I have currently freshwater 75 that I'm thinking about converting to salt. I have an eheim ProII running on it and not much else in the way of equipment. I'm wondering what else aside from live rock and sand I'll need for the conversion. I'm looking at a fish only tank. Will the freshwater bacteria do anything wierd to the process? Would I be better off with an unseeded filter? Also, any ideas on what I could put in a 75?
Saltwater Conversion
- Thread starter Aribenlaw
- Start date
the freshwater bacteria will die off, causeing the water and filter to re-cycle itself. this is fine and will help cycle the tank faster, but so will adding the rock and sand. i would wait to add this to see how high the ammonia gets and if it stays pretty low, then go ahead and add the rock, let that sit for a few days and then add some sand around the rock. are you going to be doing a pred tank?? if so i would almost consider getting a sump instead of the canister just because the maintanece is going to be much easier, and much more efficient
I was thinking more of a community tank. To be honest, I know absolutely nothing about slatwater fish in aquariums. I could see myself being lured into predators by a lionfish or a dogface puffer but I don't think a 75 would be big enough for either.
you can do smaller preds. valentini puffers, spiney box puffer (not the porcupine) dwarf lions and even some smaller wrasses would be fine. The volitan would be fine, there not normaly that active and only need a min of 50 gallons.
i would recommend a sump both ways you lean just because canisters will cause the nitrate to go through the roof. this could hurt your fish and with reef fish being a bit more on the sensative side, i would deff invest. it will save you money down the road.
i would recommend a sump both ways you lean just because canisters will cause the nitrate to go through the roof. this could hurt your fish and with reef fish being a bit more on the sensative side, i would deff invest. it will save you money down the road.
What about a couple aquaclear 110s? I've never set up a sump before and I'm a little daunted by the idea.
I was talking to a guy at my lfs who said he uses a protein absorbing pad instead of a skimmer. He said it had to be replaced every 3 months or so but it's much cheaper than a skimmer. Anyone heard of this?
i have heard of it, but it all depends on your the level of waste being produced, and many other things. a skimmer is the better way to go just because there an easy setup. Setting up a sump is not hard, and is going to be the best way IMO. this will allow you to put the skimmer right in the sump and it also increases your total water volume size. skimmers dont have to be exspensive but if your in this hobby for the long run, u might as well just invest in it anyways. my opinion would be to talk to the guy at the LFS and see if he can show you how to setup a sump. any good store would do this for you. with this method your not going in it on your own, and you will be able to see just how easy they really are.
Just seeing which things I can add as I go. Is there a good system for making salt water in high volume? The water changes are what really intimidate me.
ive found that the best way to do it is it to get a plastic trashcan, brute and tuffman make some good strong one, and hook the RO unit up next to it and just fill it up. the are easy to modify so you can fit a float shut off valve on them and prevent over flows. then i just purchase a lenght of tubing, how ever long you need it, and get a pretty powerful sump pump in the bottom of it.
its hard to explain but i make a connection with PVC to the pump and the PVC only comes out of the water a foot or so, then thats were the connection to the hose comes into play with a nipple fitting. i would take pics for you but i dont have a camera (sry) after you get this part done then just have some way to move the water around to keep it mixed. i find that a couple of small powerheads work fine.
there are many otherways and for me this works out great, even when draining the mix container down to nothing. i do appologize for no pics or anything, but i hope i explained this as good as i could for you lol. when it boils down to crunch time, anything that is non corrosive and can hold saltwater without erroding away will be fine. its just getting the water to the tank without having to haul it yourself lol. eitherway you rig yours up a pump in the bottom with some large diameter airline tubing will work out fine.
its hard to explain but i make a connection with PVC to the pump and the PVC only comes out of the water a foot or so, then thats were the connection to the hose comes into play with a nipple fitting. i would take pics for you but i dont have a camera (sry) after you get this part done then just have some way to move the water around to keep it mixed. i find that a couple of small powerheads work fine.
there are many otherways and for me this works out great, even when draining the mix container down to nothing. i do appologize for no pics or anything, but i hope i explained this as good as i could for you lol. when it boils down to crunch time, anything that is non corrosive and can hold saltwater without erroding away will be fine. its just getting the water to the tank without having to haul it yourself lol. eitherway you rig yours up a pump in the bottom with some large diameter airline tubing will work out fine.