How to convert to Salt Water???

[rojowe]

So I want to convert my 90 gallon freshwater tank to salt water. Right now I haven't got a ton of money so I'm selling all my stuff except for the tank, filter, lights, you know. Im getting rid of gravel, plants, fish decor, test kits, that stuff.
What I want to know is what exactly do I need? To start I just want a few clown fish, shrimp and some live rock, no coral or photosyth anything. Just basically want some fish to "get my feet wet".
Around here skimmers are expensive so what do I need to do to get away with not having a skimmer for a bit. Its going to take my budget just getting the live sand, live rock, salt mix, test kits, fish.

What else do I need other than:
Live Sand
Live Rock
Salt Mix
Test Kit
Hydrometer
Protein Skimmer (not now though)

Thanks for your help guys

 

[ilikeb00st]

So I want to convert my 90 gallon freshwater tank to salt water. Right now I haven't got a ton of money so I'm selling all my stuff except for the tank, filter, lights, you know. Im getting rid of gravel, plants, fish decor, test kits, that stuff.
What I want to know is what exactly do I need? To start I just want a few clown fish, shrimp and some live rock, no coral or photosyth anything. Just basically want some fish to "get my feet wet".
Around here skimmers are expensive so what do I need to do to get away with not having a skimmer for a bit. Its going to take my budget just getting the live sand, live rock, salt mix, test kits, fish.

What else do I need other than:
Live Sand
Live Rock
Salt Mix
Test Kit
Hydrometer
Protein Skimmer (not now though)


Thanks for your help guys

IMO if you want to start a saltwater tank, be patient save some money and do everything once and right. Don't rush it. Anyways, since you already have a tank, stand, filters, and lights (at some point you prob have to convert the bulbs for salt water, actinic, 10k,etc). For equipment, i would suggest that you get a skimmer, you wont necessary need it for a few weeks. Hydrometer is great to test salinity, make sure you calibrate them correctly with the right calibration fluid. I tried calibrating mine with distilled water when i first started, and it was a little bit off. For test kit, get a good one, like Salifert. Dont forget to have a few power heads so you dont have any "dead spots". For water, i highly recommend getting an RODI unit, less pain down the road (algaes), i got mine from Air Water and Ice for about $170 (they have cheaper ones too that produces lower GPD).

Sorry if i rambled too much and jump around btw topics.

ps. once the tank cycle for a while, you should consider adding a cleaner crew. I got mine from reefcleaners.org, they have great customer service. And gives you extra quantity every now and then. Hope this help and I'm sure other MFK members can give you some helpful input.

oh dont forget a heater, I keep my tank around 75-76 degrees.

What kind of filter are you running? wet/dry? canister?

 

[rojowe]

I realized as soon as I started reading your post that I didn't include what I'm running. Like I said I'm on a budget, University student. So for now RO Unit is definatly out of the question, no doubt though in the next year I plan on having one. And yes I also plan on Powerheads (left that out).
Right now my set-up is.
90 Gallon (48x18x25)
Rena XP3 Canister (mostly sponge)
DIY 24" T5 Lighting (weak I know, best I could do at the time, not trying to grow coral right now though so should be fine yeah?)
200 watt(I think) Heater

I definatly want a cleaner crew as well.
thanks...
anyone else got any tips

I'm definatly not rushing it, just planing and debating doing it or not. Trying to figure it out before actually doing it

 

[Rockbass6]

What your looking at fish only with live rock, keep your stock level down, compaired to what you normally kept in freshwater. If your starting try and get some cheap live rock on craigslist from an established tank, use your own good judgement, if it is covered in algae scrub it in saltwater with a tooth brush. I got all my live rock for 3 bucks a pound. I never use live sand I just use aragonite and let my live rock cycle. You need a hydrometer, instant ocean, live rock, aragonite sand, heater. You can get a test kit, but I don't have one, I have a very good sw store that tests it for free. In my filter I run prefilter, just a filter pad to catch crap, and chemipure plus. It works great, my levels stay pretty low, and of course my live rock which is in the tank. As far as clean up crew I like snails. hermit crabs eat my snails and trample my corals when they get big, and snails do a great job with the algae, but since you won't have heavy lighting go with a shrimp and a few fish and some crabs to start.
Any questions just ask, but keep it simple, it isn't hard to run what your looking at. Your biggest expense is going to be rock in the 90 if you get it from a store that is going to burn your pockets pretty deep. Test it out with a mollie to start better to lose a $3 fish than a $20 clown. Damsels are so damn hard to catch that I wouldn't start with one of those if I were you and they are mean.