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[reef_and_beats]

Hey guys just started my 16 gal saltwater tank on July 13th 2021. I run a HOB filter aqua clear to be exact, also have a fluval 100 w heater, and a hygger power head. However I have a few questions that hopefully you all can help me with.

1. can I use distilled water to top off aquarium evaporation ?

2. My temperature on the tank is 75 but I saw somewhere to put it to 80 when introducing ammonia which I’ve done already to the tank is this true ?

3. What else should I do while waiting for the tank to cycle ?

 

[PeterC99]

Welcome to R2R!

patience is the most important part of cycling! Sounds like you are off to a good start. Not sure about distilled water but if you are going to be doing water changes anyway, why not get started with RODI?

 

[|Frank|]

Welcome to the forum!
Rodi is preferred but distilled will work as well. Not sure about your second question. As for the third, patience and do some more research while your waiting! I used fritz 900 to move my cycle along.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

distilled water is just as good as rodi, I used distilled for a year once on another tank. The problem is that you can't make it yourself, you have to buy it, so it is another cost that can become expensive.

Like the others above have mentioned, at this point, patience and research are key to success. Good luck

 

[Rhoads238]

Welcome to r2r!

 

[Zach B]

Welcome Great advice here! Best thing to do while waiting for the tank to cycle is to read or watch as many informative videos as possible. So much good info out there now. Best of luck

 

[Justanano]

Hello

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[MaxTremors]

Welcome!
Yes, distilled is fine. I would use this time (when there are no inhabitants) to get your heater dialed in, make sure that when your lights are on that it’s not getting too hot, or too cold when they’re off. I would shoot for 78°, but 75° to 82° is fine. As far as what else to do, test your water, make sure all your equipment is working properly. Did you add bottled bacteria or use real live rock (what is your source of bacteria)? So long as you added a bacteria source and fed it with an ammonia source, you shouldn’t have too long to wait, a week at the most (in the old days it used to take way longer to cycle, but with bottled bacteria or good quality live rock, cycling a tank takes just a few days now - at least in terms of processing ammonia, there is still a difference between a new tank and a mature tank).