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How to make a freshwater fish tank a saltwater fish tank?
I’M BACK!!!! asked:
I have had fish tanks for years. I only have a 55 gal and a 10 gal tank now. I have only had freshwater fish and that is the only experience I have with fish. I have always wanted to have a saltwater tank. The fish are much prettier. How hard is it to switch over? What supplies would I need? All the info you can give would be much appreciated. Thanks.
I have had fish tanks for years. I only have a 55 gal and a 10 gal tank now. I have only had freshwater fish and that is the only experience I have with fish. I have always wanted to have a saltwater tank. The fish are much prettier. How hard is it to switch over? What supplies would I need? All the info you can give would be much appreciated. Thanks.
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5. July 2008 at 1:59 am :
It’s kinda hard. If you had no experience with a salt water tank, go do so reserch, and ask your local pet store (that have salt water fish). But you do need a protine skimmer, a hydrometer and a good external filter (wet and dry filter or somthing).
7. July 2008 at 12:50 am :
Well, it should not be too difficult to switch one over, just need to get some extra equipment is all. First off I would suggest using a larger tank, such as your 55 gallon for a SW. What type of filter do you have right now?
Things you will need
-Appropriate lighting (some things will need different lighting requirements than others)
-hydrometer or refractometer for reading specific gravity
-marine salts, or reef salts if keeping live reef and corals
-protein skimmer (not necessary for smaller tanks)
-different types of filter media than with FW (biological-live rock, mechanical-sponges and such, chemical-whatever you think would work….chemipure is pretty good)
-different substrate (crushed coral, live sand, aragonite)
-deco like corals, lava rock, limestone, etc.
-powerhead or wavemaker (good for keeping debris off live rock and stuff)
-special food for marine fish (ominvores, herbivores, carnivores will all require different types)
-trace elements are always good to use, along with buffers to help keep your pH at a constant level
-reverse osmosis water is the best to use, but not completely necessary
I think that is about it, I will add more if I can think of anything else.
9. July 2008 at 4:16 am :
Well that would really depend on what you have. You will need a heater and filter that are rated for saltwater(meaning they can handle salt deposits) you will need live sand substrate rather then gravel and eventually after the tank is recycled, you will need live rock. then you get a hydrometer and a master test kit for saltwater and instant ocean sea salt, bring the salinity to 1.024-1.026 and cycle the water. while you are going thru the 6 week cycling process research the fish that you want for the size tank that you have and other fish that are compatible
you can find all that right here
saltwater is not hard, don’t let anyone tell you that it is…what it is, is expensive and involved so do not go in blind (do as much reading as you can) and be prepared to spend some cash.