New build

[Unkle Savage]

Hi
I have just completed building my 2000L tank and want to test it with tap water. My plan is to fill the tank and then add ATM Barrier to deal with the chlorine etc. Once this has run I will drain the tank then fill with fresh salt water and transfer my live rock from my other tanks. Is this a sensible plan? and should I also add some water from my other tanks. The 2 I am closing down are 700L and 300L respectively all these quantities do not include the sumps. Both tanks are very mature and I intend to use most of the sand as again it is live, any advice would be welcome.

 

[griss]

Congratulations on the new tank. Please post pictures once you get it set up.

Your plan to test with tap water is a solid plan, IMO. Although, I don't think you need to use the ATM Barrier if you're just going to discard the test water. That will save you a little money.

Too schools of thought on using water from existing tanks.

1. As long as the water parameters of the new (particularly temperature, salinity, pH, Alk) match or a VERY close to your existing tanks, there's no need to use water from the existing tanks.

2. As long as the water parameters (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite) are under control in your existing tanks, there's no reason not to use that water. In fact, if the parameters (mentioned in #1) are off, using water from the existing tanks will help to equalize those parameters between the tanks.

Personally, whenever I have upgraded/moved tanks, I always use some of the water from existing tanks.

Good luck with the tank transfer and, please, keep us updated.

 

[Unkle Savage]

Thanks Griss

The only reason for using the ATM barrier is that I have made a background using polystyrene and fast drying waterproof cement. I did this with my 700L and it worked great as it doesn't leach. That tank was fine and I didn't need to test it just filled with salt water gave it a week to mature then added fish. With this one I don't want any lingering chemicals on the background, here is a picture while I was building it I'll take some more when it's up and running.

 

[griss]

Thanks Griss

The only reason for using the ATM barrier is that I have made a background using polystyrene and fast drying waterproof cement. I did this with my 700L and it worked great as it doesn't leach. That tank was fine and I didn't need to test it just filled with salt water gave it a week to mature then added fish. With this one I don't want any lingering chemicals on the background, here is a picture while I was building it I'll take some more when it's up and running.

Ah, the background, didn't realize you had that. In that case, I'd use the dechlorinator.