Convert 36g tall FW to SW

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M

merc123

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 16, 2007
435
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North GA
What would it take to convert my existing 36g tall FW tank to a SW tank?

Here is what I have so far:

Coralife 50-50 bulb (10000k/actinic)
XP3 canister filter
Stealth heater
Hydrometer, thermometer
Saltwater master test kit (API - will get this)
Pool filter sand
Crushed coral

Already have a method for premixing salt water for water changes.

I would *LIKE* to have some kind of shrimp (scarlet skunk, blood red, etc), sea stars, some corals, blenny, goby, pseudochromis, clown and wrasse
 
Youll probably need a skimmer and what are u going to use as bio filtration? (live rock maybe)
not shure but i think canisters might not be ok for sw
 
canister is fine as long as u hae a bio filter
 
Your canister filter may not be the best option for filtering. Get some live rock, a skimmer, and a simple HOB filter and you should be ok. Skip the corals. A few small fish and some shrimp would do fine.
 
You will need much better lighting for an anemone. Your parameters have to remain steady for 6-12 months before even considering one. You also will have to keep the SG much higher than if you were just keeping fish. For fish you can go as low as 1.020--anemone 1.026 is best. Nitrates for fish have to be kept <20--anemone <5. Something to consider.
 
spotfin;1302906; said:
Your canister filter may not be the best option for filtering. Get some live rock, a skimmer, and a simple HOB filter and you should be ok. Skip the corals. A few small fish and some shrimp would do fine.
Click to expand...

canister filter = nitrate factory. bad idea for reef tanks.
 
i agree, a simple HOB filter is the best. as for the lighting u can use the 50/50 but they wont allow you to keep most corals, exsepcially anems! those bulbs also dont grow your coraline algae all that great either so i would consider upgrading to a simple t-5 ho set. shoot for a 4 bulb set vs a 2 bulb set and get the unit that has individual reflectors. these lights increase that amount at the bottow of the tank and depending on what kinda bulbs you get you can keep mushrooms, leathers, zoo's and possibly even anems. as stated earlier though your tank has to be set up for some time. after you get all the equiptment you need then you can consider getting some durable corals like leathers and zoo's. these corals dont need a lot of light and as long as there acclimated properly and you dont allow your tank parameters to plummet then your fine. but get the skimmer and LR and consider some different sand.

one thing i would advise is to take a small container of saltwater and test it for phosphates and silicates and then add some sand and test again after 24 hours. i believe pool filter sand is extremely high in silicates and phosphates which will casue a ton of unwanted algae growth. this test will allow your to read the params of the test and see how much of a difference there is in 24 hours, if any difference at all.
 
i agree, a simple HOB filter is the best.
Click to expand...
I hope you're refering to a HOB skimmer?
 
spotfin;1302906; said:
Your canister filter may not be the best option for filtering. Get some live rock, a skimmer, and a simple HOB filter and you should be ok. Skip the corals. A few small fish and some shrimp would do fine.
Click to expand...


i was talking about the filter, but a skimmer wouldnt be a bad idea either :nilly:
 
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