So i'm starting my tank?????

So I've been building my tank got almost everything together: 30long Sump/refugium with a older model Reef Octopus Diablo xs160 plumbed with an eheim 1262 split off to my refugium... the outlet of the pump was 3/4'' I enlarged it to 1'' to allow more flow through to 90*s and unions and then reduced it to 3/4'' right before the bulkhead and up to the loc-line to wye to 2.. 1/2'' nozzles.. I made it so I can remove the middle section, the pump and the bulkheads up without any cuts for maintenance or future mods.. and my refugium light of course.....



I got my IO salt, refractometer, API test kits, I got my homemade canopy with 100lbs of base rock and my RO/DI unit......







It's an oceanic 90 gallon reef ready tank I bought used, that was originally a wood grain tank with a natural oak stand, I painted it both the trim and stand black replaced the rusted out hinges on the doors, I also resealed the side corners because they chewed up pretty bad, still have paint my canopy tomorrow and pick bulbs at my LFS..

Now for my question: can I put my sand in after the water and mix my initial saltwater in the DT with my power heads? cause the largest container I have is 25 gallons I bought for my water changes and its gonna take alot trips with that size container...I know I need to get a 55g in the near future after its cycled but I don't have the cash after having to buy the bulbs and some live rock to seed my base rock and really want to start on this tank up!!!!

 

The way I did it:

1. Filled my tank with RO/DI water.
2. Put the right amount of salt.
3. Turned powerheads and return pump to get more water mixing and movement.
4. Made sure salinity was good.
5. Rinse out detritus from my sand.
6. Turn off powerheads.
7. Put sand in and wait for it to settle.
8. Turn powerheads back on.

I didn't have any problems with this method. Good luck!

 

thanks!! so stoked I'm gonna start filling it now!!!

 

Although what I did worked for me, if I were you, I'd wait til I got a response or two from veteran reefers, just in case there's a better way of doing it!

 

Ok we'll wait for a few more responses....

 

+1 Also the way I did it, add a few beer breaks tho. Now fill er up!

 

+1 to both responses! Sounds like a perfect method to me! Go get that beer and start fillin' her up!

Part of the fun of the hobby for me is seeing the excitement that the hobby creates for others!