A New Salt Voyage

[HappyGeorge]

Gravel cleaner works great, that's what I used to add under my rocks, no spills onto rock at all and settles straight away.

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

lil up date on equiptment arriving! My return pump is here!! Tho I've realised I could really do with a couple more, 1 for getting my RO water from the water butt that will collect it, into my salt mixing container, and then another for getting my salt water into the tank! Oh, and another powerhead and heater for my salt mixing!

But anyway, the slightly exciting bit.. today I'm going to attempt the setup of my RO unit... and the REALLY exciting bit... my tank is arriving on monday!!!

 

[Morri]

I use Hailea pumps for jobs like that much cheaper but do tend to be noisey

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

cheers morri, I'll have a look at them.. noise isn't really an issue.. Ive got 4 kidsand a dog! lol I'm hoping this tank will drown them out

 

[lewiss]

Take lots of photo's so you can do photo journal too!!

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

RO unit all plumped in and running! Hope I've don it right!

Rather pleased with it, its just chucked out 2 litres in just under half an hour which works out at 96L or 25gpd. Quite suprised at that tbh, as the inlet pressure is only at 50 psi, and it should be 60 according to the instructions!

And even better than that, my TDS unit says my water is going from 66ppm (tap water) right down to 0ppm.. result!

No pics atm as I've lost my phone cable!

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

and now.. my first batch of 100L of salt water is being mixed! NEver thought I'd get so excited over mixing up salt and water!!

 

[woody88]

and now.. my first batch of 100L of salt water is being mixed! NEver thought I'd get so excited over mixing up salt and water!!

Wait until you use your refractometer/hydrometer to measure the salinity and you get 1.025sg...........Oohhhhhhhhhh!.....Better than sex! Ha Ha only joking!.............No, r-r-really I am! lol

 

[simonas]

I wish I had all that stuff piled up waiting to be put together. This stage is the best of any new tank. Looking forward to seeing this progress. chop chop!!!

Simon

 

[Morri]

I would aim for a SG of 1.026 for a reef tank if using H2Ocean 35g per litre

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

currently got it up to 1.018 ISH using a hydrometer, gunna wait til my refractometer turns up (hopefully tomorrow) before adding the last bit of salt! In all my excitement I forgot to keep track of how much salt I've been adding.. so I'll have to remember to do that on my next batch to make water change mixes a bit easier!

I can mix more than planned at a time now tho.. I sent the boyfriend off to B&Q to get me an 80L dustbin for £13... he comes back with a mahoosive 140L wheelie bin for £40 instead

Simon.. going as quick as I can!! much quicker than intended anyway lol.. 2 weeks ago I was *just* considering maybe using my new tank for marine, and buying one piece of equiptment for it per month... 2 days later I had ordered everything required!!! As soon as my tank is here and filled and can start buying some LR to take pictures of!!! woohoo

 

[Morri]

Its the best part setting it up just go slowly once all setup

I would invest in a pot of speed glue to scape a bit messy but is better than millie putty

 

[simonas]

Its the best part setting it up just go slowly once all setup

I would invest in a pot of speed glue to scape a bit messy but is better than millie putty

good advice, my fish suffered last year by me going too quickly

Morri whats the consistency of speedglue as I;m not liking milliput at the moment?

 

[Morri]

its like cement you make it as thick as you can

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

Where do I get this speed glue from? LFS? Once the tank is all set up it certainly is gunna be a very slow process from there! Now I've spent all my money on the these things I cant even afford 40kg of 2nd hand live rock all at once, so its just gunna be a few kg of LR added every week or 2 until I've got enough before I even start thinking about putting anything else in there! Its gunna be painful!