Slowly starting a salty tank

[Andrew_B]

Nah, I have nothing reducing the flow from it, if that's what you're asking. It's going through about 18" of 3/4" ID tubing then jumps up to 1" ID pvc

[Andrew_B]

Update: Tank is almost full of RO/DI water, when it's full, I'll be adding the salt and mixing it with the powerheads. Substrate (caribsea seaflor special grade reef sand 1-2mm) is in, still a little cloudy. Tossed on a random HOB with new floss filters to help get rid of some of the garbage for the next couple days.



Now with the pump being so loud, for the time being, I'm just going to use this rio pump for the sump return. It's a little stronger, but still won't really push 350 at 5' so it won't be bad. it's a lot quieter.

[rage]

I am not sure what you are trying to do adding salt to RO water to mix with sand in it no less.
Did you say you just want to add water to test the plumbing and leaks?
For that tap water would be just fine. If you are going to make the salt water you will use later then why not use DI water, it's purer. In any case, if you put salt in now, in order for the power head to mix the salt , it will need to blow salt and sand all over the place.

[myjohnson]

I've done this before....zero issues.

Salt just mixes with the water.

He is using RO/DI water....

[eklikewhoa]

if you have 100% silicone paste, it helps quite down the mag pump when put on the magnet till it breaks in but I think all mags have the "hum" from vibrations. I have mine on a folded rubber/foam mat, previous mags were placed on a styrofoam piece.

[Andrew_B]

I started adding the dry rock I have while getting the salt mixed. Most of this dry stuff was tonga branch, I dig the look of the stuff as long as it's just a few pieces. The open spaces will be for the live rock Ill be picking up soon. Obviously have to wait on the salt levels to be stable before adding that stuff. Also, don't mind the tape on glass, I was keeping track of ro/di fill speeds. I was filling about 1.5gph since I have a low pressure sink.

[myjohnson]

Good start!

Let the waiting begin. :)

[Andrew_B]

Ugh, tell me about it, as if the 2-3 weeks getting to this point hasn't been painful enough, hah. I'm sure this live rock I'm getting will be top notch, so it should help the wait time, but yeah. It's not worth adding all of that bacteria garbage right? Waiting is always better?

[Bedlamer]

If you are refering to this stuff... http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/ Its not garbage. In the last few months several of the local MARSH guys have used it, and say it works well.

[rage]

I've done this before....zero issues.

Salt just mixes with the water.

He is using RO/DI water....

Eventually it will be done but while it's mixing, if the pump does not stir up the sand, it doesn't stir up the salt either.

[Andrew_B]

The salt isnt even reaching the sand before its dissolved. Did a couple less cups of salt than the instructions said for my overall tank and Im sitting at 1.024 salinity now. Giving it another day of running to stabilize before adding anything. Seems to be working for me.

[myjohnson]

Ugh, tell me about it, as if the 2-3 weeks getting to this point hasn't been painful enough, hah. I'm sure this live rock I'm getting will be top notch, so it should help the wait time, but yeah. It's not worth adding all of that bacteria garbage right? Waiting is always better?

I used dry rock on my last set up and used mb7. Cut my cycle time down to two weeks.

p.s. I actually have half a bottle left if you want to try it.

[rage]

The salt isnt even reaching the sand before its dissolved. Did a couple less cups of salt than the instructions said for my overall tank and Im sitting at 1.024 salinity now. Giving it another day of running to stabilize before adding anything. Seems to be working for me.

That is interesting.
I mix my new salt water in an empty 29G, I put salt in and it would settle at the bottom for a couple hrs before it dissolve. I use a maxijet 1200.

My guess is that some of your salt dissolve before it hit the bottom but some settle at the bottom without you knowing it. It can't all simply dissolve before it reaches the sand.

[myjohnson]

Depends on brand.

I notice oceanic sea salt dissolves fast than others.

[johnnymisty]

Depends on how fast you dump it the red sea coral pro salt dissolves pretty fast for me when I mix id say about 90% dissolves before it hits bottom