Freshwater

[Mussin]

Filling up my setup with freshwater then adding salt. Can I put sand and dry rock in freshwater for a few days until I add salt? Ordered it online but want to start setting the rock work up today.

 

[billdogg]

If it's all dry, then yes. But only for initial setup. Once there is livestock in the system, DO NOT add salt directly to the tank. Mix it in a separate barrel or bucket to get it to the correct salinity and then add.

Also - be careful not to overshoot your goal - it is easy to overestimate your water volume and add too much salt.

 

[Mussin]

Thanks.. I usually just add saltwater to start a build. But with this much water volume I think it's easier to do it this way.. I'm adding straight tap water. Add prime to cancel the chlorine. Let it run fro a few days then add salt and let the cycle begin..

 

[billdogg]

If you have a rodi, you'll be further ahead to fill it using that. No Prime needed. There wouldn't be any nasties in there.

 

[Mussin]

I do... My sump is filled with rodi but I have no way of getting it up stairs to my 180 unless I carry buckets and that's not happening. Lol

 

[SantaMonica]

Yea prime would not be a great idea if you are planning corals, even though they say it won't harm them.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Having RO/DI and not being able to use it is a shame. Couldn't you add it to your sump and use the return pump to get it into your display?

 

[Sk8r]

We have a similar situation, and looked at this nice AC vent beside our freshwater tank. That vent is accessible in the basement. We take the cover off the vent, punch a nice little hole in the bottom of the vent, thread a small hose up to the level of the living room and out through the grille, then use it and a 5 gallon bucket at either end to pump ro/di up to fill our discus tank. Can't overflow if we pump from a 5 gallon to a five gallon. we COULD pipe it directly to the discus tank, but just getting it up there is enough for us.

 

[billdogg]

Having RO/DI and not being able to use it is a shame. Couldn't you add it to your sump and use the return pump to get it into your display?

^^^DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER!!!^^^

How were you planning on getting it up from the sump once it's all set up? Maybe a return pump???