Need help ASAP

[Tony757]

I just screwed up started the cycle of my tank with tap water and prime.. And my sand is crushed coral sand and I put dry rock in. And I heard I wasn't supposed to use tap water, what do i do now. Do I just do a 50% water change? Also there is no light on

 

[Crabs McJones]

For your initial startup and for cycling you should be ok. There are no inhabitants in the tank yet. However after your cycle completes your going to want to do a series of water changes to replace that tap water with rodi saltwater

 

[4FordFamily]

For your initial startup and for cycling you should be ok. There are no inhabitants in the tank yet. However after your cycle completes your going to want to do a series of water changes to replace that tap water with rodi saltwater

X2. You’ll just grow more algae’s and cyano and the like. In truth pure RO still yields a ton of these things, anyway.

 

[Tony757]

For your initial startup and for cycling you should be ok. There are no inhabitants in the tank yet. However after your cycle completes your going to want to do a series of water changes to replace that tap water with rodi saltwater

Thanks I appreciate it! So this is the second day of it cycling and also o haven't added salt mix so I'll be getting salt mix probably tommorow

 

[Evan28395950]

Thanks I appreciate it! So this is the second day of it cycling and also o haven't added salt mix so I'll be getting salt mix probably tommorow

I’m still new to the hobby, doesn’t the cycle start once you add salt?

 

[Tony757]

X2. You’ll just grow more algae’s and cyano and the like. In truth pure RO still yields a ton of these things, anyway.

So am I still go

I’m still new to the hobby, doesn’t the cycle start once you add salt?

I would like to know this too

 

[zcedric]

I would empty it out. dry it a little bit.. and then fill with new rodi.

 

[zcedric]

For cyle you should have you saltmix in it and at some death material all this will start it... then wait. haha

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thanks I appreciate it! So this is the second day of it cycling and also o haven't added salt mix so I'll be getting salt mix probably tommorow

Correct. Until you add salt and an ammonia source and the bacteria, you just have a glass box of water
Give this thread a read through, very good read
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/

 

[Tony757]

Correct. Until you add salt and an ammonia source and the bacteria, you just have a glass box of water
Give this thread a read through, very good read
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/

Thanks good information on that thread. So do I need to empty the tank and replace it with rodi when I go get the salt mix I'll pick up Rodi water

 

[Tony757]

Thanks good information on that thread. So do I need to empty the tank and replace it with rodi when I go get the salt mix I'll pick up Rodi water

Is it safe to add salt mix to tap water that's been treated at least?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Is it safe to add salt mix to tap water that's been treated at least?

Yes you can leave the treated tap water in and just add salt.

 

[clipperking]

I just screwed up started the cycle of my tank with tap water and prime.. And my sand is crushed coral sand and I put dry rock in. And I heard I wasn't supposed to use tap water, what do i do now. Do I just do a 50% water change? Also there is no light on

You need to read before you waste alot time and money. Figure out i.d your doing a reef tank or fish only etc. Lighting and type of fish. Read I cannot stress that enough, have proper filtration and media filters.

 

[Super Fly]

Thanks good information on that thread. So do I need to empty the tank and replace it with rodi when I go get the salt mix I'll pick up Rodi water

tank will be fine w tap water, no need to empty and replace with RODI. People kept successful tanks in the old days just using tap water. Going forward, RODI water is highly recommended to avoid nuisance algae & cyano.

 

[JumboShrimp]

A little expensive, but before I got a RO system hooked up I was doing water changes using 89-cent gallons of distilled water from the grocery store. Basically $5 for a 5 gallon water-change. Not a permanent solution to anything, but I thought I’d just throw that out there

 

[Rover]

Take your time and slow down!

The start is the most critical point.

You are technically cycling yes, but you are cycling for freshwater... And only if there is something dead in there to decay and add ammonia. Its not the same bacteria as saltwater (or so I think, I've understood it to be once you've lowered the salinity enough it kills the bacteria, someone correct me if I'm wrong!)

What I would suggest is dump that tapwater out, and get some good RODI water. You CAN keep the tapwater. You'll thank yourself down the road if you dont. Even if you still get algae/cyano/etc issues, you'll be able to rule out tapwater as the cause of your problems, otherwise you'll never know if its because of the tapwater, or if its high nitrates or something else!

As was said above, take your time. You can cycle without a light, thats actually preferable. A light in the early stages just promotes unwanted algae growth. Until theres coral in the tank, you don't need light. Even fish can be fine with just ambient/room light! My QT is run lightless so they don't get as stressed.

Read up on what you want before you buy a light. The type of corals you can keep, if any, will greatly depend on that.

Best of luck!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Bacterial fun facts.

http://www.bioconlabs.com/nitribactfacts.html

 

[Tony757]

Thank you everyone well I went to my lfs today and just added salt and am cycling the tank today so hopefully everything goes good won't have a light for some time but that's okay I'm going to let my skimmer and tank cycle for a while

 

[Tastee]

My 65g tank is 1 year old and I also started with tap water and Prime. After that however every top-up and water change was RODI and I now make my own. I did this due to the difficulty in sourcing enough RODI to fill the tank from empty and the fact the tank was going to be fallow and cycle initially. It is a hard comparison to make however as the quality of tap water changes so much worldwide and it depends exactly what you have in it. In my case in Sydney Australia we have very good quality water, and my tests show 76 TDI and no Phosphates. I have no idea what your water is like.

Regardless if you stick with RODI from now on you will eventually change out all the tap water. I do suggest you run Poly Filter to polish your water and help remove anything nasty that was in your tap water. That was what I did and I am happy with my results.

Good luck!

 

[Super Fly]

In my case in Sydney Australia we have very good quality water, and my tests show 76 TDI and no Phosphates. I have no idea what your water is like.

Yes you do have very good water there. Sydney Rock oysters - the most amazingly delicious oysters I've ever eaten!!!... Wish Sydney was just a bit closer to the East Coast.