Converting salt to fresh question

[Alan Russell]

I just got a 220 gallon that used to be a salt water set up. I posted about it in the Traded boat for fish tank thread. it was pretty nasty when I got it. I got it all cleaned up. I am wondering though, do i need to do anything specific
to convert it to freshwater? There was an massive amount of salt build up crusted all over everything. I got it all off easy enough. My main concern is the bio-balls. i can't clean each and every one individually. will it be ok to reuse them. I worry that it may cause the salt level in my freshwater to exceed safe amounts.

 

[rmorse]

Meh, I would just use new bioballs, or use something else in there place.


I dunno if it will raise the salinity level, but I would imagine there is a possibility of that occurring.

 

[dmed]

Hmmmm, there must be a lot of bioballs in a filter for a tank that size. I'm calculating that even if you only make about 2-cents an hour, you are better off buying new ones than spending your time cleaning them!

 

[CHOMPERS]

You have nothing to worry about. They can not hold enough salt to cause a problem in 220g of fresh water. The build up is mostly calcium carbonate and magnesium (& MgSO4). Neither will have negative effects toward your fresh water bacteria colony. You can clean the bio-balls by pouring vinegar over them and letting them soak. Add a gallon or what ever you can get. Let them sit for about 15 minutes with the vinegar and then add water to fill the sump. Circulate from the bottom back up to the drip tray using a small pump or power head.