Water Or Gravel - Who Comes First?

[ccplim]

Hi,

I am new to this forum and also to marines. Hoping to learn more from all bros and sisters here.

Now..... the main topic.

When setting up a new marine tank, which is the correct way to do?

1) add sand/gravel to the empty tank, follow by water n salt

2) add water n salt to the tank, follow by sand/gravel

I have been doing some read up and was confused by some of the methods that ppl use (most ppl use the 1st method but some advise to use the 2nd). Thus would like to seek advise from bros here.

Thanks!

[[P]owder Blue]

ccplim, most will adopt the first method.

[hotsoup]

For me, sand, rocks followed by mixed salt water. Others might have other preferences

[diabolus]

i prefer to mix the saltwater first then add in to the tank.

take a plate and place it on ur sandbed.

then pour ur saltwater slowly on to the plate...if not...u r going to get the worst sand storm u'll ever see...

[junyong84]

dun use gravel... no good

a DSB pls

[Hon]

I opt for the 2nd method.

I always think that if your sand are wash and wet, you dump into the emtpy tank, after that then get water and salt or add salt water, the bottom part of the sand is still having fresh water. In order for the entire sandbed to become same salinity with the tank, might take a while and thus delay the cycling of the tank.

Just my thought, no document proof hor....

[hbpencil]

Hi Jellyfish,

I thought I read somewhere that we should used the mix salt water to wash the sand?

Just would like to clarify as I'm planning to start my marine tank soon.

[SharkBait]

Hi Jellyfish,

I thought I read somewhere that we should used the mix salt water to wash the sand?

Just would like to clarify as I'm planning to start my marine tank soon.

hahaha,which jellyfish you refering to? thats the rank lah.

normal tap water will do.

[SharkBait]

you only use mixed saltwater to wash if its livesand.

[SpiderOne]

for me. its water and salt. then sand . so everything mixes well

[hbpencil]

Thanks, SharkBait ..... for teaching.

[junyong84]

i sand, water then salt..

kentmarine salt dissolve very fast!

[Tanzy]

Sand then water = Air bubbles in sand bed for a few weeks.

Water then sand = cloudy water for a few days.

[Razo]

Water then sand = cloudy water for a few days.

me water ... salt ... "0" sand = cloudy for 2 days...

[ccplim]

owder Blue,Sep 5 2003, 01:34 PM] ccplim, most will adopt the first method.

Thanks bro! Seems to me that this is the more common approach

[ccplim]

i prefer to mix the saltwater first then add in to the tank.

take a plate and place it on ur sandbed.

then pour ur saltwater slowly on to the plate...if not...u r going to get the worst sand storm u'll ever see...

Haha.... i agreed with u Encountered that once when i change water for my FW tank n forgot to lower down the flow rate of my filter

[ccplim]

dun use gravel... no good

a DSB pls

Paisei bro, the gravel that i mentioned was actually referring to DSB

[ccplim]

I opt for the 2nd method.

I always think that if your sand are wash and wet, you dump into the emtpy tank, after that then get water and salt or add salt water, the bottom part of the sand is still having fresh water. In order for the entire sandbed to become same salinity with the tank, might take a while and thus delay the cycling of the tank.

Just my thought, no document proof hor....

Oh!!! Didn't relised abt this FW "trapped" in the sand thingy until u mentioned it

[ccplim]

you only use mixed saltwater to wash if its livesand.

Thanks for the tips bro

[nsyahron]

I mixed saltwater first, then only put in sand. Sand storm will be over in a day or two. No harm.

[Wei]

Hi,

fill tank with 20% saltwater. add the all the sand u want to add. Wait a couple of hrs. Once not so cloudy, put a plate in the centre of the tank & pour the rest of the saltwater onto the plate. This will prevent another sand storm. Once thats done, U just need to wait the next morning & ur tank is clear.

Run yr skimmer, it will shorten the time it takes for the water to clear.

Wei

[Reef23]

Wat abt the live rocks? When do u put it in? Thot of puting the sand then the rocks easy to landscape without the water. Wat do u thk?