Should I convert my 65g?

[Blinky]

I've got a planted 65g with ~300W of PC lighting, a FilStar XP2 and a few PHs lying around. For a while now I've been considering converting it to SW, maybe a FOWLR since I have a little reef in the bedroom. I figure I'd need a skimmer and the LR, and not much else (the stand doesn't allow room for a sump), which makes it REALLY tempting. I would likely be able to get a decent amount of credit for the livestock and plants, which would help offset the setup costs... I'd just like a few thoughts. I really enjoy SW and after 15 years FW is getting a little stale, but maybe it's a crazy idea ;)
Let me know what you think!

[Decz]

I know what you mean when you say that FW gets stale. I had FW for years and finally converted to SW a couple of years ago... since then FW just hasn't been the same! I still keep a 20 gallon freshwater, but everything else is SW!

I vote to convert!

[wastememphis]

I have a sump in my 65gallon stand... I'd convert it since I don't like freshwater but its up to you.

[reiverix]

I had to vote to leave things as they are. I've got my 55g reef and 75g heavily planted tank side by side and they look real good together. It's a nice contrast. When I have visitors, I can see their eyes moving back and forth between them.

[Blinky]

Thanks for the votes guys! It's a bit of a hard decision. The 65g looks nice, but my guests pay absolutely no attention to it, they want to see the reef. It is tempting to leave it even though I can see it's SW potential - the tank is heavily planted with Crypts and needs next to no attention other than water changes, fertilizing and pruning it back every two months or so and the fish are happy and healthy...
The stand is two shelves with a cabinet in the centre that's just large enough for the canister filter - no option for a sump under there unfortunately.
I was a bit worried about leaving plants all together and feeling sad, but there's a 10g planted tank and a 1g planted cube in the other room to take care of. I think I'll wait for a few more opinions, but I'm leaning towards converting.

[SirReal63]

I faced the same issue, decided to go salt. I have a 75 gallon that was nicely planted, but I inherited a yellow tang and I knew he would not be happy in my 58 gallon, so the decision got easier. I converted the 75 to fowlr but it does haver a few mushrooms and polyps in it.

Here is what it was...not bad for a planted tank.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/7512-22.jpg


Here is what it is becoming...slowly.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/75-10-19.jpg

[reiverix]

Well if you go SW then make it a reef. I can't imagine keeping a SW without corals just as I couldn't keep a FW without plants. It seems somehow incomplete without them. A few other halfway options maybe...

A planted SW tank
A brackish mangrove tank

[Blinky]

Nice! Well, I'm going to make up a list of all my fish and plants, see what the LFS can do for me in terms of a trade-in for LR. I think I want to go FOWLR so I can keep fish that may eat coral. Now everything just hinges on how much I can get for the current inhabitants - if we have to spend $400 on rock, I don't think my husband will go for it but he might be more inclined if it's going to cost half that :)

[Swimfins]

I'm a no. From what I've seen, in saltwater, bigger is always better.
Although your 65 is a good size, I think its a bit small for saltwater.
I was considering the same thing awhile back, but after meeting the over 100 gallon folks, I'm convinced I want 100g or more so.....$$$$$ will wait.

[Blinky]

Interesting point, it's not exactly a huge tank. Thankfully I'm not a fan of tangs, triggers and the like; I don't think space is as much of an issue as it would be if I wanted big fish.
I was talking to some folks at work today, asking their thoughts, and we came up with a nice FOWLR plan. The largest fish I'd like to keep is a Potter's angel at 4-5". Unfortunately this is the biggest tank I'll have to work with for a long time to come - we live in a highrise apartment building and have somewhat limited space. The 65g tank fits perfectly in our 'book nook'. I'm still undecided, as I said it largely depends on whether or not I can trade my current FW stock in. :)

[reiverix]

Oh well I'll make one more suggestion - a dog face puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus). Nice looking fish, but I have a soft spot for puffers so there's a wee bit of bias involved :)

[Swimfins]

Puffers. I saw a dog face puffer yesterday and he was amazing, folowing my like a dog with pretty blue eyes, but also a bit unnerving, like he was going to bite me lol.
Blinky, wouldn't you miss yur fish? I sat in front of my f/w tank last night and watched my dojo loaches playing and I felt sad that I had even considered giving them up. And my royal pleco sat so prettily on the driftwood I felt guilty lol.

