Initial fill help

[theuksnoobreefer]

Hi all,

I’m just about to begin setting up my Fluval Evo 13.5 after it’s been soaked and cleaned in citric acid.

I’m using Caribsea live sand and some dry rock.

My question is, should I put the sand and rock in, fill with RODI and mix the salt in the tank for the initial fill?

Or should I add sand and rock, and do a few 5gal batches? I don’t see the point of me buying a huge container that I am going to use once, plus I don’t really have the space.

 

[raythereefer]

Front what I've seen If you are going to mix the salt in the tank do it before adding the sand , then add rock on to the base of the tank and then sand.

 

[Buckster]

I have a 40 gallon barrel in my garage that I make the RODI and then add salt. The salinity is 1,023. You should never mix the salt and water in the tank. If you can't get a container large enough then mix it in 5 gallon buckets and then add to the tank. I would put the rock and sand in first and then add the salt water.

 

[theuksnoobreefer]

I have a 40 gallon barrel in my garage that I make the RODI and then add salt.. The salinity is 1,023. You should never mix the salt and water in the tank. If you can't get a container large enough then mix it in 5 gallon buckets.

Yeah I think I’ll do this. I’ll have to do multiple batches. Only concern is the water will be in the tank for an hour or so while the next batch mixes and so on. Will that be ok?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

It will be fine to do it that way for the initial filling.

A 13.5 minus the rocks and sand is really just about 10 gallons anyway, so 2 x 5 gallon buckets. So its not much work this way either.