Moving lots of water to fill tank (1 Viewer)

[cobraden]

I am about ready to fill my 350 and am debating on either running my RO/DI unit for 3 days to fill it or just buying water from a LFS and getting it done. I have 2 35gallon containers that I could just make 4 trips back and forth to a store but I'd like to avoid that. Has anyone ever moved 200+ gallons of water to fill a tank? What did you do? Is there a way to have it delivered?

 

[Clownfish Chris]

If it is the first shot and you are using dry rock, just run your RODI directly into the tank. When it is full, add salt slowly into the sump to mix it. This is what I did.

 

[madehtsobi]

I filled up my 200 gallon tote and borrowed a 300 tote and filled up with rodi water first n pumped it into my 400 tank when I first started.

U can borrow the totes if u want...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PSXerholic]

My recommendation is to learn to be patient and use a large bucket of 30G (Homedepot) fill it with RODI and mix SW in it with a pump.
Then you can pump it straight into the tank when full.
Do that until the tank is full.

That gives you the chance to put Live Sand into the tank and slowly fill it up as well the tank can start clearing up with the new sand and bacteria can start to grow.
Also you know what water you got for the first fill!

Takes 3 exiting days, until the tank is full.....................

-Andre

 

[FarmerTy]

If it is the first shot and you are using dry rock, just run your RODI directly into the tank. When it is full, add salt slowly into the sump to mix it. This is what I did.

I did exactly this.

 

[cobraden]

I filled up my 200 gallon tote and borrowed a 300 tote and filled up with rodi water first n pumped it into my 400 tank when I first started.

U can borrow the totes if u want...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I may just take you up on that! Thanks for the offer.

 

[Mark L.]

My recommendation is to learn to be patient and use a large bucket of 30G (Homedepot) fill it with RODI and mix SW in it with a pump.
Then you can pump it straight into the tank when full.
Do that until the tank is full.

That gives you the chance to put Live Sand into the tank and slowly fill it up as well the tank can start clearing up with the new sand and bacteria can start to grow.
Also you know what water you got for the first fill!

Takes 3 exiting days, until the tank is full.....................

-Andre

This is exactly what I did and recommend. I have a 65 gallon container that I filled with ro/di water, added salt and started mixing with pump. While that was mixing I scaped my tank with rock. Once the rock was in and the water was mixed for 24hrs I added my live sand to tank then slowly started to fill the tank with the 65 gal. Once that was empty I started over. Fill 65 gal with ro/di, add salt, mix. 24 hours later pump into tank. repeat until 240 gallons of saltwater was in tank and sump.

One thing you never want to do. Do not add rock & sand to tank, fill tank with ro/di water, turn pumps on and add salt to sump. By doing this you trap freshwater in the sand and rocks. Takes forever for your cleanup crew to mix the sand enough to get saltwater down in it. You will probably always have spots of very low salinity.

 

[PSXerholic]

This is exactly what I did and recommend. I have a 65 gallon container that I filled with ro/di water, added salt and started mixing with pump. While that was mixing I scaped my tank with rock. Once the rock was in and the water was mixed for 24hrs I added my live sand to tank then slowly started to fill the tank with the 65 gal. Once that was empty I started over. Fill 65 gal with ro/di, add salt, mix. 24 hours later pump into tank. repeat until 240 gallons of saltwater was in tank and sump.

One thing you never want to do. Do not add rock & sand to tank, fill tank with ro/di water, turn pumps on and add salt to sump. By doing this you trap freshwater in the sand and rocks. Takes forever for your cleanup crew to mix the sand enough to get saltwater down in it. You will probably always have spots of very low salinity.

Mark,

Great job mentioning that.
This issue I see a lot with trapped DI water in sand beds turning out in fouling sand beds.

Andre

 

[Mark L.]

Mark,

Great job mentioning that.
This issue I see a lot with trapped DI water in sand beds turning out in fouling sand beds.

Andre

Thanks Andre. Yeah I've seen it a lot also. Some will fill the entire system with ro/di for a leak test while leaving sand/rocks our. They then add salt with pumps on to mix. Once saltwater is mixed they aquascape and add sand. This is OK to do but you always end up having to remove water due to the rock/sand displacement. It's also harder to aquascape underwater. Doable though.

 

[cobraden]

Thanks Andre. Yeah I've seen it a lot also. Some will fill the entire system with ro/di for a leak test while leaving sand/rocks our. They then add salt with pumps on to mix. Once saltwater is mixed they aquascape and add sand. This is OK to do but you always end up having to remove water due to the rock/sand displacement. It's also harder to aquascape underwater. Doable though.

That is actually my preferred method. Reason being I actually like doing the scape under water and any water I take out I save for later use.

 

[Reefahholic]

I like to add all the sand first. This will prevent a sand storm depending on how fine a grain you go with. Then just go to Lowe's or HD and buy 20', 30', or 50' of RODI tubing. It's so cheap! Run the line into the tank (after the sand and rock is added). It's very nice to add sand when it's dry and then rock when it's dry. You have the opportunity to easily move things around more without getting water up your armpits. You can stand back and look at the tank and get it just right. No need to dry your arms off 50x while trying to scape the tank. This is of course if your using DR. If you have LR, Just mix up a couple 44/G brutes and then add the 88/G and set the rock in. After that, you can run the RO line to the tank (Mixing salt in sump chamber) or continue to mix in brutes while you add each as they get full. You'll want to stick a heater in the tank and provide flow for the LR while waiting on fresh SW of course.

IMO, investing in at least two 44/G brutes is the way to go. If you order online form Lowe's or HD, you can get any color you want pretty much and any sizes you want. They arrive (free shipping) pretty much the same day or at the longest- the next day. lol

I'd mix in the brutes. Throw a mag 9 in there and talk about mix some salt fast. Don't forget dolly's with your brutes. You can wheel them around if needed.

Be patient.

 

[Reefahholic]

These white 55's are clean! Wish they had 55's when I bought mine.

 

[seaweed88]

Are the new Brute trash cans food grade? I know back when I bought mine they were.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Reefahholic]

Yeah, they have to be NSF. I'm pretty sure they all are.

 

[below radar]

I did my leak test with reg water. After that I added sand, rock, then saltwater.