Can I add rodi water first?

[Bronest!]

Hello! I have a 40 gallon tank that I’m going to start building. I have a rodi system due to LFS being 2 hours away from me. I wanted to know if it’s fine with adding water from rodi into tank first would be fine and then once it’s added I can add the salt?

If it is should I first start with placing sand and the rock first? Or first start off with adding rodi water into tank.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Fish Fan]

I have a few thoughts I hope will help.

You can definitely add your RODI water to your tank, and then add your salt and mix it when your tank is new and empty. You never want to add salt crystals to a tank with livestock, that can be harmful.

I'm going to assume you're using dead, dry rock and bagged sand, and if so it's fine to add your rock and then your sand (many would rinse it well first!) and then start adding your water. When full, turn your return and circ pumps on, add your salt, and let it thoroughly mix.

Don't do this if you are using real, wet live rock and/or sand from your local store.

I hope that helps and good luck with your build!

 

[Bronest!]

I have a few thoughts I hope will help.

You can definitely add your RODI water to your tank, and then add your salt and mix it when your tank is new and empty. You never want to add salt crystals to a tank with livestock, that can be harmful.

I'm going to assume you're using dead, dry rock and bagged sand, and if so it's fine to add your rock and then your sand (many would rinse it well first!) and then start adding your water. When full, turn your return and circ pumps on, add your salt, and let it thoroughly mix.

Don't do this if you are using real, wet live rock and/or sand from your local store.

I hope that helps and good luck with your build!

I am using life rock ledges from caribsea and then base rock from caribsea that is dry and

I have caribsea arag alive live reef sand caribsea aragonite

What can I do with using these items I really want to avoid getting 8 5 gallon buckets and set them up with salt

 

[Fish Fan]

I am using life rock ledges from caribsea and then base rock from caribsea that is dry and

I have caribsea arag alive live reef sand caribsea aragonite

What can I do with using these items I really want to avoid getting 8 5 gallon buckets and set them up with salt

Nothing to worry about here! I would give the rocks a rinse (tap water is fine) just to knock any dust off them. You can (many say should) rinse that sand. Theoretically, you should rinse with saltwater because the sand is said to be live, but it's really no more live than a bag of dry sand and a bottle of bacteria. With that in mind, most rinse this sand under a faucet or even a hose, right in the bag or in a 5 gallon pail. Once your tank is fully filled and running, you can begin to nitrogen cycle the tank using a good bottled bacteria product, or by seeding with some good, wet live rock fro your local LFS, along with a source of ammonia to get the bacteria growing.

I hope that helps, please post back with further questions! Good luck!

 

[Bronest!]

I am using life rock ledges from caribsea and then base rock from caribsea that is dry and

I have caribsea arag alive live reef sand caribsea aragonite

What can I do with using these items I really want to avoid getting 8 5 gallon buckets and set them up with salt

Nothing to worry about here! I would give the rocks a rinse (you can use RODI or tap is fine) just to knock any dust off them. You can (many say should) rinse that sand. Theoretically, you should rinse with saltwater because the sand is said to be live, but it's really no more live than a bag of dry sand and a bottle of bacteria. With that in mind, most rinse this sand under a faucet or even a hose, right in the bag or in a 5 gallon pail. Once your tank is fully filled and running, you ca begin to nitrogen cycle the tank using a god bottled bacteria product, or by seeding with some good, wet live rock fro your local LFS, along with a source of ammonia to get the bacteria growing.

I hope that helps, please post back with further questions! Good luck!

So this would be the steps

1. Add rodi water to the tank

2. Add salt and mix (for how long?)

3. Once done mixing add sand and rock after dusting off

4. Add beneficial bacteria (is turbo 900 fine?) I also have a bottle of ammonia from Dr Tims coming tomorrow - do I need to add this if so how many drops for a 40 gallon?


Does this list of steps sound about right?

 

[Kooma]

I am using life rock ledges from caribsea and then base rock from caribsea that is dry and

I have caribsea arag alive live reef sand caribsea aragonite

What can I do with using these items I really want to avoid getting 8 5 gallon buckets and set them up with salt

Fill the tank empty about 80% full with RODI and then add your salt. Mix, bring up to temp and adjust. When you tank is a big mixed bucket of saltwater, add your rock and sand. it will be cloudy, thats fine, it will go away.

 

[Fish Fan]

So this would be the steps

1. Add rodi water to the tank

2. Add salt and mix (for how long?)

3. Once done mixing add sand and rock after dusting off

4. Add beneficial bacteria (is turbo 900 fine?) I also have a bottle of ammonia from Dr Tims coming tomorrow - do I need to add this if so how many drops for a 40 gallon?


Does this list of steps sound about right?

That sounds fine, just don't fill your tank to the brim before adding your rock and sand

Some might suggest rinsing the rock and sand and getting that in place first, then adding the RODI to the tank, but in the end I don't think it matters that much. If your water gets cloudy when you first set up the tank, it will settle out in 2 or 3 days, especially if you run some mechanical media like floss or your filter socks.

Once you're up and running, you can add your bacteria and source of ammonia and get your cycle going. Between the two products, I suggest the Dr. Tims because I am starting to believe it includes a better species of bacteria that you want long term, but the Fritz product is well liked, and hands down the quickest product to start working, though may not include the *best* bacteria in the short term. Either product is fine, one or the other is fine, many use both, but there is a danger of overdosing these products, so I would use one and follow the directions for dosing on the bottle.

 

[Bronest!]

So this would be the steps

1. Add rodi water to the tank

2. Add salt and mix (for how long?)

3. Once done mixing add sand and rock after dusting off

4. Add beneficial bacteria (is turbo 900 fine?) I also have a bottle of ammonia from Dr Tims coming tomorrow - do I need to add this if so how many drops for a 40 gallon?


Does this list of steps sound about right?

That sounds fine, just don't fill your tank to the brim before adding your rock and sand

Some might suggest rinsing the rock and sand and getting that in place first, then adding the RODI to the tank, but in the end I don't think it matters that much. If your water gets cloudy when you first set up the tank, it will settle out in 2 or 3 days, especially if you run some mechanical media like floss or your filter socks.

Once you're up and running, you can add your bacteria and source of ammonia and get your cycle going. Between the two products, I suggest the Dr. Tims because I am starting to believe it includes a better species of bacteria that you want long term, but the Fritz product is well liked, and hands down the quickest product to start working, though may not include the *best* bacteria in the short term. Either product is fine, one or the other is fine, many use both, but there is a danger of overdosing these products, so I would use one and follow the directions for dosing on the bottle.

Thank you so much for your support!

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

oops, wrong thread

 

[gbroadbridge]

Thank you so much for your support!

Just remember that if you add the rock after the water, the rock will displace a lot of water so you could overflow the tank.

Only 50-60% fill the tank, then add the rock - then top up with water.