First Time Set Up - A Few Questions

[stlredbird]

Happy to be here. This forum helped me pick out the tank we are now setting up.

My son had been begging all year for a saltwater tank and I could not convince him otherwise so here I am :)

We went with the HelloReef 15 Gallon b/c it had everything we needed to get started in a single package. However, I feel like we are having some issues.

1. I can't seem to get the water temp above 76, according to the thermometer sticker on the outside of the tank. I have cranked the heater up little by little over the last 3 days and it doesn't seem to make a difference. According to the tutorial I believe we are supposed to be around 78. The tank is in my son's room which tends to be a little colder than the rest of the house, could the ambient temp effect the thermometer reading?

2. It also seems to be evaporating about a lot of water daily. Like maybe a 1/5 of a gallon. Is that normal?

3. As water evaporates and I have to add water, will I need to add salt as well?

Sorry for what I'm sure are super noob questions but I am a super noob at this.

Thanks!

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#WelcometoR2R

1. I can't seem to get the water temp above 76, according to the thermometer sticker on the outside of the tank. I have cranked the heater up little by little over the last 3 days and it doesn't seem to make a difference. According to the tutorial I believe we are supposed to be around 78. The tank is in my son's room which tends to be a little colder than the rest of the house, could the ambient temp effect the thermometer reading?

The ambient temp won't bring down the temp that much, unless your poor son was sleeping in a very cold room. I keep tanks in my lower level at about 65 F, and they stay up to temp no problem.

I would double check with another thermometer, those stick on ones are not that great, in my opinion. If you have one, try a decent kitchen temp probe.

2. It also seems to be evaporating about a lot of water daily. Like maybe a 1/5 of a gallon. Is that normal?

Yes, especially in the winter with the dryer air. The evap will "show" in the rerun section of your AIO system. You need to keep that topped up with fresh water, don't add salt, the salt doesn't evaporate, only the water evaporates.

You can top up manually, but *when* that gets annoying, you can add an Auto Top Off unit that automates this process, which is not just convenient, it goes a very long way to maintaining a stable salinity, which is very important for coral health.

Ideally, you'll want to be using a purified fresh water to make your own saltwater and to replace evaporated fresh water. Many use an RODI water system, or you can use gallon jugs of distilled water from the grocery store. Alternatively, your local fish store may sell both purified RODI water and premade saltwater. Using tap water can be problematic for most people, depending entirely on the quality of their tap water.

If you're brand new to reef tanks, check out this guide and this video series. Please post back with further questions.

Good luck!

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is nowhere near simple. This task is going to take patience, a...

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[KrisReef]

Salt doesn't evaporate, so replacement ("top off water") is RODI, not tap. Evaporation is normal, especially when the heater is running.

76 is a better temp than 78, ime.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I keep my tanks at 75-76 also

 

[StartingATank]

Mine stays at 76 daily and sometimes during the day goes up to 78 because of the heat my light produces. Keep all water that goes into the tank RODI, and have top off water be RODI. Welcome to R2R.

 

[stlredbird]

Thanks everyone!

 

[TJ42]

Welcome to r2r! New tank/reefer questions are always great! Keep 'em coming.

 

[ECoast0023]

HAd the same problem with room ambient temp crushing my desired ranges. Above all tho, fresh water for evaporation, salt is going to stay behind and creep lol. So awesome to hear your son and yourself getting into the hobby tho, a lot of good times ahead! Best of luck.