Initial fill; test with fresh water?

[carb850]

For those with tanks that have sumps, did you first run the system with FW to check for overflow and leak issues?

 

[Orr2003]

I assume it would be wise to do so but I never do because I always use True Union ball valves everywhere that I can close off to clean, fix, or repair something. I have about 15 of them on my system now.

 

[coralreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14596077#post14596077 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Orr2003
I assume it would be wise to do so but I never do because I always use True Union ball valves everywhere that I can close off to clean, fix, or repair something.

+1

 

[Orr2003]

+2

but it was supposed to say clean, fix, or replace. lol
not fix and repair, thats kinda like the same thing, sorta, isnt it?lol

 

[coralreefer]

Close enough that I didn't notice the difference. I was in awe that you've got 15 and we have 4.

 

[LtPiper]

Hehehe I ran into that when I was setting up my 55. I did indeed put fresh in to test everything BUT went ahead and used RODI water and tested. After making sure no leaks well what better place to mix up your salt in the water?

 

[Altpers0na]

i jumped in, prayed it was gonna work..

 

[solareclisped]

I am going to fill with filtered water and as long as there are no leaks I will add salt and be off.
Hopefully I will get this done this weekend.

 

[carb850]

Hmm, mixing salt in the tank might not be a bad idea if I did it before I added the rock.

 

[LtPiper]

I had the sand and the dry rock in the tank before I even put the water in. I did the test run with the water didn't have any leaks so added the salt and adjusted the salt water mix over probably 5 days till I was happy with it and then put in the live rock and started the cycle.

 

[coralreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14599062#post14599062 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carb850
Hmm, mixing salt in the tank might not be a bad idea if I did it before I added the rock.

I've always done it that way.

 

[rnhrtfan]

I set mine up in my garage for about two weeks and made sure that all my levels (sump, tank, etc.)were at good operating levels and that nothing would overflow in the case of a power outage (a lot of good that did). Then tore it all back down moved it inside, filled it with RO water and mixed the salt in the system. With the return pump, the overflow, skimmer and the Tunze powerheads it doesn't tanke long to mix the salt...

 

[Altpers0na]

w/ my 75, i added about half the water> sand > rock > water > salt. then let the pumps do most of the mixing.

 

[carb850]

So I decided to fill with tap water and it turned out to be a good choice. I found several issues I need to address and this way I"m not trying to preserve the water.