new tank setup

[meanmachine]

When Setting Up A Tank For The First Time,,is It Better To Add The Saltwater In An Empty Tank And Then Add The Live Sand And Live Rock. If So, How Long Do You Have To Wait To Add Live Sand And Rock ? Also When Should I Start The Filter?

[Acillaton]

Some reefers prefer to add sand first and then rock, some rock first and then sand. It is up to you. If you add water first and then sand you probably will experience a cloudy water for some time. I would put the sand first then fill about half of the tank with a water (already mixed and heated) and start to work on your rock work. Then add rest of the water. Filter and skimmer you can run immediately.
Good luck.

[mike bracken]

Add the sand first put a garbage bag over it then fill your water half way then your rock as acillaton advised. Filters and skimming from the start.

[Randall_James]

Add the water, then add the salt. If you put the salt in first, you can end up with precipitation events as the calcium levels will skyrocket. (if you fill the tank within about 8 inches of full, you can add say 3 cups of salt, measure salinity, you will know how what the gain is from 3 cups. It will stay the same all the way to your target (I like 1.025-1.026)

Before topping off tank, add your sand

Leave the sand in the bags, lower it into the tank and sink it to the bottom.
Slit the bottom of the bag out and let the sand roll out on to the bottom of tank.
I like to put 1 or 2 bags of sand in, then place my liverock.
When live rock is how I want it, I finish the substrate. If you are using any bags of the "Live sand" I do not spread it out. I try to keep it mostly in 1 area. The bacteria will spread on its own.

Now you can top off the tank with 'premixed" salt water. (you only get to add salt to the tank the one time, from now on it is premixed before it goes in the water)

[meanmachine]

THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR HELP!

[gbtrain]

When I did mine, I put the sand in. Then filled 3/4 the way with my mixed salt water, add my LR and then topped it off with the rest of my salt water. If you put a trash bag on top of your sand bed when you add your mixed salt water it will cut down on your sand storm(cloudy water).

Good Luck

[areze]

Originally posted by Randall_James

Now you can top off the tank with 'premixed" salt water. (you only get to add salt to the tank the one time, from now on it is premixed before it goes in the water)

just wanted to clarify your comment, Im sure it just came out wrong, but Id hate for him to take it literally .

you top off with fresh water, you do water changes with premixed salt water.

[Randall_James]

Absolutely, this is just the one time topoff, evaporation losses should always be made with pure RO/DI water unless you need to bring up your salinity. Then premixed water works fine.

There have been guys that made it up to 1.034 by replacing evaportated water with saltwater.... ooooops