Considering the switch from fresh to salt...

[stingraybob]

Hey guys, Im considering the switch from fresh to saltwater and from what Ive been reading on here has me rethinking my switch. I have 2 freshwater tanks setup and Im getting bored with them so I was considering the switch on my 75. Ive seen everything on here from sumps to canisters. I have 2 ocean clear canisters and a 975gph pump, heaters, powerhead, lights, and a hydrometer. I assume I would need new substrate, some live rock, and a good protein skimmer from what Ive been reading, Is that it? Do I really need to buy or build a sump? Ill toss in a pic of the current setup. Thanks for any push in the right direction.

 

[EastBay]

Sump is not necessary, although I find them beneficial, mostly because you can hide the heater and protein skimmer in them.

As for what you need, yep, that's about it (plus a bucket of salt to make saltwater

Cannister filters are fine. You'll find a lot of people will frown on them because you'll have to maintain them a lot more frequently. You'll often hear them referrred to as "nitrate factories." You'll be doing maintenance a lot more frequently than you would with freshwater, but if you're willing to do the work, cannisters will work just fine.

Good luck with the switch! It's pretty simple. The biggest difference between FW and SW is you have to be a little more dilligent and anal about SW maintenance. That's why I switched back to all FW tanks!

 

[stingraybob]

Just seems like too much of a pain in the arse...I can go months without doin a wc on my freshwater tanks, i read that if ya do that on sw its a recipe for disaster...anyway, when you do a wc on sw, when you mix the salt, does the water you mix have to match the salinity of the tank? Does it HAVE to be aged or can you just dechlor it? im confused on that part...everything else i understand for the most part... all this reading is gonna drive me nuts lol

 

[cdc]

When you do a water change you have to match the salinity of the new water with the water in the tank and also get the temperature as close as you can. When I mix my water I mix it until its clear and the salt has dissolved. Most people say you should mix it over night for the water to stabilize but I have never done that. Also most people recommend you change 10% every other week if its a fish only tank.

Also you should use RO/DI water not tap water in a saltwater tank. You don't need water conditioner if you use RO/DI.

Hope this helps.

 

[sparkyricky09]

I just started a salt tank and i absolutely love it! It really isn't as difficult as people make it out to be

 

[Otherone]

If you go months without w/c's on your other tanks then odds are SW is NOT for you - routine maintence is a must starting with daily top offs to keep salinity stable.

 

[stingraybob]

If you go months without w/c's on your other tanks then odds are SW is NOT for you - routine maintence is a must starting with daily top offs to keep salinity stable.

daily top offs? really? I can go months w/o water changes cause my water is darn near perfect when i test. Now i do test once a week and i believe in the "if its not broke, why fix it" method. CDC, thanks, that helps clear up some more info for me. Now as far as the RO/DI units, are they really necessary if you let the water sit overnight and you condition it?

 

[cdc]

RO/DI is necessary as tap water has dissolved solids (TDS - Total Dissolved Solids) in it and most likely contains phosphates and other things which can cause problems most likely algae problems. The TDS will vary depending in where you live. Letting the water sit overnight does not get rid of the solids. RO/DI water has a TDS of 0 depending on how old the filters are.

My tap water at home has a TDS of approximately 350-400 (this is what my LFS gets before they filter it) , when I get it from them the TDS is 0. When you mix the salt it puts all the needed minerals etc back into the water.

I have a 90g corner tank with 30g sump filled a 1/3 with water and I top up a couple of gallons every few days depending on the weather. You will find that there are many different ways people look after there tanks, if you have the time check out 3reef and reef central forums and do some research on there.

I think its worth it mostly due to the many different types of fish and inverts you can get and in my opinion saltwater tanks look much better than freshwater tanks, I sold my 300g freshwater and started this tank.

 

[stingraybob]

RO/DI is necessary as tap water has dissolved solids (TDS - Total Dissolved Solids) in it and most likely contains phosphates and other things which can cause problems most likely algae problems. The TDS will vary depending in where you live. Letting the water sit overnight does not get rid of the solids. RO/DI water has a TDS of 0 depending on how old the filters are.

My tap water at home has a TDS of approximately 350-400 (this is what my LFS gets before they filter it) , when I get it from them the TDS is 0. When you mix the salt it puts all the needed minerals etc back into the water.

I have a 90g corner tank with 30g sump filled a 1/3 with water and I top up a couple of gallons every few days depending on the weather. You will find that there are many different ways people look after there tanks, if you have the time check out 3reef and reef central forums and do some research on there.

I think its worth it mostly due to the many different types of fish and inverts you can get and in my opinion saltwater tanks look much better than freshwater tanks, I sold my 300g freshwater and started this tank.

