Freshwater to Saltwater

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J

Jon MacLeod

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 6, 2013
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Washington
I am going to convert my wife's tank to saltwater. It is currently running freshwater. I have all the filtration/lights/skimmers needed for the job. But my question is substrate. We have always kept a beach type sand with crush coral mix. Because we like the look. The substrate has been cleaned but not to a point of losing the bacteria you want in it. Is that bacteria ok in the sand to help get a salt tank running or should we completely wash/rinse and dry it out first and add live sand with it.


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I've read about this somewhere. Freshwater BB and Saltwater BB are completely different so it wouldn't really benefit you much in a saltwater aquarium.
 
Your bb is used to fw. It will die with sw..more harm than good.

Start from scratch.
 
The BB will die, but I don't know if that would really be bad since the decaying bacteria would help jump start the cycle. It would provide a small source of ammonia.
 
Ok then. Starting from scratch. Cleaning and rinsing sand thoroughly.

Now once tank is filled and running.
Salinity checked and good. When can I add damsels to kick start bacteria growth?


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Just alike a fw tank I'de do a fishless cycle.. unless your adding live rock for hideing decor ect.. in that case spend the extra few bucks on live rock thats been purged. I thought I'de save a few bucks years ago.. and ended up with a horrible bristleworm colony. Live rock is what is says.. so let it cycle your tank for you. and only add damsels if you intend to keep them.. but they are nasty lil' buggers. and ime no more or less hearty then other fish out there. I'm persoanlly more partial to 6 line wrasses, cardnals, ect as "starter fish" for SW. I would love to have another mini reef again and have a lil' 6 or 9 line.. colorful lil' fish thats always doing something!
 
Ok but here is where my confusion always sets in. I've been keeping freshwater all my life. I've always set decor and substrate up. Added water. Cycled for 24 hrs or less and added fish. Never had a fish die from water quality. Just had a fish get sick recently but that wasn't due to water quality as I check It regularly. Live rock will be added tomorrow more then likely.

I know salt is different and I'm not attempting a reef or anything advance just yet. Starting with fish and rock for now. Till I've alot more Experince under my belt.

My salt Experince is limited as I've only ever kept a peacock mantis shrimp out of my neighbors tank. He lived in a pre mixed 10g. With only filtration. For 3 yrs. little bad ass he was lol


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You could do a fishless cycle with bottled ammonia. I did a cycle with 2 clownfish and a yellow tang ( I know extremely risky) but it all worked out fine. If you want to throw in some live rock (i'd do about 1.5 lbs live rock per gallon) and then a handful of damsels you will be fine
 
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