Adding salt to new setup?

[jdj72]

What is the best way to add the salt, anything to avoid? It's a new setup only sand and water now.

 

[yellowtail]

did you already mix the water that is in the tank (add the salt to the water)?

 

[saltcreep]

If you have not added salt yet, I would pull some water out in a new rubber 29 gallon trash can and mix it out side the tank, then pour it back in. Do you have any power heads running in the tank yet?

 

[jdj72]

Tank is 3/4 full with R/O water. Can I mx the salt in a jug with R/O water and dump it in to fill the rest of the tank? I have read to let the salt sit a while in the water prior to adding it. Does that only matter after tank is up and running? I have two powerheads and two filetrs running.

 

[saltcreep]

You really need to let it sit once you have fish in there to stablize the new salt water and not stress/kill the fish. But no need if you are just starting to cycle the tank because you need to run it for a month or so before you start stocking the tank. Mix it and add it ( assuming there are no fish in the tank yet!)

 

[jdj72]

No fish yet. I plan on live rock next week then wait till it cycles. I am in no hurry for fish I just want to do it right.

 

[saltcreep]

Mix it and pour it in. Run a few power heads in the tank to keep it mixing and you should be fine. Again, the "aged water" is for water changes in up and running systems.