Red Sea Max 130 Build Log

bigehugedome

Blah this sucks. At least I didn't fill the tank yet and he water from the RO/di is clean. Ill jut buy a new ~18 gallon container for mixing the SW and try to get the 55 drum sooner.
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Reefing Madness

Right on. At least you are taking the needed steps to start out in really good shape.

bigehugedome

Better to spend a little extra $ and time upfront then try and play catchup down the line. Eespecially true when your dealing with living things.

Here is the plan. Hose is running from RO/DI to tank as we speak. The rest of the marco rock will be in today.

1. I will fill the tank with freshwater and mix salt inside the tank for the first time. Should I add the sand before or after the salt mixes for 24hours in the tank?

Plan is grab that 55 gallon drum at some point to store RO/DI for topoff. Eventually I will get a high end auto topoff. I dont think I want to wate time with DIY topoffs unless I can find one thats fool proof and super cheap. I think I would go with a Tunze Osmolator.

I will then Transfer 4(~12%) gallons from the drum to anew 5 Gallon bucket to mix salt water on saturday mornings, so I can do the WC each sunday.

2. Is a 4 gallon WC (~12%) sufficient? This will be with the stocking list mentioned earlier and with easy corals. By the time Im at full stock and more corals I plan on upgrading the stock skimmer.

EDIT - and now that the RO/DI is going directly into the tank, the TDS from the tank (which contains the dry rock) is 3. So that seems acceptable

Reefing Madness

3 is acceptable for fish, not for corals. Most change DI and or the Membrane when TDS reaches 3-4.
Also, its ok to throw the sand in now, or wait til you mix the salt, doesn't matter at this point. As long as its not live sand, if it is, you'll have to mix the water first and let it come to temperature then add the sand. A 12% water change a week is perfect.

bigehugedome

So I donno if I did not explain correctly or if you did not understand. Just want to make sure we are on the same page if you dont mind. I mean no disrespect, as the issue is probably myself.

The Water coming from straight from the RO/DI is = 0 TDS. Im bypassing the containers that caused it to be 30 now and adding water straight from the RO/DI to the tank. When testing the RO/DI in the tank its reading to be 3, Im assuming because of left over whaterver since its not a new tank. I cleaned the tank with vinegar and added the Marco Rock. I did not rinse or do anything to the rock.

In short, Im adding 0TDS water to my tank and thats what I plan on using for both top off and WC. It just so happens that my TDS in the tank has rised slightly, which I assume is because of the Rock + used tank. Is this OK as long as I continue to add 0TDS water, IE, change my media when TDS reaches 3-4 or even sooner?

Reefing Madness

My bad, I got ya now. You got it. No worries. Just me trying to speed read again.

bigehugedome

What do you guys think? Enough room for fish and coral? its about 48 pounds. Pics do not do it justice.
Alot of caves and arches for the fish I think

Reefing Madness

Yup. Lookin good man.

bigehugedome

Oh man getting pumped. 40 lbs of sand is in. I dont think i need the extra 20lbs i have but Oh well.

Tank is filling now. I plan to run the pumps with some filterfloss untill everything settles then I will mix the salt. After that goes for a day Ill buy some LR and start the seed!

evanlundberg4

Dude that looks great!
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