Going FOWLR. First SW tank.. First post.. New to forum

Just put together my 55gal tank on 28 June 2012. I filled it with tap water (I know.. bad idea) and have had it running with the heater and the filter (Fluval 306) since that day. I know you're not supposed to treat "base water" with chemicals (declhor, etc..) if you're going to use it for salt, and I haven't. I was wondering how long it takes for the tap water to be safe enough to start adding the salt in? I know if left alone and open, the chemicals in the water will evaporate and I have the filter set up and running to help with its process. I've done a TON of research and I have 2 reputable (not "big box") places to go for quality fish and support. I'm going to keep the tank simple.. 45-50 lbs of live rock, 3-4" of buffered substrate and minimal fish load. I'm going to get a powerhead to move some water and a quality HOB skimmer of course. The species of fish I'm going to get first is a dwarf lion/zebra fish (not the fuzzy one). Then possibly 2-3 more compatible tank mates. I'm up for any and all comments and suggestions and no offerings of advice will go unheard. Thanks and I'm looking forward to getting to know this forum community.

 

Welcome to Fish Lore!!

Tap has a ton of different chemicals in it, it all does not disapate and by using tap can lead to further head aches. Also for the health of the fish there are kiosks that use a filter one being Culligan that I would trust but not all filter there water properly for now I would suggest going this route until you decide on purchusing a R/O unit or better yet does your LFS sell filtered water?

 

I'm fairly sure the LFS around here probably sells RO / distilled water. I've treated the existing water but I'm still holding off before adding salt of any kind to it. Where I live the tap water isn't so "heavy" with chemicals. I'm taking everything very slow and deliberate. The tanks been running treated, heated and filtered (canister) since 28 June. I'm picking up my skimmer and powerhead(s) Monday or Tuesday. Slow and steady.

 

i'm setting up my first fowlr sw tank too. my lfs had a guy come out to start setting my tank up. we ran a hose from my front yard and used that water to fill it up (it's a 125 gal) and he added the salt right after it was full. from what I know he's set up many tanks and is very experienced. is it ok that we added the salt so fast to the tap water? why would you wait to add the salt?

 

I'm waiting to put my salt in because I treated the tap water after letting it set, filter and heat for a few days. Erring on the side of caution with it. It's me first Saltwater tank and I really trying to do this the proper way from the start. Do I expect "hiccups" and other problems? Yes. But if I can mitigate a lot of the problems by being possibly over cautions, then that's what I'll do. Good Luck with your 125g Saltwater and I hope you do well with it.

 

Can you tell me what your plans are for fish stocking, there are many saltwater fish that are delicate and do require a r/o filtered water, not sure what your plans are but the best and most important advice that I can give you is to use R/O filtered water for the tank, like I said there are a lot of things in tap that promote problems short term and long term effects.

 

I'm waiting to put my salt in because I treated the tap water after letting it set, filter and heat for a few days. Erring on the side of caution with it. It's me first Saltwater tank and I really trying to do this the proper way from the start. Do I expect "hiccups" and other problems? Yes. But if I can mitigate a lot of the problems by being possibly over cautions, then that's what I'll do. Good Luck with your 125g Saltwater and I hope you do well with it.

Thanks and good luck to you too! I hope it's ok that he used tap and added the salt immediately :/ I'm trying to do it right and take it slow too for the same reason you are and so I learn and do it right. I haven't even added the sand yet I've just been letting the sump run and letting the salt mix in. Hope this guy didn't mess this up for me :/ lol

 

I don't have any solid plans for stocking the tank past the lionfish. Pretty much everything I would like is potential food. I'm going to toss a few shelled inverts in there for cleaning crew (snails, hermits). But I'm open to suggestions for a good, hearty tank mate for a lion. Even if it's another lion... I don't want too many fish even though my live rock and tank size would support quite a few. I'm going to check with my other LFS for the RO water. They deal primarily in salt water specimens from curing their own live rock through some pretty exotic (and costly) marine animals. I really appreciate your advice and I'll take it to heart.

 

Iv'e kept triggers,eels, sharks and rays with lions before as long as the fish that goes with the lion is not bite size and I would go with the more aggresive types of fish.

 

I need some maintenance inverts. Snails and hermit crabs I'm thinking. I wonder if they are on the menu for a dwarf lion.. Any ideas?

 

As long as you keep the fish feed well I think that would be fine Usally they eat other fish and shrimps in the wild I would just try a few for now and see how it goes if any thing the fish will spit them out due to there shell.

 

Thanks and good luck to you too! I hope it's ok that he used tap and added the salt immediately :/ I'm trying to do it right and take it slow too for the same reason you are and so I learn and do it right. I haven't even added the sand yet I've just been letting the sump run and letting the salt mix in. Hope this guy didn't mess this up for me :/ lol

Tank update. So far so good. I added the salt 2 days ago and it's holding at a solid 76F and 1.025 salinity. I also put 2 max-flow 400 powerheads. So at the moment I have a wonderful salt water Jacuzzi. Still gonna be a bit before I add the substrate and put my skimmer on. Baby steps...

 

I have a 32 gallon Rubbermaid Brute trash can that I mix water and salt in with a very strong pump to aggitate the water for about 24 hours prior to use just wanted to make sure that you knew that is the proper way and not to mix it in the tank, I realize that you are just stating but from here out this is the proper way. FYI

 

I have a 32 gallon Rubbermaid Brute trash can that I mix water and salt in with a very strong pump to aggitate the water for about 24 hours prior to use just wanted to make sure that you knew that is the proper way and not to mix it in the tank, I realize that you are just stating but from here out this is the proper way. FYI

Thanks Stang. I'll be looking into a set up like you're talking about (albeit smaller) for my salt mixing/transporting.

 

It makes things a lot easier for sure!

 

Hi, I use a water drum from my local hardware. The type used for camping and the like. I would imagine the likes of Walmart would have something like this, or your local camping/outdoors shop.

It's an 8G, with a huge opening that allows me to put a big powerhead in, and heater to mix with.