Which first- sand or saltwater?

[marino420td]

The freshwater testing is complete and I'm ready to put saltwater into my new tank. I want my rock to sit directly on the glass when I get it. So I was wondering if I could put the water in first and add the sand later?

I should add that I will have a shallow sand bed in a 120 gal tank.

[newreefbishop]

thats what I did

[thor32766]

yeah you can do it.

[jakaufman]

add the salt then rocks then sand

if you add the rocks after the sand it causes quite the pain in the *** to move stuff around

plus the rock and sand (if its live) will need the saltwater

[LBCBJ]

It's a heck of a lot easier to add the rock with the tank completley empty, no water or sand. That way you can move the rock anyway you want it without spilling water everywhere, plus once the tank clouds up it's hard to see. It wont hurt the rock to be dry for a while, if you got it shipped it will be dry anyway.

[Dubbin1]

If you put the sand in last then be prepared for a major sandstorm that could last up to a couple weeks.

[marino420td]

For those who have done it, how did you add the sand to a tank full of water?

[MJAnderson]

Best set up I've seen...get a piece of 3" wide pvc pipe and have someone pour the sand into the top of the pipe while you distribute the sand along the bottom. Least amount of floating sand and don't get as much on your rocks. Of course it takes longer than just dumping it in.

[stevedola]

1. place sand at bottom of tank

2. put plastic bag over sand and use like a tarp.

3. weigh down the "tarp" with some rock.

4. pump in water but make sure the water is hitting a piece of rock to break up the flow of water.

5. let the tank settle (will be alittle cloudy)

6. put in rock.


-if you put sand in last then you will have a MAJOR sand storm in my expirence.

[facewedgie]

if it is the bagged "live sand", just put the bag in the filled tank, cut the bag open, and gently let the sand slowly come out of the bag.