I have been keeping FW fish for around 9 years now and having just moved to Cali so I lost my chance of keeping any FW stingrays and have just ordered a 120gallon 4ftx2ftx20in and am starting to wonder how hard it would be to convert into SW. I have been googling and have been told that I can use basically all the same equipment just diff substrate and decorations...I don't know if this is right but I was always told that keeping SW was much harder than FW but this seems pretty easy any tips would be appreciated and recommendations on what to buy for the setup. Also if it all works out I'm planning on keeping a Snowflake eel or which ever you guys recommend
FW to SW
- Thread starter JASamper
- Start date
I just posted something similar in another thread of the same nature, so I'll copy it over here for you.
Minimal Recommended Start-Up:
Minimal Recommended Start-Up:
- Aragonite sand-- enough to form a 0.5" to 1" layer (unless burrowing fishes are being kept)
- High quality dry rock-- one pound per gallon or so
- High quality live rock-- just used for seeding the dry rock; check for parasites and other nuisances
- Protein skimmer-- not sure on brands for larger ones; be sure to oversize it since it's your most important piece of equipment
- Powerheads-- circulation is very important and helps to prevent dead spots & detritus build-up
- Lighting-- go for a 50/50 split of high K rated white lights and actinic (blue) lights
- Heater-- shoot for one that will keep the water at 78°F
- Salt mix-- I've used the original Instant Ocean and Coralife salt with good results; get enough to get a specific gravity of 1.023 to 1.026
- Mixing container-- Mix and aerate your saltwater for a few days before using it for water changes; a large Rubbermaid garbage can works nicely
- Saltwater test kit-- Very important; get one that does at least pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate
- Hydrometer-- Used for testing salt levels (specific gravity); refractometer is way more accurate than a hydrometer but costs much more
- Filtration-- A sump is preferable over HOB filters which are preferable over canister filters. Used mainly for mechanical and chemical filtration.
Cycling is super important for saltwater aquariums and is what makes your sand and rock into live sand & live rock. Don't forget that your live rock is your main biological filter followed by your live sand. This thread here on MFK (in this section's stickies, actually) explains it pretty well and provides instructions.
I forgot to mention in my equipment post that the plastic egg-crate stuff that's used on office lights makes a good bottom layer for the aquarium; it helps to hold the rock in place while helping to prevent you from breaking the glass by dropping a rock (as well as other benefits).
Also, please post up what you have as far as filters, light fixtures, and other equipment so that we can make recommendations as to what you should/shouldn't use.
Macro algae, specifically chaeto, is great for helping with nitrates and phosphates plus it provides a home for copepods and other plankton. You can easily convert one of your HOB filters into a hang-on refugium by adding a clip light and some chaeto; you could also make a refugium within the sump should you choose to utilize a sump.
RO/DI water makes it a lot easier because it removes all the impurities from the water thereby preventing you from introducing any nitrates, phosphates, dissolved solids, and so on. However, for a FO or FOWLR, you can get away with dechlorinated tap water in most cases depending on your water quality; once again, you're going to have to watch the parameters more in this case, especially phosphate.
I've probably left some other things out, but that should give you a pretty good start from an equipment standpoint. Now then, on to your livestock...
I forgot to mention in my equipment post that the plastic egg-crate stuff that's used on office lights makes a good bottom layer for the aquarium; it helps to hold the rock in place while helping to prevent you from breaking the glass by dropping a rock (as well as other benefits).
Also, please post up what you have as far as filters, light fixtures, and other equipment so that we can make recommendations as to what you should/shouldn't use.
Macro algae, specifically chaeto, is great for helping with nitrates and phosphates plus it provides a home for copepods and other plankton. You can easily convert one of your HOB filters into a hang-on refugium by adding a clip light and some chaeto; you could also make a refugium within the sump should you choose to utilize a sump.
RO/DI water makes it a lot easier because it removes all the impurities from the water thereby preventing you from introducing any nitrates, phosphates, dissolved solids, and so on. However, for a FO or FOWLR, you can get away with dechlorinated tap water in most cases depending on your water quality; once again, you're going to have to watch the parameters more in this case, especially phosphate.
I've probably left some other things out, but that should give you a pretty good start from an equipment standpoint. Now then, on to your livestock...
As far as livestock goes, do you want to focus on eels, or do you want to do something else and have an eel or two in there as well?
I've always wanted to try out some SW eels or possibly a small ray but it being a limited tank size I was thinking along the lines of an eel or two and as to any other fish I'm not sure.
Currently I have a 60g SA cichlid tank that I acquired through craigslist once moving down here I wasn't able to take my fish tanks with me in the move -_- don't think any of the equipment I currently have could be much use to the new setup and most likely I will be purchasing what ever my lfs has in stock
You could certainly fit a few of the smaller eels in there or one of the medium-sized ones although rays are out of the question as far as I know. You could easily do a snowflake eel in there along with another smaller eel or two, such as a tile eel and/or a chainlink eel.
It might be cheaper for you to just order the equipment online at that rate; I would price stuff out both online & at the LFS and go from there.
Thank you for the help btw I appreciate it
No problem; there are tons of experienced people on here who are more than glad to help out. Just let us know if you have any further questions.