Initial fill for new tank

[sarimus]

Hello all
NOOB question
I have filled my 450 litre tank with RO water, the tank has live rock and carb sea sand. At the moment the sump is empty so I’m ready to add water and turn it on.
My question is, how do I add the salt to it.
Can I just make up a 20 litre bucket and add enough salt for say 400 litres then when it’s all dissolved just pour it into the tank then wait a few days and add more salt if needed.
Thanks
Trevor

 

[winxp_man]

Well you killed the bacteria on the live rock and sand, well depending on how long you have had the tank filled with only RO water. Salt water bacteria depending on strains can last longer periods or some are short periods in fresh water. I don’t think the sand and rocks will have issues cycling once you get new bacteria dosed in tank.

So you can mix concentrated salt to fill the tank with as you remove RO water from the tank.

 

[kevgib67]

^ This!

 

[get-salty]

if there is no CUC in the tank.
just add salt directly into the display with running power head.
Mix to 1.025

 

[Gumbies R Us]

if there is no CUC in the tank.
just add salt directly into the display with running power head.
Mix to 1.025

This is what I did when I didn't have anything living in my tank

 

[BryanM]

Sadness if you really had ocean live rock and only put it in RODI water :(

 

[winxp_man]

Sadness if you really had ocean live rock and only put it in RODI water :(

Almost a waste.

 

[slingfox]

That doesn’t look like live rock from the ocean or some existing system.

Assuming no tank inhabitants you can just add salt to the RO in the tank and have the powerheads stir things up. Generally it is best practice to mix the saltwater in some sort of container (eg, a bucket or barrel) and then add the into the tank via manual pouring or a pump. I personally use a Sicce Zero pump connected to a Python hose to move saltwater to and from the display tank.