Filling up tank first time?

[StephenRU]

Do I make sure the sump & DT are filled before I turn the pumps on? Never set up tank with a sump before. Its 180 gallons and the sump is a 75 gallon tank (going to filled around 30 gallons I assume, not really sure yet!). Also when should I put the rocks/sand in. I was going to mix the salt in with the water the first time in the tank then add rocks/sand/chaeto for the DT/Sump.

Sincerely,
Steve

 

[Joeb1983]

I usually fill the main display with rodi water just befoe the overflow teeth and then add salt and mix with a heater and the powerheads for however long the particular salt states mixing for.

Then add the sand and let it settle out for a day or so and add the rock.

Or vice versa of you add rock first.

Then usually just make salt to fill the sump to where I think it needs to be and throw the return on and either add or remove water as needed.

 

[Deleted member 336650]

Do I make sure the sump & DT are filled before I turn the pumps on?

Yes

Never set up tank with a sump before. Its 180 gallons and the sump is a 75 gallon tank (going to filled around 30 gallons I assume, not really sure yet!).

Make sure that when the pumps are off that the sump will not overflow in case of power outage. Other than that just try to keep a consistent level in your return section of the sump.

Also when should I put the rocks/sand in.

I waited til the saltwater was mixed b/c I used live rock & live sand.

I was going to mix the salt in with the water the first time in the tank then add rocks/sand/chaeto for the DT/Sump.

This is what I did as well. I did run with RODI for a couple of days before mixing in salt to make sure there were no leaks.

Good luck

 

[StephenRU]

Yes



Make sure that when the pumps are off that the sump will not overflow in case of power outage. Other than that just try to keep a consistent level in your return section of the sump.



I waited til the saltwater was mixed b/c I used live rock & live sand.



This is what I did as well. I did run with RODI for a couple of days before mixing in salt to make sure there were no leaks.

Good luck

How do I "Make sure that when the pumps are off that the sump will not overflow in case of power outage. Other than that just try to keep a consistent level in your return section of the sump."

Just by having them off make sure sump isn't full or...? The guy told me about 10 gallons of water comes into the sump when the return isn't working (not sure if accurate). I bought the tank off craigslist so...

 

[thegrun]

To predict exactly how much water will when the pumps are turned off is difficult, but you should be able to get close by taking the cubic inches of tank space above the bottom of the slots of your overflow box, assuming that your return has an anti-siphon hole drilled in it so you do not pull water from the return opening. You want to have at least that many square inches (or convert the square inches to gallons (231 cu. in. per gallon)) above the top of your return pump. If the previous owner says it had 10 gallons of drain down water you would need at least 2310 cubic inches above your pump.

 

[JMorris271]

Another way is to fill your sump to the max amount of water that you are comfortable with while
the pumps off. Mark that level on your sump..If you add anything to the sump when that pump is off,
do not add to the point above that line you drew. You will have a flood if you do.

Now turn on the pump. The rising water will spill into your overflow filling it to the point that it reaches the drain in the overflow and begins to drain into the sump. The level you have in your sump now is called the normal operating level. You will have to tweak it some to compensate to get the desired level you need for you skimmer and so on.
I'm sure I didn't get it all but that is a good start. Good Luck

 

[madweazl]

I usually fill the main display with rodi water just befoe the overflow teeth and then add salt and mix with a heater and the powerheads for however long the particular salt states mixing for.

Then add the sand and let it settle out for a day or so and add the rock.

Or vice versa of you add rock first.

Then usually just make salt to fill the sump to where I think it needs to be and throw the return on and either add or remove water as needed.

Wanted to add that a best practice is to add the rock prior to the sand so you don't have any inadvertent shifting due to settling or burrowing critters.

 

[CarrieB]

And obviously if the tank is full of water you are going to need to remove some as you add other stuff (sand, rock, etc.)


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