View Full Version : Going from Salt to Fresh Water, Need Guidance
G'morning AquariaCentral,
I've been focused on salt water for the past 3 years. Well recently I had an Aquarium Crash to some bad Ich. Well rather than dealing with that sadness again, I want to try Fresh Water Tank. I am hoping it will be a bit easier and cheaper as well.
I have a 110 Gal tank with 2 Fluval 405 Canister Filter (1 with the top Skimmer Attachment), 2 Koralia Pump # 3, a Maxi Jet 1200, 1 Heater and a Aquac Remora Pro with Mag 3 pump. I am in the process of selling my Live Rock to the LFS and will probably just throw away the sand?
Anyways, my idea so far is just to keep 1 Red Devil, since I love their personality, and my Daughter loves to always stay in front of the tank, which would stress my saltwater tank before, but I think the Red Devil's actually like that.
So, out of the equipment I have, what can I reuse? I'm assuming the pumps should still be ok, but maybe the skimmer I should sell? Ummm... I'm guessing I need gravel now, and Drift Wood? Do I need a Syphon?
Do I follow the Same Cycling process as I read in this forum for Fishless cycling. Or since its a red devil it should be fine?
I'm still deciding if that is the right way to go considering I have a 110 gal tank, that's about 6 ft long.
As long as I can get some direction, I will start to get more ideas, but I need to start off somewhere.
Your help will be much appreciated.
You still need to fishless cycle... you don't need a skimmer- although I believe some people in the F/W world do still use them- (don't know why)... don't know much about Red Devils specifically... Make sure your substrate is shallower for F/W- don't need any deep sea beds- the anaerobic bacteria that could build up is bad in a F/W tank.
Well recently I had an Aquarium Crash to some bad Ich. Well rather than dealing with that sadness again, I want to try Fresh Water Tank.
FW fish get Ich too!
Beyond that- I'm certainly no expert- and no very little about S/W to know what else is differnt.
angyles
10-08-2009, 2:53 PM
As far as your equipment goes, sell the skimmer for sure, unless you might go back to salt someday. I don't know what your heater wattage is right now, but you'll want enough to keep it 78-80 in there. I would say 2 200W heaters would be perfect so depending on what you have right now, you'll probably want another one.
With a FW tank of that size, you're easiest tool for water changes is going to be a python. It'll gravel vac, and water change very easily straight from your faucet. OTher than that, you're set! I would do a fishless cycle for sure. You can use sand or gravel for you substrate. it's totally up to you. Just don't make it 4" thick! I'm assuming you don't want plants (red devil and all) so 1" would be fine.
Ok great info. I will start cleaning the skimmer and will sell that then. Thanks for the tip with the Shallow Substrate. And yah, I will not be putting in plants, IF I do go the Red Devil way.
I will also look into a Python.
Do you know if Red Devils are considered Hardy fish?
Oh, also, what kind of Filter Media is needed. All I had before was Carbon, and the Pre-Filter sponge foam thing.
Thanks again for the input so far.
Blown 346
10-08-2009, 4:22 PM
You can resue the sand if you want to. Just rinse it out well. The skimmer wont be used like said above. You can use all of your other equipment. I would use vinegear and water to clean out your pumps etc. Let them run in the water vinegear mixture.
Oh, I also have Purigen. Do I put that in during the Cycling? I am planning on going the Tetra SafeStart route once the tank is cleaning. I'm now researching what kind of media should I put into my Fluvals. Hmmmm :huh:
You don't need the protein skimmer, but the surface skimmer is still useful in freshwater.
Use the canisters, use the sponges plus whatever other biomedia you want. Seachem matrix is cheap, about $30 for 4 liters.
Red devils are easy to keep, like most large cichlids. There are various other large aggressive cichlids that would work great instead, get what you prefer.
You can use whatever substrate you want. I prefer sand, pool filter sand is really cheap and fairly clean.
