how to add top off water

My tank is only 10 days old and I just added live rock 3 days ago. I need to add water due to evaporation. When it was just saltwater and sand I wasn't too concerned how I added it, but now with the live rock that has some sea lettuce, chaeto, a small cerith snail and other stuff yet to be identified I am concerned about adding water directly to this tank.

Should I just try to add it close to a powerhead so that it mixes quickly? Should I just add it a cup at a time?

 

Well Adding it close to a powerhead would mix in faster, but it really does not matter how you added as long as you do not have to add like 2-3 gallons because of evaporation. You have to be on top of filling the tank up with top off water so the salinity does not get out of control and start effecting you livestock.

 

Near the powerhead is a good move if you don't have a sump.
Pour slowly. If it is several gallons of water, try to match the temperature to your aquarium water first or add less water more frequently.

 

I dump my water in right over my PH. But don't be too concerned if your staying on top of it and adding daily, when I dump mine in I know some of it hits some corals and they are all thriving. Heck the clownfish swims in the flow when I do it!

 

Yep what everyone else has said. As long as you are not adding a lot at one time, everything will be fine. I add top off in the morning and then in the evening.

 

I have never had any problem with adding RO water into any of my saltwater tanks. I agree keeping on top of it is the best way so that you are adding small amounts. But even when I go on vacation and need to add more, I have just poured it in without any problem. The one time I had to add more than 3 gallons to a 50 gallon tank, I mixed some salt water and fresh water, but that was the only time I have ever done that.

 

i just pour the topoff water directly into my sump. I have added anywhere from 1 to 5 gallons this way with out any ill effects.

 

How much are you adding and let normally evaporate before adding?

 

Well the tank is directly in my view in the evening and I have a marker on the tank so it makes me crazy to see it fall below the mark. I've been every other day, but now it is so dry I will need to do it daily. I seem to add about 8 to 12 cup at a time.

 

That's not much... shouldn't be any issues with that.