Pouring water First Time

[wieslawwichura]

HI all

I've got a probably stupid question but i need to ask anyway . So i have a 25 gallon tank and 3 x 8 gallon buckets for mixing water and only one power head and one heater so my question is , can i mix one batch on salt water and pour it in to the tank (there will be sand and rocks ) then next day I'll mix another batch and same thing on the 3rd day . or should i mix it, leave it in the buckets and when I'll have all 3 mixed then pour them in.

Thank You

 

[BlennyTime]

You can go ahead and pour it in, won’t hurt anything.

 

[edd59]

get a bigger bucket, mix all together, then pour into 3 buckets. if its a new setup with no live stock, mix all in the tank. sound like your filling the tank with 24 gallons.

 

[homer1475]

New tank with dry rock, and sand?

Fill it up with plain RO/DI, dump salt in slowly next to a powerhead. Allow to mix for a while and measure.




As long as you have no livestock in the tank, it's a perfect way to get it filled up.

 

[tharbin]

Any of the methods above will work with an empty tank. My preference would be your original idea. I never liked mixing in a tank with sand and rock personally. I just feel it is too easy for salt to remain unmixed in pockets/crevices.

 

[GoVols]

New tank with dry rock, and sand?

Fill it up with plain RO/DI, dump salt in slowly next to a powerhead. Allow to mix for a while and measure.




As long as you have no livestock in the tank, it's a perfect way to get it filled up.

If it's dry rock totally agree.

+ the op can do a leak test before adding the salt.

 

[Dom]

HI all

I've got a probably stupid question but i need to ask anyway . So i have a 25 gallon tank and 3 x 8 gallon buckets for mixing water and only one power head and one heater so my question is , can i mix one batch on salt water and pour it in to the tank (there will be sand and rocks ) then next day I'll mix another batch and same thing on the 3rd day . or should i mix it, leave it in the buckets and when I'll have all 3 mixed then pour them in.

Thank You

If this is a new setup, you can mix it directly in the tank.

 

[Dom]

Any of the methods above will work with an empty tank. My preference would be your original idea. I never liked mixing in a tank with sand and rock personally. I just feel it is too easy for salt to remain unmixed in pockets/crevices.

Fair point. But you would add sand and rock AFTER the salt and water are mixed and at 35ppt.

 

[wieslawwichura]

Guys I've got another problem so water rocks and sands are all in the tank , but my canister filter is loud as fu.k . because its brand new and its on warranty they will send me new one but it might take 2 weeks . So i can use that filter through the day but i need to switch it off through the night . so i was planning to cycling my tank but i need to postponed that idea . how long its gonna take till that water in the tank goes bad , ill will be filtrating that tank probably 16 hours a day until i get new filter . what would you suggest in this situation . Thank You

 

[BrianAnthony]

I don't think the water will go "bad"... Just stagnate. If you had the filter running while everything was mixed up.. ie sand... The noise could be because of all the particulates being filtered and it clogged up something in your canister. I'd check that before returning. It could take a few days for the dust to settle in your tank.

 

[edd59]

Guys I've got another problem so water rocks and sands are all in the tank , but my canister filter is loud as fu.k . because its brand new and its on warranty they will send me new one but it might take 2 weeks . So i can use that filter through the day but i need to switch it off through the night . so i was planning to cycling my tank but i need to postponed that idea . how long its gonna take till that water in the tank goes bad , ill will be filtrating that tank probably 16 hours a day until i get new filter . what would you suggest in this situation . Thank You

you can run it with a power head or pump to circulate water.
sounds like you may have air trapped in your filter, try holding it on an angle or shaking it.

 

[tharbin]

Fair point. But you would add sand and rock AFTER the salt and water are mixed and at 35ppt.

Totally agree. I have read several posts though were people set up a tank put in the rock and sand, fill it with freshwater (hopefully purified) and then add salt. That I think is not a good idea.

 

[edd59]

Totally agree. I have read several posts though were people set up a tank put in the rock and sand, fill it with freshwater (hopefully purified) and then add salt. That I think is not a good idea.

only if its live rock, if its dead dry rock and regular sand it would not matter either way.

 

[3429810]

Any of the methods above will work with an empty tank. My preference would be your original idea. I never liked mixing in a tank with sand and rock personally. I just feel it is too easy for salt to remain unmixed in pockets/crevices.

I felt the same way when I started mine. I had enough space in buckets just not all in one so I filled the tank, mixed it in there, drained it back into my brutes then got the sand and rocks in and the put the water back in.

 

[tharbin]

only if its live rock, if its dead dry rock and regular sand it would not matter either way.

This is where I don't agree but to each their own.

Of course you never use anything other than sw with live rock. That is not even a discussion point.

The problem with in-tank-mixing with sand and rock in situ, I believe, is that it is too easy for unmixed salt granules to become trapped in the substrate/aquascape. Not only can that throw off your salinity if it does eventually mix but the raw granules can be toxic or at least an irritant to inhabitants. I don't promote the method as it is too easy for a new reefer to misapply the concept. Yes it is fine in a tank with no rock or sand. The tank is just another bucket or barrel at that point. But.. no I do not believe it is fine with the rock and sand in place. I think you are only adding another potential area for mistakes to be made.

 

[Karen00]

Guys I've got another problem so water rocks and sands are all in the tank , but my canister filter is loud as fu.k . because its brand new and its on warranty they will send me new one but it might take 2 weeks . So i can use that filter through the day but i need to switch it off through the night . so i was planning to cycling my tank but i need to postponed that idea . how long its gonna take till that water in the tank goes bad , ill will be filtrating that tank probably 16 hours a day until i get new filter . what would you suggest in this situation . Thank You

I would try to keep the water circulating if you can. Do you have a powerhead for the tank? That will work to keep it moving around. If not do you have a HOB filter kicking around? If so that will work. Just clean it out with vinegar and rinse it in RODI water if it's a used one (like from a freshwater tank) or maybe pick up a cheap one from a LFS or Amazon. The water will probably be fine if left standing just over night but if you can avoid it I think that's best. To answer your other question about mixing/adding saltwater. Even with a new tank I prefer doing that outside the tank. It doesn't matter if you mix it in multiple buckets or multiple times in a smaller bucket. Just make sure you're mixing it to the same temp and salinity and you'll be fine. Once done filling your tank retest the salinity after 24 hrs of the water circulating at temperature to make sure the salinity is still where you want it.

Edit: If you're using live sand and/or rock do not let that dry out either in the tank or outside of the tank. This is where you need to plan for keeping that wet either in the tank or in a holding container outside of the tank.