Fresh Water to Salt **Scratches Head?**

[gpaaib]

OK, so right now I have a 90g tank that is blank. I also just discovered that my wife ordered me a Fluval FX5.

I am confused...

Sooooooo, with reef tanks there is that overflow box on back. Do I have to have my tank installed with one and have holes drilled as well in order to convert from fresh to reef tank?

Also, will the FX5 be sufficient for filtration or what do I need to do?

Thanks for any help... BTW, PLEASE explain like you are talking to a 3 year old. That is the only way I will understand... :grinyes:

Gary

[Grins]

If I had an empty 90g tank I'd take it to a respected LFS and ask them to drill it (if it is not tempered). I'd not use the FLuval and would instead use natural filtration via live rock. If you click on the Advice to Newbies link in my signature you'll see shopping list, helpful links, recommend reefkeeping books, etc.

[st0l1]

You don't necessarily have to get the tank drilled. There are HOT (Hang-On-Tank) overflow boxes you can get.

I agree with grins, that you should ditch the canister filter. Use that money for a sump, skimmer, return pump, lights, or a hundred other things you are going to need. Bust out your check book.

[gpaaib]

Bust out your check book.

OK, now I have to decide which is more important, my wife of 33 years or my check book... :grinyes:

Gary

[clckwrm]

OK, now I have to decide which is more important, my wife of 33 years or my check book... :grinyes:

Gary

:banher:

[schigara]

Certainly your wife understands that as long as you have checks left, you have money............right? heh


OK, now I have to decide which is more important, my wife of 33 years or my check book... :grinyes:

Gary

[mayran]

I agree with Grins totally on this one. Canister filters work great for FW, but less so for SW. I am also a FW to SW convert and bought a canister filter early on in my SW education and now wish that I had spent my money on something else. That FX5 costs quite a bit, so you could get some nice stuff for the price of that like a protein skimmer, live rock, lighting, sump....

My advice is to go as slowly as you possibly can, read everything that you can get your hands on and take everyone's opinion with a grain of salt. There is no right way to do things, but some techniques work better than others. Different things work for different people, and people also have different ideas of what "success" is.

Decide on what will be the most difficult thing that you will want to keep in this tank (ie. anemones, SPS corals, LPS corals, zoas, mushroom corals, etc..) and design your tank hardware around that. Then be prepared to upgrade. The SW bug bites hard and fast. Keep reading and asking questions. Good luck.