Uncycled tank, making salt water

[Theulli]

Hello! Will I regret filling my new tank with RO/DI water, and then making the salt water directly in it by pouring salt in and letting the overflow/return pump churn it? It's 100G, so if I am making the saltwater my usual way - 5g at a time, letting it mix for 24 hours - it's going to take a looong time.

Thanks!

 

[PeterC99]

No problem mixing the salt in your aquarium to start, as long as no fish or corals in the aquarium yet. Once there are inhabitants, you CANNOT mix salt in the aquarium.

 

[Theulli]

No problem mixing the salt in your aquarium to start, as long as no fish or corals in the aquarium yet. Once there are inhabitants, you CANNOT mix salt in the aquarium.

Definitely won't be doing it if there are critters in there, or even live sand or rock. I am upgrading from 20G, so the little saltwater supply chain I've worked out isn't up to the task!

Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[PeterC99]

Good luck with the upgrade. Looking forward to reading your build thread!

 

[dank reefer]

Also it would be best to do it with no sand or rock in the tank either so that it could fully dissolve.

 

[Jposch]

Yes. You can definitely mix it in a bare system without rock or sand. Be sure to only fill like 60% so you have room for rock and sand. And then top off with saltwater once the rock and sand are done displacing water.