mixing the water this weekend. i plan on filling it after I’ve placed the sand and rock. It’s drilled for both overflow & return and I’m going to use braided vinyl tubing for the plumbing

 

[Fishingandreefing]

Don’t forget to level it. If on carpet, it needs to be sit for at least a week with water in.

 

[brandon429]

You’ll want to pre rinse your sand 100% clear before filling. Rinse it in tap water for an hour if thats what it takes to make it clear. I have ten threads handy of non pre rinsers, it looked like mud for days and some for weeks, just pre rinse n save the headache.

but doesn’t that harm the bacteria on the sand? No. Tap water isn’t a sterilizing agent or surgeons could just lightly pass water over their arm before fixing someone’s bones or organs etc. tap water pre rinse has only positive outcomes, not any negative ones. The water that comes out of a tap has thousands of organisms in it from pipe sludge and all kinds of sources, tap in no way sterilizes things it inoculates things -with- bacteria. It’s a delivery source for bacteria. You’ll want a laser clear, silt free start trust me.

 

[JoshO]

Personally, as @Fishingandreefing has mentioned, it would be a good idea to fill and level. You can do this with normal tap water. This also helps make sure there are no leaks! Once that's complete then drain down and wipe out before adding rock first, then sand around these.
These 2 videos should help with this.
Once you're happy with the aquascape and levelling then just fill with fresh saltwater!