Mixing Salt in directly in new tank

[RaymondL]

In preparation for setting up a 20gallon cube, and being limited in space for buckets, I'm wondering if it's okay to make the salt water directly in the tank? Ie. I would fill it with RODI water, then add salt and a powerhead to mix the salt in, and then put substrate in later...or should put the substrate in first fill with RODI water, and then add salt.....or is this a bad idea, and if so why?

 

[redfishbluefish]

[HASH=1]#reefsquad[/HASH] can certainly help with this.

 

[Saltyreef]

It can be done no problem by mixing the water before adding substrate but once your tank is set up, you'll need atleast a 5g bucket for water changes.

You'll also likely appreicate the buckets for more than water changes.

 

[fishyjoes]

I did that and it worked fine.
If you add the sand after the water is in you'll get clouds unless you rinse the sand first or use some container to lower it in slowly to the bottom. I just let mine get cloudy and it settled out after a day or so.

 

[Saltyreef]

I did that and it worked fine.
If you add the sand after the water is in you'll get clouds unless you rinse the sand first or use some container to lower it in slowly to the bottom. I just let mine get cloudy and it settled out after a day or so.

Rinse rinse rinse!!!!

That cloud is bad news!

 

[LAReefer4Life]

It can be done no problem by mixing the water before adding substrate but once your tank is set up, you'll need atleast a 5g bucket for water changes.

You'll also likely appreicate the buckets for more than water changes.

+1

 

[Uncle99]

That’s just fine.

 

[ptrick21186]

I'm not a fan of adding sand after the water. It just floats around and gets all over the place. You'll spend the next month using a turkey baster to flush the sand out of the rock work. Just my opinion. Also....ya....get a bucket. They help