Leaving partially filled tank overnight…

[OrangeHunter458]

So I’m a newbie mixing saltwater by batch, I unfortunately did not plan for the time lol

Is it safe to leave the tank partially filled overnight, sand dust swimming around inside? Haha should I stick a powerhead on the back wall to aerate this overnight?

 

[Extremeengineer]

Hi, welcome, if you are just leaving it for 12 hours you are fine, a powerhead will just blow the dust around more than anything else, unless that is live rock. If it settles you may want to pour onto a plastic plate or something to prevent stirring more up. Just rinse it off with your RODI water first.

 

[OrangeHunter458]

Hi, welcome, if you are just leaving it for 12 hours you are fine, a powerhead will just blow the dust around more than anything else. If it settles you may want ti pour onto a plastic plate or something to prevent stirring more up. Just rinse it off with your RODI water first.

This was after rinsing the sand like 5 times haha. So leaving for 12 hours is fine, good to know, I’ll be awake in a few hours again anyway haha thanks for the answer

 

[Extremeengineer]

If that’s a small tank you can buy some distilled water jugs also instead of waiting on your RODI. That’s what I did, 2.5 gal containers of it were on sale, worth the time savings on a new fill.

 

[OrangeHunter458]

If that’s a small tank you can buy some distilled water jugs also instead of waiting on your RODI. That’s what I did, 2.5 gal containers of it were on sale, worth the time savings on a new fill.

It’s a 120g

 

[Extremeengineer]

This was after rinsing the sand like 5 times haha. So leaving for 12 hours is fine, good to know, I’ll be awake in a few hours again anyway haha thanks for the answer

If you have live rock, then you definitely want to get the powerhead going, but if that was dry rock and dry sand, then an hours long break during filling isn't going to harm anything. Once you get filtration going the sediment will settle or filter out.

 

[Extremeengineer]

It’s a 120g

For my 75g I used about 40g of distilled, my wife was impatient and so she went and bought all they had on shelf lol. I know not everyone would do that, but it was worth the $40 to us.

 

[OrangeHunter458]

If you have live rock, then you definitely want to get the powerhead going, but if that was dry rock and dry sand, then an hours long break during filling isn't going to harm anything. Once you get filtration going the sediment will settle or filter out.

It’s dry rock and sand . Aquaforest sand has bottled bacteria but I chose to rinse and add the sand first then plan to add the bacteria after the filtration is going.

So it’s just safe like this then? No need to cover up the tank or anything?

 

[OrangeHunter458]

For my 75g I used about 40g of distilled, my wife was impatient and so she went and bought all they had on shelf lol. I know not everyone would do that, but it was worth the $40 to us.

Haha well I would do this buuut it’s the middle of the night where I am haha I’m in the Philippines

 

[Extremeengineer]

If it ends up a days long process, then I would look at the powerhead, airstone, or something, but dry rock and dry sand, and only having a short break as you fill, you don't need to do anything. With no heater there's no reason to cover, you'll have minimal evap.

 

[Dburr1014]

I wouldn't worry at all leaving it like that. Even for a couple days, it's fine.

 

[OrangeHunter458]

If it ends up a days long process, then I would look at the powerhead, airstone, or something, but dry rock and dry sand, and only having a short break as you fill, you don't need to do anything. With no heater there's no reason to cover, you'll have minimal evap.

I’m taking the day off tomorrow just so I can finish this lol and no heater needed, the climate here is enough haha

So once the tank is running, do I add the ammonia & bacteria first or do I run filter floss first so I can get rid of all this gunk before cycling?

 

[OrangeHunter458]

I wouldn't worry at all leaving it like that. Even for a couple days, it's fine.

What a relief haha I’m still taking the day off just so I can finish this and start cycling. But I need some sleep first lol

 

[Extremeengineer]

So once the tank is running, do I add the ammonia & bacteria first or do I run filter floss first so I can get rid of all this gunk before cycling?

The bacteria will develop primarily on your rock and sand, not much present in the water column.

 

[OrangeHunter458]

The bacteria will develop primarily on your rock and sand, not much present in the water column.

I see, it’s fine to run the floss then? Cause this dust… just looks nasty haha it looks like I’m keeping swamp water

 

[Extremeengineer]

I see, it’s fine to run the floss then? Cause this dust… just looks nasty haha it looks like I’m keeping swamp water

Yes, since you have so much dust what I would do is run the floss for 24 hours to get the initial cloud down. Then change it/clean it, whatever you prefer, and add your bottled bac. But you aren't going to hurt anything doing everything at once either.

 

[OrangeHunter458]

Yes, since you have so much dust what I would do is run the floss for 24 hours to get the initial cloud down. Then change it/clean it, whatever you prefer, and add your bottled bac. But you aren't going to hurt anything doing everything at once either.

Thanks for the advice can’t wait to finish this. Alright I’m actually gonna sleep now haha problem solved. Thanks also @Dburr1014