Silly Salt question

Big Ed · 05-10-2001, 02:59 PM

O.K. I have 4" of sand in the bottom of my tank. I am adding R/O water to it as fast as the filter will spit it out (50 gpd). My question is, if I add the salt now will it effect the sand, or should I wait until the tank is full of water and add the sand when it's up and running? I don't know if Hypersalinity will effect the sand or not. I've heard it can cause clumping problems. I have a 225 gallon tank with 4" of Yardright TPS in the bottom and the water right now is just over the sand. I don't have a new clean garbage can to mix the saltwater in, I was just going to throw it in the tank and let it circulate for a few days.
Ed

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See my work in progress at http://bigedsreef.homestead.com/bigedsreef.html

FishKid · 05-10-2001, 03:12 PM

if thats the only way you have to do it, then i would wait until the water is atleast 5inches higher than the surface of the sand, so you can put in a as many powerheads as possible, than add the salt, im not sure what the dosing is, as i find it to be always different... for a generalization, start with 1/2 a cup of salt per gal just to get an idea of how much salt you will need, and keep testing the salinity, up the doseage if needed. if you put in too much, dont worry this can be corrected with water changes.

hope that helps [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img]
mark

**Ninong** · 05-10-2001, 04:32 PM

BigEd ~

What are you going to use to mix saltwater later on for water changes?

I don't think it's a good idea to do it the way you are doing it. I have heard of people mixing saltwater in a completely empty tank (no sand) but it's probably not the best idea in the world to mix it with the sand bed already in place.

I think it would be better to mix it in a separate container and then add it to the tank. However, if you intend to continue adding RO/DI water to the tank before adding the salt mix, I think you should wait until the tank is nearly full before adding the salt.

Good luck!

Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

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Irrational Exuberance!

SCETT316 · 05-10-2001, 04:37 PM

My tank is filled up with wtr. right up the returns. (since my plumbing is still not done) [img]/ubb/frown.gif[/img] The DSB is in place, and I added the salt after the sand and wtr. Why is it bad? I guess then I messed up again.......
Susan

**golfish** · 05-10-2001, 04:45 PM

I would have put all the water in then the salt and mixed with your circulation pumps for a few days then add the sand but I guess its too late for that[img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img] I would make sure to dissolve the salt before adding to the tank

Big Ed · 05-10-2001, 05:14 PM

What if I put the salt in the overflow boxes, that way it won't be in the sand to cause problems, and will be mixed in slowly as the system circulates.
I have a couple of 5 gallon buckets to mix the saltwater in for changes, but not enough to do 225 gallons in.
Ed

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See my work in progress at http://bigedsreef.homestead.com/bigedsreef.html

Ltspd · 05-10-2001, 05:52 PM

No Susan you did fine the way you did it. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

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Paul C
Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler.
Einstein

SCETT316 · 05-10-2001, 05:56 PM

Thx Paul, I feel better now. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
Susan

Biomanjcs72 · 05-10-2001, 06:44 PM

IF you've got a sump and it's empty, wait til the bugger is full and start the pump and dump the salt in the sump? [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

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JCS
"Take one and pass it back, just like your IQ's were normal."
-Professor Hathaway in the movie"Real Genius"

Elmo18 · 05-11-2001, 08:41 AM

I put in sand first, then mixed water in black garbage cans, and mixed the salt there. Then since I didnt' have a hose.....I had to use a large tupperware from my kitchen...and scoop it all out...all 80 gallons. On my 25 gallon, what I did was added water, then added salt. Let that mix for a day, then added the sand. Then everything went blurry...for several days.

Regards,
Ilham

05-10-2001, 02:59 PM	#1
Big Ed Citizen Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings,MT Posts: 123	Silly Salt question O.K. I have 4" of sand in the bottom of my tank. I am adding R/O water to it as fast as the filter will spit it out (50 gpd). My question is, if I add the salt now will it effect the sand, or should I wait until the tank is full of water and add the sand when it's up and running? I don't know if Hypersalinity will effect the sand or not. I've heard it can cause clumping problems. I have a 225 gallon tank with 4" of Yardright TPS in the bottom and the water right now is just over the sand. I don't have a new clean garbage can to mix the saltwater in, I was just going to throw it in the tank and let it circulate for a few days. Ed ------------------ See my work in progress at http://bigedsreef.homestead.com/bigedsreef.html

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05-10-2001, 03:12 PM	#2
FishKid Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Holbrook, NewYork, USA Posts: 1,799	if thats the only way you have to do it, then i would wait until the water is atleast 5inches higher than the surface of the sand, so you can put in a as many powerheads as possible, than add the salt, im not sure what the dosing is, as i find it to be always different... for a generalization, start with 1/2 a cup of salt per gal just to get an idea of how much salt you will need, and keep testing the salinity, up the doseage if needed. if you put in too much, dont worry this can be corrected with water changes. hope that helps [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img] mark

05-10-2001, 04:32 PM	#3
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,691	BigEd ~ What are you going to use to mix saltwater later on for water changes? I don't think it's a good idea to do it the way you are doing it. I have heard of people mixing saltwater in a completely empty tank (no sand) but it's probably not the best idea in the world to mix it with the sand bed already in place. I think it would be better to mix it in a separate container and then add it to the tank. However, if you intend to continue adding RO/DI water to the tank before adding the salt mix, I think you should wait until the tank is nearly full before adding the salt. Good luck! Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] ------------------ Irrational Exuberance!

05-10-2001, 04:37 PM	#4
SCETT316 Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 700	My tank is filled up with wtr. right up the returns. (since my plumbing is still not done) [img]/ubb/frown.gif[/img] The DSB is in place, and I added the salt after the sand and wtr. Why is it bad? I guess then I messed up again....... Susan

05-10-2001, 04:45 PM	#5
golfish Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Alta Loma,Ca Posts: 2,943	I would have put all the water in then the salt and mixed with your circulation pumps for a few days then add the sand but I guess its too late for that[img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img] I would make sure to dissolve the salt before adding to the tank

05-10-2001, 05:14 PM	#6
Big Ed Citizen Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings,MT Posts: 123	What if I put the salt in the overflow boxes, that way it won't be in the sand to cause problems, and will be mixed in slowly as the system circulates. I have a couple of 5 gallon buckets to mix the saltwater in for changes, but not enough to do 225 gallons in. Ed ------------------ See my work in progress at http://bigedsreef.homestead.com/bigedsreef.html

05-10-2001, 05:52 PM	#7
Ltspd Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Arden, NC USA Posts: 2,767	No Susan you did fine the way you did it. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] ------------------ ------------------------ Paul C Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler. Einstein

05-10-2001, 05:56 PM	#8
SCETT316 Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 700	Thx Paul, I feel better now. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] Susan

05-10-2001, 06:44 PM	#9
Biomanjcs72 Mayor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Birmingham, Al, USA Posts: 815	IF you've got a sump and it's empty, wait til the bugger is full and start the pump and dump the salt in the sump? [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img] ------------------ JCS "Take one and pass it back, just like your IQ's were normal." -Professor Hathaway in the movie"Real Genius"

05-11-2001, 08:41 AM	#10
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	I put in sand first, then mixed water in black garbage cans, and mixed the salt there. Then since I didnt' have a hose.....I had to use a large tupperware from my kitchen...and scoop it all out...all 80 gallons. On my 25 gallon, what I did was added water, then added salt. Let that mix for a day, then added the sand. Then everything went blurry...for several days. Regards, Ilham

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