Filling with water while I wait?

dopey · Feb 24, 2018

I've ordered pretty much all the things I need:
Carib Sea Life Rock
AI Prime HD
Red Sea Live sand
ATO
..etc

I have my salt, and my RO unit. I'd expect the above to arrive in the next 3-4 days..

Would it be OK to start mixing my salt and filling the tank up, atleast partially? Then add the Rock when it arrives, followed by live sand?

Main reason is time it'll take to generate all the RO water

I have some containers I can use, but simpler to just mix it and start filling the tank over the next couple days?

I wouldn't put any bacteria/start my cycle until I get the sand/rocks in place. This is for around a 10G tank(Aqua Medic Yasha - 37L)

EmdeReef · Feb 24, 2018

Congrats on your new tank and Yes it’s perfectly fine to fill up and mix up the salt before sand and rocks. Keep the water level lower obviously as sand and rocks will raise it.

You’ll also have some cloudiness when you add sand but should clear up in a day or two.

Best of luck!

dopey · Feb 24, 2018

Thanks, I couldn't think of any reason this bad...not much different than using a container to hold the water .

Thanks, not my first tank.. but last one I had was 16 years ago and I was 14.. Bit different perspective, budget, and expectations this time around

Fudsey · Feb 24, 2018

Welcome to R2R ! ! !

Yes it would be fine to start making your water ahead of time as @EmdeReef stated. You might want to add a pump to circulate the water as well.

TonyNguyen · Feb 24, 2018

Congrats on the tank!

dopey · Feb 24, 2018

Yes, actually have my DIY pump solution there. I had planned to buy a red seas nano max.. but when I visited the store they had an aqua medic yasha sitting next to it. When I asked about it, turns out they quit carrying it and offered me the tank + stand 'as it sat' for around 80USD. Considering I was fixen to spend 900USD for a 45x45x45 tank.. only paying 80USD for a 30x30x40 with matching stand couldn't say no. It was also the size I was initially wanting, intent is primarily corals max a single fish.

Unfortunately it was missing the stock pump and lights. It did have the protein skimmer, but missing it's impeller which i've ordered.

Ended up settling on a Prime HD light, SW-4 pump(replace stock nanoprop), tunze nano ATO, etc.

Guess another question. Since it's barebottom with no rock, sand or anything and the skimmer won't be on and just the powerhead..Guess there is nothing wrong with mixing the salt in the tank itself? i.e. I can be lazy and feed the RO into the tank then do salt afterwards

dopey · Feb 24, 2018

Oh a couple pics... The stock nanoprop 500 is non existent.. So that's a SW4 with some pipe.

to be honest want to fill it, just to see the pump in action while I wait for the rest of my orders to arrive. Sourcing stuff in Sweden has proven difficult.

XNavyDiver · Feb 24, 2018

dopey said:
Yes, actually have my DIY pump solution there. I had planned to buy a red seas nano max.. but when I visited the store they had an aqua medic yasha sitting next to it. When I asked about it, turns out they quit carrying it and offered me the tank + stand 'as it sat' for around 80USD. Considering I was fixen to spend 900USD for a 45x45x45 tank.. only paying 80USD for a 30x30x40 with matching stand couldn't say no. It was also the size I was initially wanting, intent is primarily corals max a single fish.

Unfortunately it was missing the stock pump and lights. It did have the protein skimmer, but missing it's impeller which i've ordered.

Ended up settling on a Prime HD light, SW-4 pump(replace stock nanoprop), tunze nano ATO, etc.

Guess another question. Since it's barebottom with no rock, sand or anything and the skimmer won't be on and just the powerhead..Guess there is nothing wrong with mixing the salt in the tank itself? i.e. I can be lazy and feed the RO into the tank then do salt afterwards

I see no problem at all with that.

XNavyDiver · Feb 24, 2018

dopey said:
Oh a couple pics... The stock nanoprop 500 is non existent.. So that's a SW4 with some pipe.

to be honest want to fill it, just to see the pump in action while I wait for the rest of my orders to arrive. Sourcing stuff in Sweden has proven difficult.

Good looking tank!

dopey · Feb 24, 2018

Well, off she goes.

Nice to find the active reef forum now a days. I was part of Aquarium Advice back 15+ years ago(#3 registered

).. but noticed it been quite dead for SW since trying to get back into the hobby. Also seems the founders there sold the site and left unfortunately.

The BRS videos tended to reference this place so thought i'd check it out, seems like a good place!

Beyond the coral stuff I plan to take my own stab at the rasberry pi controller, so i'll be around the forums. I was closer than i'll admit to an apex for this tank...

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Susan Edwards · Feb 24, 2018

I did this with my 125 and just filled with Rodi water. I had my rock and sand in and it took several days to get what water I needed for both tank and sump. I waited to add salt until all plumbing was tested and working. Then added it to the tank. Some of it I used a pitcher, filled with salt and added water and mixed, added, mixed. Took a lot of salt.... Got lazy at end and was mostly sprinkling the salt in <g>. Took almost 3 days to have tank clear