Originally Posted by
New2Salt1
PD, I was just saying that if Paint is going to skimp on R.O. to buy a powerhead, that is a bad idea (and a dumb move, since he knows better now)
. Plus, I could give him one for free. (PM me if you need one Paint).
Personally, I have NEVER used a powerhead inside my R.O. buckets, and I have kept Oscars and Piranhas for 10 years, and an aquatic turtle for over a year. And if anyone knows anything about Map Turtles, water quality is of the utmost importance, and YOU WILL KILL THE TURTLE if you are doing something wrong. I haven't killed anything since those stinkin brackish pufferfish when I was 18, and Im 26 now. That's 8 years of doing SOMETHING right...
I think the circulation/aeration gained by mixing the salt is more than sufficient. I have *heard* that the water should not be added right after the salt is mixed, but in the 3 months I have been reading about this hobby (and I read alot), I have yet to read anything that presents PROOF that it is harmful. Although, my saltwater tends to sit for 24 hours anyway. Personally, I like anecdotal AND scientific evidence. Here is mine:
NOTHING that I test for (amm, trites, trates, calc, alk, phos, mg, ph, sg, temp) has been adversely affected by adding water within an hour after the salt was mixed. I know this because I test my water prior to adding it, and I test my tank before and after. And as far as oxygen levels, I dont know of anyone who has tested oxygen levels in rapidly stirred RO in a bucket and compared them to oxygen levels in an established reef nano. Although, I am interested in hearing if this WAS done, because I think the bucket of rapidly stirred RO water would be much more oxygenated than a BioCube with a stock pump.
As you can see Paint, some of this stuff is opinion and individual experience. But what PD and I agree on it you CAN NOT use tap water with or without water conditioner.
Let me know if you need a pump for your RO buckets. You show me a pic proving you bought RO water, and I will overnight you the pump, scouts honor.
The information I give/gave is soley based on science. Unless prefrenced by MO or ME here is the proof asked for. "When it comes to salt water itself, one should always remember the caustic nature of saltwater, especially the unnatural artificial salt mixes we use. While these mixes are really the best solution to a long-term conundrum of the hobby, when they are freshly mixed up, they are extremely caustic and can even harm your marine charges by their caustic nature. There is a simple way around this, and its by mixing your saltwater prior to use, and allowing it to stabilize and find equilibrium before adding it to your tanks. This is truly the underlying importance of creating a water holding system to fit your needs.Letting your water circulate, aerate, and 'age' for a few days to weeks before use, it will allow the water to reach an equilibrium between dissolved oxygen content and carbon dioxide content, as well as giving newly mixed saltwater a chance to age and complete its internal reactions. Freshly mixed saltwater has far more caustic and corrosive properties than that of aged water, both to equipment and livestock. After mixing saltwater, it is also a good idea to test your new source water for biomineral content, such as pH, calcium and alkalinity, and adjust accordingly. Buffering your water beforehand will help allow for less maintenance in the display tank, and more stability for your aquatic charges."
Salt water is completly different than fresh water and you really cant compare the 2 when it comes to this sort of thing.
FYI this information was provided by Bob Fenner a known expert in marine biology, and author of the popular book "The Conscientious Mmarine Aquarist" among others.
