Need advice

PGriff · Mar 20, 2019

First, I'll be posting more pictures after I get this running. My first saltwater tank so I need some advice. I have a 40gal breeder with a 20 gal sump and I think I'm at the point for sand and water. I have a 5 stage Ro/DI 50 GPD system, I was wondering if it's ok to use house water to start the tank off since I'll be using Dr. Tims conditioner to the water, and just do a few water changes before adding fish?

Thanks in advance.

Robink · Mar 20, 2019

I think you can get away with it, but if you already have the ro/di system set up I personally would use the ro/di water. Reason being you don't know what is in the tap water and if you can avoid future problems why not start now. Just my .02.

And enjoy the hobby!!!

sbash · Mar 20, 2019

If it is city water, then I would recommend against it. You would be better off waiting a short time for RO/DI water than spending months and month chasing issues that could be caused by the initially used city tap water.

Well water, maybe, I have seen this done with success. I am on a well, and I wouldn't use my well water...

PGriff · Mar 20, 2019

Robink said:
I think you can get away with it, but if you already have the ro/di system set up I personally would use the ro/di water. Reason being you don't know what is in the tap water and if you can avoid future problems why not start now. Just my .02.
And enjoy the hobby!!!

According to my TDS

Robink said:
I think you can get away with it, but if you already have the ro/di system set up I personally would use the ro/di water. Reason being you don't know what is in the tap water and if you can avoid future problems why not start now. Just my .02.
And enjoy the hobby!!!

According to my TDS meter, it says .0027. The reason I'm asking is the RO/DI is rated 50 GPD according to the GPH in the manual it's 1.67 GPH. I'm doing a 1 hour test now to see how accurate it is but at that rate it will take awhile 60 gals of water....

AllSignsPointToFish · Mar 20, 2019

I filled mine with city water just to leak check the plumbing, then drained, vacuumed and dried it out. I did not expose any of the sand or rock to anything other than RO/DI water, and I would suggest you do the same.

AllSignsPointToFish · Mar 20, 2019

PGriff said:
According to my TDS

According to my TDS meter, it says .0027. The reason I'm asking is the RO/DI is rated 50 GPD according to the GPH in the manual it's 1.67 GPH. I'm doing a 1 hour test now to see how accurate it is but at that rate it will take awhile 60 gals of water....

Do you have a LFS where you can just go buy some RO/DI water? Can't cost more than $20-30 for 60 gallons.

PGriff · Mar 20, 2019

PGriff said:
First, I'll be posting more pictures after I get this running. My first saltwater tank so I need some advice. I have a 40gal breeder with a 20 gal sump and I think I'm at the point for sand and water. I have a 5 stage Ro/DI 50 GPD system, I was wondering if it's ok to use house water to start the tank off since I'll be using Dr. Tims conditioner to the water, and just do a few water changes before adding fish?

Thanks in advance.

another question came up then. If i use the RO/DI water filter and it takes so long, filling it 5 Gals at a time and then trying to mix the salt and heating it will be a pain?

BedrockIOMC · Mar 20, 2019

I would go to your LFS and get enough water to fill with. Just me I would never use that much city water. Even putting something like Tims in just doesnt filter the water like it needs to be.

PGriff · Mar 20, 2019

AllSignsPointToFish said:
Do you have a LFS where you can just go buy some RO/DI water? Can't cost more than $20-30 for 60 gallons.

Closest one is a PETCO about 15 mins away, unfortunately, I have a SION imagine a VW bug only smaller. lol

AllSignsPointToFish · Mar 20, 2019

PGriff said:
another question came up then. If i use the RO/DI water filter and it takes so long, filling it 5 Gals at a time and then trying to mix the salt and heating it will be a pain?

It can be, unless you have a spare 200-300W heater just for heating up the water in a timely fashion.

I bought one just for that reason.

PGriff · Mar 20, 2019

AllSignsPointToFish said:
It can be, unless you have a spare 200-300W heater just for heating up the water in a timely fashion.

I bought one just for that reason.

Yeah, I bought a spare 150W just for water changes. I may have to get a new trash can Fill it next to the tank then just heat and salt it and then pump it in from there?

AllSignsPointToFish · Mar 20, 2019

PGriff said:
Yeah, I bought a spare 150W just for water changes. I may have to get a new trash can Fill it next to the tank then just heat and salt it and then pump it in from there?

That's basically what I do

Robink · Mar 20, 2019

Since you're just setting up the tank you can fill it slowly or as quickly as your ro/di lets you and add the salt when the tank is full. It's ok to add salt to an aquarium with no livestock.

Mjrenz · Mar 21, 2019

Please don't use tap water, rodi only. Add the salt to the tank and let it cycle

PGriff · Mar 23, 2019

Robink said:
Since you're just setting up the tank you can fill it slowly or as quickly as your ro/di lets you and add the salt when the tank is full. It's ok to add salt to an aquarium with no livestock.

Glad to hear people say this, that's exactly what I did. I have the sand rocks and RO/DI water in, set up the overflow (which seems to be running amazing right now) then I W added salt ( without livestock ). Right now I'm at 1.024 on the refractometer and around 8.3 on my PH meter. What should be next before I use Dr. Tims? I just don't want to do this in some wrong order and end up chasing my tail in the end.

GoldeneyeRet · Mar 23, 2019

Use RO, add salt when it's full. Good lesson in patience, which will be required throughout your reefing career.

Best of luck!

PGriff · Mar 23, 2019

Mjrenz said:
Please don't use tap water, rodi only. Add the salt to the tank and let it cycle

Glad to hear people say this, that's exactly what I did. I have the sand rocks and RO/DI water in, set up the overflow (which seems to be running amazing right now) then I W added salt ( without livestock ). Right now I'm at 1.024 on the refractometer and around 8.3 on my PH meter. What should be next before I use Dr. Tims? I just don't want to do this in some wrong order and end up chasing my tail in the end.

Here are a few current pics. That's about 24hrs of settle time while adding the salt and a bit of baking soda to get the salinity and ph just right.

Mjrenz · Mar 23, 2019

Let it cycle and don't chase ph, once you have things growing in there the ph will take care of itself for the most part if you keep all of your water parameters in check

Mjrenz · Mar 23, 2019

Don't try to rush things, be patient, and keep us updated, we'll help you through the process. Ask all the questions you need, someone here will have the answer

Robink · Mar 23, 2019

PGriff said:
Glad to hear people say this, that's exactly what I did. I have the sand rocks and RO/DI water in, set up the overflow (which seems to be running amazing right now) then I W added salt ( without livestock ). Right now I'm at 1.024 on the refractometer and around 8.3 on my PH meter. What should be next before I use Dr. Tims? I just don't want to do this in some wrong order and end up chasing my tail in the end.

Here are a few current pics. That's about 24hrs of settle time while adding the salt and a bit of baking soda to get the salinity and ph just right.

Don't worry about ph and no need to add baking soda. As long as the specific gravity
( sg) is where you want it you can add the dr tim's bacteria. I used the ammonia method, which is easiest in my opinion. Have fun and take your time.