Driftwood looks nice, add it if you want. It will turn the water slightly brown for a while and lower the pH a bit, it's harmless though.
alvin
10-09-2009, 10:24 AM
Well the reason for the Red Devil choice is that it actually acts like a pet, it follows you, which I'm sure my 3 yr old would love. Unless there are other options that I am not aware of?
Hmmm, I didn't know Drift Wood would turn the water slightly brown, that kinda sucks. I'm kind of curious what other Red Devil owners use for their aquascape.
I will definitely look into the SeaChem Matrix. Are there any other Filter Media needed? I am probably going to recharge my SeaChem Purigen, and use that as well.
Is sand a good option for a Red Devil? I am thinking of placing an Egg Crate on the bottom of the aquarium so the fish will not move the substrate too much.
Hmmm.... Yah, so any other suggestions would be helpful. I saw a fairly large RD beetween $40-$60 at my LFS here in Sacramento.
alvin
10-09-2009, 11:35 AM
Ok, after some research, it looks like I should use Fluval Biomax Media rather than the SeaChem. So I will use that as a Bio filter. Should I use something for Ammonia and nitrate? Or just stick with my SeaChem Purigen and the Biomax? Of course I would put these other filter media in AFTER the cycle with Tetra SafeStart correct?
fluval wants you to use fluval biomax, but really it doesn't matter. Any biomedia will work fine, and I'm pretty sure biomax costs quite a bit more by volume.
You don't need any ammonia reducing media, bacteria do that for you.
There are many other large cichlids with similar personalities. Others in the same genus (Amphilophus) like trimaculatus have the same general body shape but different patterns.
OldMan47
10-10-2009, 9:33 PM
Leave the purigen wherever you want to store it. The real need for a freshwater tank is just some biomedia and a mechanical filter. Ammonia is removed completely by a cycled filter so you do not use any chemical filtration to remove it. The carbon / purigen in a FW is a waste of good filter space. The biomax or matrix will both work fine in one of your canisters. You do need to cycle a FW and do not end up using anything but water changes to remove the build of nitrates. We do not try to close the cycle on a FW like you might on a SW to remove nitrates using anaerobic reactions. Stop thinking of saltwater solutions to problems, this is really a very different hobby with only water and some of the equipment in common with SW. Even lights that you used for coarl have no place in a FW aquarium. The lights we use are much dimmer and have a different spectrum than you might use on a reef or similar setup.
On fish selections, any of the larger cichlids will become a pet-like fish that will interact with you. You should focus on one that you really like because it will be with you for a long time. You do not need to get a large fish any more than you would buy a full grown dog, instead you can raise your own large fish.
So water changes would be done by siphoning with something like a Python brand. Do I need to treat the tank after TAP water has been exchanged while cleaning?
I am going to be headed to the LFS tomorrow to find some biomedia.
Jspigs
10-11-2009, 6:00 PM
You still need to condition your water.
alvin
10-11-2009, 11:32 PM
What do you mean by condition the water? I thought I didn't need to add any chemicals? Well, once the cycle is completed.
Tetrastripe2
10-11-2009, 11:45 PM
Conditioning water is adding a dechlorinator (Prime is a good brand, I've heard) to remove the chorine and chloramine from your tap water. We do this because those chemicals are harmful to fish. "The cycle" only removes ammonia and nitrites.
Jakezori
10-12-2009, 12:53 AM
first of all...welcome to the light side.
Water conditioners are used to get rid of chemicals more than anything although some have bonuses as well. Prime is far and above the best water conditioner out there though. Some water conditioners do things in addition to removing chorine and chloramine. Prime for example has something in it that keeps your ammonia levels at bay.
alvin
10-12-2009, 11:36 AM
Oh I see. I have some DeChlor laying around. I used that to remove the bleach when I was recharging my Purigen. Can I use that? Or should I purchase some Prime?
Thanks for all the help by the way.
Jspigs
10-12-2009, 6:21 PM
Prime would be the best choice.