Salt water set up

sbgiusti

sbgiusti

New Member
I'm just starting to set up a salt water aquarium (25 gallon Marineland Eclipse system). I've talked to 2 different professionals at 2 different shops and received 2 totally different opinions. The first sold me a 30 lbs of Aragonite and told me to put 3 inches down. He said to mix tap water with the Instant Ocean and use the dechlorinator drops he sold me. Also recommended using live rock. I set that up last night but when I talked to the other pro today he told me that was all wrong. He said I should use not more than 1 inch of live sand, not the aragonite. He said I should only use the RO salt water that he sells (89 cents/gallon). So these are my questions. First, how much sand do I use and what kind (or a mix of the two)? Second, what kind of water can I use? Tap isn't ok? Is the RO water that everyone talks about just the distilled water you can get by the gallon at the grocery stores?
 
sbgiusti

sbgiusti

New Member
WOW! That's great that you respond so quickly! Thanks so much! So if we add another inch or so of live sand that may be the best compromise. I havent' gotten the live rock yet and I read one of the messages that said to add the live sand after the tank has cycled instead of at the beginning. At this point would you recommend I add them both now or do one or the other first? Would you recommend buying the RO/DI water and mixing it myself or buying it straight from the shop? Thanks again so much for the fast response!
 
slick

slick

Active Member
I agree I would add another inch or so of live sand to your tank. I would go with 1lb of LR per gallon if your doing a reef tank. Like said tap water can be ok but should be tested to make sure your not adding bad things to the water. I personaly use ro/di water to mine and like the results. Really it's up to you.
 
clarkiiboi

clarkiiboi

Active Member
WELCOME! and to let you know what I have learned is my LFS told me to use tap water and use the dechlorinator (sp) drops also---not a good idea, but tolerable, like stated earlier it depends on the water source. Come to find out with testing my tap water that it contains phosphates and trAtes---the 2 things that I am fighting! I was thinking I was curing the problem with water changes when actually I wasnt doing a thing but just putting those back into the tank. So I fully believe in the RO/DI water. HTH
 
j21kickster

j21kickster

Active Member
i am a guy who works at the lfs ant that is a goot price for saltwater, and distilled water and reverse osmosisized (RO) water are not the same both are good it is just how they are processed. ro it pushed through a membrane which removes almost evrything but the pure water. distilled it the collected water of evoporation, like if you were to boil water and catch the evoporation. when it evoporated it leaves heavier components behind and producing pure water. just my 2cents
 
dsa_mom

dsa_mom

Member
Around here you can get RO/DI water at local grocery store (fill your own container at a machine) for about 39 cents a gallon. As for pre-mixed, I kind of think the putzing around with the mix, checking the salinity, setting up the water before a water change, etc is one of the fun things about the hobby. Pre-mixed just sounds too easy!!! Plus you need plain water for top offs, so that's another stop, unless the LFS sells plain water too. (hopefully not at 89 cents!)
 
sgt__york

sgt__york

Member
Just to add my 2cents..
I would DEFINATELY stay away from tap water. It just introduces TOO MANY chemicals. As you begin having other problems, like phosphates causing algae blooms; copper killing corals or fish; silicates causing diatom blooms; etc. You can likely call your water utility company and request a water analysis of chemicals for saltwater use. Might be surprised at the chemicals in your water (hard and organic). The money spent in quality water will be more than made up for in fish/coral savings, and headaches hunting for answers to problems.
You can get an R/O unit ($150 or so) - but keep in mind, these waste about 3-4 gal for every 1 gal of good water made. In addition, R/O units do not filter for phosphates well - which is why most LFS's use R/O units WITH a D/I filter. I've crunched the numbers before for the unit; and replacement canisters and "FOR ME" found another alternative.
You can get a D/I filter canister for your tap water to remove nearly all harmful itmes including:
Dissolved Minerals: Calcium; Magnesium; Sodium; Potassium; Sulfate; Chloride; Carbonate; Fluoride
Heavy Metals: Copper; Zinc; Lead; Iron; Cadmium; Aluminum
Underirables: Phosphates; Nitrates; Ammonia; Silicate; Nitrite; Chlorine; Chloramine
Organic Pollutants: Insecticides; Herbicides; PCB's; Pesticides
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals makes a Canisters for about $25 per canister that makes anywhere from 75gal to 120 gal (depending on ur source water contamination). That works out to be about $.25-$35 cents per gallon that you can make at home.
Compared to R/O units, I just don't find that they remove that much that D/I doesn't for the greater per gal expense of purchasing the units and set of 2-4 filter cartridges.
Regarding the substrate - you can go with the argonite OR sand - go with what "YOU" like better. Many ppl go for sand because they 1) like the look; 2) it's the 'in' thing - everyone is doing it; and 3) it helps reduce nitrate levels.
HOWEVER, if you have sand you will likely find that your PH levels will fall and will have to use BUFFERS to keep your PH level up. And if you want to reduce Nitrates as a goal - people are having much greater success using macro-algae refugiums for that purpose.
Thus there are several ways to achieve your goals. Find out what YOU want to look at, and what you want to achieve, and go that way.
One last thing - remember one thing about LFS "pros" - they are also in business to sell you THEIR way and product. Sometimes the best "pro" advice is from someone you are "NOT" purchasing from (and they know it) then go to the LFS or online source of your choosing - and buy what YOU know your looking for.
Best of luck to you. The hobby is expensive, addicting, and very rewarding :) Nothing is mroe rewarding that watching and experiencing LIFE :)
 
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