Help Wanted on New tank setup

[Erich T.]

Hello Everyone. I am new here and need advice on setting up new 90 gallon reef tank and Trigger Saphire 34 sump. I have been doing several 5 gallon tanks for around 5 years now. My question is... I created a dry rock aquascape in the aquarium (Marco rock not rinsed) . Used Marco mortar to hold it all together. Looks good. I filled with RoDi and added dry sand that i rinsed. Well major cloudiness. Guess i didn't rinse well enough. Have been stirring up the sand (Blowing the s..t out of it with powerhead) for 6 days now. Its pretty clear now with filter socks and carbon. My question is can i now add salt or should i drain and refill before adding salt? All help and opinions are welcome.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello Everyone. I am new here and need advice on setting up new 90 gallon reef tank and Trigger Saphire 34 sump. I have been doing several 5 gallon tanks for around 5 years now. My question is... I created a dry rock aquascape in the aquarium (Marco rock not rinsed) . Used Marco mortar to hold it all together. Looks good. I filled with RoDi and added dry sand that i rinsed. Well major cloudiness. Guess i didn't rinse well enough. Have been stirring up the sand (Blowing the s..t out of it with powerhead) for 6 days now. Its pretty clear now with filter socks and carbon. My question is can i now add salt or should i drain and refill before adding salt? All help and opinions are welcome.

Clean socks every 2 days to trap suspended matter and add ammonia chloride
Then add netrifying bacteria such as micro bacter XLM
When ammonia drops and is steady at.025 or less for 5 days and nitrate is 20 or less for 5 days- you are cycled

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Welcome to reef2reef!

 

[Brisk]

Welcome!

 

[Erich T.]

Thank you.
My question is ... I have been running tank with dry rock and dry sand with fresh water (RODI) for 6 days no salt added yet.. Is it safe to add salt or should I drain and refill and then add salt?

 

[Stevorino]

My question is can i now add salt or should i drain and refill before adding salt? All help and opinions are welcome.

It it were me, I'd add in salt slowly in the sump return chamber in front of the pump and dial it in over the course of a day or so.

Some would say to drain/partially drain and add pre-mixed saltwater.

Both are fine in your situation IMO

Have fun good luck be patient

 

[crazyfishmom]

I would be careful with adding salt like that. You may get localized precipitation and that would not be great. Probably best to at least partially empty and mix in a more concentrated (higher than 1.026) batch of saltwater if you don’t want to completely empty.

 

[CO2TLEY]

 

[luis angel]

Welcome to Reef2Reef

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Welcome. When you add salt in the tank to mix, you will get a film on the glass. It will go away eventually.

 

[zheka757]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Nano_Man]

 

[rc8t6353]

First, welcome to Reef2Reef! As for your question. Go ahead and add the salt slowly until you get the salinity to where you want it. I

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Hello Everyone. I am new here and need advice on setting up new 90 gallon reef tank and Trigger Saphire 34 sump. I have been doing several 5 gallon tanks for around 5 years now. My question is... I created a dry rock aquascape in the aquarium (Marco rock not rinsed) . Used Marco mortar to hold it all together. Looks good. I filled with RoDi and added dry sand that i rinsed. Well major cloudiness. Guess i didn't rinse well enough. Have been stirring up the sand (Blowing the s..t out of it with powerhead) for 6 days now. Its pretty clear now with filter socks and carbon. My question is can i now add salt or should i drain and refill before adding salt? All help and opinions are welcome.

Hello and welcome to R2R! Just my 2 cents but I would drain, pre mix salt water, and add to tank once mixed. I have never been crazy about filling a tank with water then adding salt. But that’s just me.

 

[Bruttall]

I'm with Sophie''s mom on this one, I prefer to mix in a separate container because almost all salt can leave a residue or film. Particles that just don't dissolve 100%. I also like to heat my water to tank temp before I add salt mix and I like to let the powerheads stir the new water for a couple hours before adding it.
Welcome to R2R!

 

[1112-425XL]

 

[Gman83]

Welcome!

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Welcome. I would drain and add freshly mixed salt.

 

[kevgib67]

Welcome, glad you are here!

 

[Ocean_Queenie]

Hello & Welcome