Revert?

[FindingBlemo]

Okay Guys!
Here's a new challenge. But first, let me explain things.
I got my first real aquarium, a 30 gallon, when I was 12, last year. Now, i have a small freshwater 1.5 gallon aquarium, my 30 gallon aqarium, and an 8 gallon saltwater biocube.

Here's the challenge.
Someone is willing to give up there 50 gallon tank because it is too much of a hassle (...goldfish :headshake2: and not even the cool ones!). I'm going to sell the 8 gallon biocube (Anyone? Anyone?) and turn my 30 gallon into a saltwater aquarium. Currently, in my biocube, I have 8 pounds of live rock, a black and white clownfish (Blemo = black + nemo) and a scooter blenny. I was wondering what I have to do to my 30 gallon if I already have:
A great heater, a H.O.B. filter, test kits, etc., and a great place to put a sump.
And that brings me to my REAL challenge. What do I have to do to make my little 30 gallon freshwater tank, saltwater worthy?

--- Thanks! FindingBlemo (a.k.a, Ben Walker)

[FindingBlemo]

Please help!!

[Ace25]

Do you really want a sump on the 30G? They are nice, but adds quite a bit of cost and complexity to a tank. If your going with fish only or even a softy reef tank for the 30G you could do fine without a sump if you wanted. Rinse out the tank real good, you can even use a little bleach or vinegar to help clean it if you want, just rinse it out real good and if you use bleach let it sit outside for a day to air out after you clean it.

Your going to need more live rock, 1lb per gallon is a good area IMO. Also need a powerhead, 1 koralia2 minimum but you can put a Koralia3 in there also but it pushes the limits on flow in a 30G.

And sorry, I like "Emo Nemo" much better than "Blemo".. lol. How long have you had the scooter? Very difficult fish to keep alive, especially in a small tank.

[FindingBlemo]

Hahaha, Emo Nemo. I really wasn't sure on the sump anyways. I might just keep it FOWLR. I've had my scooter blenny for about 7 months now, he's doing awesome! He's really funny to watch, even my mom (who doesn't like me having 5 aquariums in my room) likes him! I do have one of those mini 404 pumps, but I'm sure that's not enough, I am going to throw away, or bleach, wash, wash, wash, wash and dry my live rock due to hair algae :(. Can you estimate a cost of 23 pounds of live rock plus the powerhead, and do I need to upgrade my filter at all?

[Ace25]

Retail price of live rock is usually $4.99/lb. So 23lb x $5 = $115. Koralia2 runs I think $39.99 at www.marinedepot.com (http://www.marinedepot.com). If you have a local reef club in your area there are usually a few people that will give away small amounts or sell very cheaply, $1-$2/lb for live rock. I paid for about 1/2 of my live rock but have collected the other half over the years from various reefers during teardowns/re-aquascaping. Check craigslist and reefcentral (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?&forumid=80), at the bottom of the forums page there is an area for Local Reef Clubs, click on that and see if there is one close to you.

[FindingBlemo]

I know there is the GSAS (Greater Seattle Aquarium Society) but all they do is have meetings and an annual auction and none of it was LR. I do have a local pet store that sells live rock at $3 a pound, I'll check them out. Thank you so much for your help. Do I need to upgrade my H.O.B. filter?

[FindingBlemo]

-- .:. Bump .:. --

Let's just finish this off with this last question.
Do I need to upgrade my HOB filter I used with my freshwater?

[Ace25]

Did you say what type it is? I can't seem to find that bit of info. As long as it can hold something like a bag of chemi-pure and a small bag of phosban in place of the original filters that are made for it then it should be fine.

[FindingBlemo]

It's a Penguin Bio-Wheel 150, and it does current have a bag of nitra-zorb.

[FindingBlemo]

Do I need to upgrade my filter to something else for saltwater?

[Ace25]

No

[FindingBlemo]

K! Thanks!