ivasawajin
Member
the above ???? its a 220G Reef tank , ( it will be )
When Filling a Tank, Should I pour water then the Sand or the opposite ?
- Thread starter ivasawajin
- Start date
Hi!
I would recommend that you put the sand in first, use a bowl and aim for it when pouring water in. It will keep the sand from going everywhere.
It is best to get your rock all the way down to the glass whichever method you use. This will prevent toppling rocks later.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///forum/thread/382018/when-filling-a-tank-should-i-pour-water-then-the-sand-or-the-opposite#post_3331190
If it's a new tank I suggest filling 1/2 way with saltwater and then adding the sand. Stir up the sand as much as possible to eliminate any trapped bubbles in the sand. Then fill the rest of the way with more saltwater.
And leave enough room to compensate for the live rock you are going to put in. Heavy live rock will mean you need less water. I'd put the live rock in after the sand settles from the above mentioned stir up, and then add the rock, then the rest of the water. That is, if you plan to have live rock.
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///forum/thread/382018/when-filling-a-tank-should-i-pour-water-then-the-sand-or-the-opposite#post_3331190
If it's a new tank I suggest filling 1/2 way with saltwater and then adding the sand. Stir up the sand as much as possible to eliminate any trapped bubbles in the sand. Then fill the rest of the way with more saltwater.
And leave enough room to compensate for the live rock you are going to put in. Heavy live rock will mean you need less water. I'd put the live rock in after the sand settles from the above mentioned stir up, and then add the rock, then the rest of the water. That is, if you plan to have live rock.
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Or what I like to do and yes it takes some time. Go to your local hard ware store and buy some ½” pvc and ½” 90s with a clean out. You can make little tables out of the pvc its real simple. Place them in your BB tank. Then place the rock on top of the table this gives you the advantage of your rocks not being undermined by critters. You also get good advection this way. Then add enough saltwater to cover your sand bed stir as suggested. When your tank settles place newspaper over your sub straight and rock and add the remaining water slowly over the newspaper. Allow some time for settlement and slowly remove the news paper
Just my 2 cents
Just my 2 cents
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Quote:
dirty inked paper
Beth dear heart just what kink of paper are you reading
never had or heard of anyone having an issue
dirty inked paper
Beth dear heart just what kink of paper are you reading
never had or heard of anyone having an issue
aquaknight
Active Member
To add to the 100 different answers per person, IMO, the answer also varies on the size of a tank.
Something like the OP's 220gal, is going to take a couple days to fill, unless you're using tap, or have lots of premade RODI water on hand.
For large tanks (180gal+ sized systems), this is what I do.
Since depending on the complexity of the tank/plumbing/etc many like to freshwater test the system first. I fill the tank/sump/skimmer/ etc directly from my RO/DI unit. I get everything running and then add salt to bring up salinity. Let it run for a couple days, then add sand. Since it is a 220gal, unless you're planning on spending into the 4-figures for all live sand, chances are you're probably going to use dead/dried sand as the bulk of your sand quantity. I always rinse my dead sand, usually with the hose out in the yard. I add all the dried sand to the tank, and use a cup or something to slowly dump the sand in. Wait a couple days for the clouding to go down, then I add live rock. Usually this is a week-long process of ripping rocks in/out, till I get an aquascape with the rocks that I like. Then I add in the live sand to seed the sandbed.
Something like the OP's 220gal, is going to take a couple days to fill, unless you're using tap, or have lots of premade RODI water on hand.
For large tanks (180gal+ sized systems), this is what I do.
Since depending on the complexity of the tank/plumbing/etc many like to freshwater test the system first. I fill the tank/sump/skimmer/ etc directly from my RO/DI unit. I get everything running and then add salt to bring up salinity. Let it run for a couple days, then add sand. Since it is a 220gal, unless you're planning on spending into the 4-figures for all live sand, chances are you're probably going to use dead/dried sand as the bulk of your sand quantity. I always rinse my dead sand, usually with the hose out in the yard. I add all the dried sand to the tank, and use a cup or something to slowly dump the sand in. Wait a couple days for the clouding to go down, then I add live rock. Usually this is a week-long process of ripping rocks in/out, till I get an aquascape with the rocks that I like. Then I add in the live sand to seed the sandbed.
acrylic51
Active Member
I had forgot about that old trick till read that
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/382018/when-filling-a-tank-should-i-pour-water-then-the-sand-or-the-opposite#post_3331285
Or what I like to do and yes it takes some time. Go to your local hard ware store and buy some ½” pvc and ½” 90s with a clean out. You can make little tables out of the pvc its real simple. Place them in your BB tank. Then place the rock on top of the table this gives you the advantage of your rocks not being undermined by critters. You also get good advection this way. Then add enough saltwater to cover your sand bed stir as suggested. When your tank settles place newspaper over your sub straight and rock and add the remaining water slowly over the newspaper. Allow some time for settlement and slowly remove the news paper
Just my 2 cents
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/382018/when-filling-a-tank-should-i-pour-water-then-the-sand-or-the-opposite#post_3331285
Or what I like to do and yes it takes some time. Go to your local hard ware store and buy some ½” pvc and ½” 90s with a clean out. You can make little tables out of the pvc its real simple. Place them in your BB tank. Then place the rock on top of the table this gives you the advantage of your rocks not being undermined by critters. You also get good advection this way. Then add enough saltwater to cover your sand bed stir as suggested. When your tank settles place newspaper over your sub straight and rock and add the remaining water slowly over the newspaper. Allow some time for settlement and slowly remove the news paper
Just my 2 cents
gill again68
Active Member
I am glad someone else used the PVC table method. I LIKES MINE. I say pick one and do that.....
mkroher
Member
I fill a ziplock/freezer bag with sand. Close it. Hold the bag in the tank close to the bottom. Open it slightly, and slowly dump the sand out.
I've moved my tank 4 times (once across states, other times different towns). Egg crate on the bottom, then the rock. After the moving stress is over, I go out and buy all new sand, and do the above procedure. I take my time, never had a severe sand storm that didn't clear up in a few moments.
Oh, I always used a very shallow sand bed, just enough to cover the egg crate. I knew that the moves where going to happen and I didn't want to have a sand bed that contained a substantial amount of bacteria. If the rock does most of the work, then my cycles are less severe.
-Mike
I've moved my tank 4 times (once across states, other times different towns). Egg crate on the bottom, then the rock. After the moving stress is over, I go out and buy all new sand, and do the above procedure. I take my time, never had a severe sand storm that didn't clear up in a few moments.
Oh, I always used a very shallow sand bed, just enough to cover the egg crate. I knew that the moves where going to happen and I didn't want to have a sand bed that contained a substantial amount of bacteria. If the rock does most of the work, then my cycles are less severe.
-Mike