What comes first Salt or Substrate?

[Dom]

Working on a new build. Making my RODI directly into the system. Should I get my salinity up to 35ppt, stop the pumps and add thoroughly rinsed substrate?

OR

Should I add substrate first and THEN add bring the system up to 35ppt?

 

[firmefatboy799]

ive always been told make your saltwater outside of the system in a bucket or trash can never inside the system, I don't know if your question is just for your initial setup or for prolonged use, I guess if you have no where to mix it and the tank is 100% empty you could mix it and make sure its thoroughly mixed then add the substrate the one time, Ive always put the substrate first then added water but hey to each their own I guess,

 

[Dom]

ive always been told make your saltwater outside of the system in a bucket or trash can never inside the system, I don't know if your question is just for your initial setup or for prolonged use, I guess if you have no where to mix it and the tank is 100% empty you could mix it and make sure its thoroughly mixed then add the substrate the one time, Ive always put the substrate first then added water but hey to each their own I guess,

Yes, that is true when doing water changes. But if you were building, say a 300 gallon tank, would you go out and buy a 300 gallon mixing tub to make your water? Probably not.

 

[firmefatboy799]

Yes, that is true when doing water changes. But if you were building, say a 300 gallon tank, would you go out and buy a 300 gallon mixing tub to make your water? Probably not.

you are correct in that scenario hahaha, so with that in mind yea I would mix up before substrate to negate any undissolved salt hiding in the substrate then leaching in later and screwing up things

 

[Flippers4pups]

Rock, substrate, water. In that order.

 

[firmefatboy799]

well now you've got me thinking if I had a 300 gallon tank I would probably have a 100 gallon rodi/salt making station cause water changes would be a P.I.T.A!!!

 

[Vette67]

I have a 180. I made all of my RO water in my basement, and carried it upstairs in a 5 gallon water jug. That was a lot of trips. If you add substrate first, you won’t be able to thoroughly mix the salt crystals in the tank without creating a dust storm. Some of the salt solids will fall into the substrate. But no, you don’t need to mix all 300 gallons at a time. It took me days to fill my tank. I just kept the partially filled tank circulating with a power head.

 

[MaxxuM]

In my 120g I mixed in the tank/sump and added sand the next day. The sand was 'alive' so I added it in large scoops with no washing. Doing it this way was much faster than mixing in multiple trash bins.

If the sand is dry I'd wash it of course. If it's alive, I'd add it slowly in small buckets. Just don't forget to pull out saltwater as you go or it will overflow.

 

[Dom]

Rock, substrate, water. In that order.

Guess I'm going out and buying a 100 gallon tub! LOL

 

[Flippers4pups]

Guess I'm going out and buying a 100 gallon tub! LOL

If your rock is dry rock, sand is dry, it won't matter. If your rock is "live", fill the tank first with RO/DI water, add salt to 35 ppt, get the temp up, add the rock and then the sand. Easy peazzy.

 

[Dom]

If your rock is dry rock, sand is dry, it won't matter. If your rock is "live", fill the tank first with RO/DI water, add salt to 35 ppt, get the temp up, add the rock and then the sand. Easy peazzy.

Oh... okay. I misunderstood.

Yes, this is a rebuild; I've connected two tanks to one sump. I decided to make new water and move everything over from their holding tanks.

So my plan is:

1. Fill system with RODI.
2. Add mix until measuring 35ppt.
3. Temp set to match holding tanks.
4. Add substrate.
5. Move over rock, coral and livestock.

Thank you to everyone for their advice.

Dom

 

[Flippers4pups]

Oh... okay. I misunderstood.

Yes, this is a rebuild; I've connected two tanks to one sump. I decided to make new water and move everything over from their holding tanks.

So my plan is:

1. Fill system with RODI.
2. Add mix until measuring 35ppt.
3. Temp set to match holding tanks.
4. Add substrate.
5. Move over rock, coral and livestock.

Thank you to everyone for their advice.

Dom

@Dom,

I would add the rock first, then the sand to avoid sand shifting and a potential rock slide. Just saying.

Fins up!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I mix salt within the Empty tank and allow to fully dissolve, then I add substrate and then scape it.
Everyone will have their own tested and successful method.