This is the first ive heard of the TDS...all the stuff Ive read on here nothing mentioned TDS...Im curious as to how you find out the TDS in your water...with a standard test kit, my water tests perfect, just dechlor and go...Ill have to look into a ro/di unit when i price out a protein skimmer...Im still kinda on the fence here but once i get a better idea on cost, ill have a better idea of whats involved...thanks again, youve been a huge help

 

[bcfd144]

RO/DI systems are not necessary at first. But a source of "0"TDS water is.
If your local fish shop sales DI water, your good to go. (mine sales DI water and premixed saltwater)
Later, investing in a RO/DI system will save you money with water changes, but not a must have at first.
But like I said, "0" TDS water is. Tap water will not work. Will cause you nothing but trouble...

Having a saltwater tank is in my opinoon not any harder than freshwater, but not easier either.
Just takes things you have to go to keep up running right..

I myself only run protein skimmers on my saltwater tanks. No canisters or other filters.
Ive been doing freshwater for years and years..
I now am running two salt tanks and getting ready to set up a third.. Ive been into salt for awhile and love it..

Main thing about saltwater is it can be expensice to get set up. But very important you do it the right way the first time..
Things in my opinion needed are:
A good sand bed (either live sand or reef sand) I only do reef bed sand
Protein skimmer (a must)
live rock (a must)
good lighting (if you are doing coral) no need to buy a really esp one if doing a fish only tank


To start:
Buy your substrate
Buy your protein skimmer (either in a sump or a hang on)
Buy a Mag Float glass cleaner (the best thing you will ever buy)
If you are buying DI water from your LFS, buy salt also. (get a 55 gaoon drum or what ever you need to hold the amount of water you need for your tank) Go ahead and buy your water, fill your drum up, add the amount of salt you need and put in a few powerheads to mix it.

Then start shopping around for live rock. Local Fish Shops sale rock form 5.50 a lbs to 7.50 a lbs (so can be expensive)
Live rock is better as your tank will cycle faster, dead rock will make your tank take longer to cycle.
Only benifit to dead rock is it wont have parasites you dont want in your tank, but I prefer live rock and nave never had a problem. Esp if you buy from someone who knew what they were doing
I myself keep looking around Craigslist and buy if off people saling their systems. I just bought 140 lbs for $70 bucks. Thats only 2 dollars a lbs..
When you find your rock. start setting up your tank.
get your skimmer hooked up, add substrate, set your rock up the way you want it (try to keep away from the edge of the glass so its easy to clean the glass with your mag float scruber)
then add your saltwater, get it up and running

Let it start to cycle. After two weeks, have your local pet store test your water weekly. This allows you to keep track of the cycling process. Do 10% water changes weekly
When your tank is cycled. Start adding fish (if planning to have coral later, get reef safe fish) Start doing 15% water changes weekly.
Let your tank be set up with fish for a few months.. If then you want to add coral, start with hardy coral.
Dont get in any hurry with coral. A good cycled tank is a must to keep coral if you want to keep them healthy. Coral is expensive and no reason to get in a hurry and waist money by adding to soon. Still do 15% water changes a week.. Coral do not put out alot of bio..

If after all that. Your tank is up and running.. And you are happy and still want to keep moving forward
Then invest in a RO/DI system. Buy a good one.
Make sure the system states it will provided "0" TDS water.

If you buy one one ebay, make sure you can get filters for it also.
I would also buy an extra set of filters to have on hand.
A good idea is to also get a TDS meter. (pen or inline) (I prefer inline)
This is a must also with a RO/DI system. this will tell you when your waters TDS is. If it gets above "0", time to change the filters.
People buy a RO system simply to save money in the long run. I just ordered mine and in 5 months it will pay for itself. (I got the RO/DI system, extra filters, a pressure meter, a inline TDS meter, two 55 gallon drums, salt and 4 powerheads) In only 5 months will this start paying for itself but will be worth it in the long run. Just not something I needed rt away. Now that i am setting up the 150 fish only salt tank, its cheaper for me now to just get one..

Saltwater tanks are cool. I have now in the house, 24 freshwater tanks, 1 600 gallon stingray pond and 2 (next week 3) saltwater tanks.
I love my freshwater tank (15 are breeder tanks for either breeding fish or feeders) and always will...
But my saltwater tanks are really cool. It gives me more options as to color and fish.. Im sure in time, we will have more.. Do have plans to set up saltwater breeding tanks and holding tanks

Have fun with your saltwater tank. Its an investment. Can be expensive to set one up. But very cool and worth it in the long run..
Be sure to ask questions if you have them.. And study up on the fish and care of them..