An angel tank however would be pretty :)

[wastememphis]

65 is a fine size, you can see pics of mine in its thread somewhere around here.

[mogurnda]

I voted yes, mostly because you posted it in the marine section and I figured you subconsciously want us to tell you to do it :D.

On the other hand, I still really enjoy my FW planted tank. It's a little more serene and simple.

[OrionGirl]

Since I'm in the process of tearing down everything and putting hardware in storage for at least 8 months--I'll say FOWLR, or a reef. Taking down the 120 reef this past weekend was really hard. Taking down the FW setups won't be nearly as tough, even though I like them all.

[Blinky]

Thanks guys, your opinions help a lot. Dave, you're probably right, I was about 75% sure I wanted to do it but honestly wanted some input from SW folks. Had I asked over on the freshie side they probably would have said no because it's a nice planted tank and I think it's hard to understand just how fun marines are until you dive in ;)

I should have mentioned that I'm not a puffer fan.... we've got one at work that just creeps me out. It's like a dog underwater, there's something unsettling about their faces.

I'm not sure if it's better to call the LFS or actually go in with a list of the inhabitants... geez, I just can't make a decision today! :D

[Blinky]

Okeedokee, I called the store... they'll give me half the retail value for the fish but likely won't take the plants so I'll need to sell/trade/give them away elsewhere. Looks like I might get $50-$100 for the fish, which barely puts a dent in the LR budget! Now I wait to see what my hubby says... :D

[Swimfins]

Well, sure is a nice tank to be breaking down. I was going to say, you'll likely do it or you wouldn't have asked this question but oh...shut-mah-mout! ;)

R/0 water? Investing in an r/o system? Auto-top off? Phosban reactor?
Bigger skimmer? Having the tank drilled or overflow for sump?
Don't forget the hidden costs.

[Blinky]

*Grin* my husband asked me to promise, in writing, that I wasn't going to buy more lighting for the tank six weeks in. Of course I didn't - I reserve the right to save up for MH if I ever decide to do an SPS reef ;) Seriously though, I have considered other costs and still want to go ahead.
No flaming, but we're not getting an RO unit - at least not for a while. Our tap water is great - 0-2ppm NO3, undetectable PO4, 30ppm Ca; basically there's not much in it. I've been using tap on my reef for ages now and everything looks happy, but by all means if at any point we need to get an RO/DI we will. There's also a grocery store across the street that has distilled water in 5g jugs in case of emergency.
Drilling the tank isn't an option, there's no room for a sump. The tank is in a book nook with 8" of clearance on either side, and the way the stand is shaped, it's two shelves on either side with a little cabinet <12" wide in the middle. There's just enough room for the canister, but that's it. I still have the Prizm skimmer which will have to do for now, basically I want to go low-tech FOWLR and not overload the tank. My husband loves the gorgeous colours of marines, but there are lots that aren't nano or reef friendly. This will be an opportunity to keep one or two slightly larger fish (with a few smaller ones) that may be coral nippers and experience those colours!
I've got a Potter's angel on order at work, they're one of the most gorgeous fish I've ever seen. They come in teeny, so if it's ready to go before the 65g is ready in two or three (or four or six) months, it can stay in the tank at work (in QT) and/or live in the 30g for a bit. I'll probably end up moving the crazy maroon into the 65g as well and leave the three musketeers in the 30g (Lubbock's fairy wrasse, o-s shrimp goby and yellow clown goby).
I love the idea of an auto top-off, but if it goes anywhere it would be on the 30g - that tank evaporates 1.5L a day! I have a 1L bottle with some small-diameter airline and an IV unit thumb-wheel set up to drip water slowly into the tank all day long. It's my own little ghetto auto top-off, lol. The 65g doesn't evaporate much, I'm not sure if it's because it's well covered (which could be a problem when I go salty) or because of its location, or just the water volume doesn't show it as much, but it's not a problem - right now, I top it off once between water changes if at all.

I bought a cooler today to transport my fish to the store and bring the rock home, I'm all set. Tomorrow is 'double points day' at Big Al's, so if I can get everything together I'll go in the afternoon and make the big swaperoonie. The only frustrating thing is that there's no way I can mix up 60+ gallons of SW ahead of time, so I'll need to do it in the tank. I've got 10g mixing right now, but it means the LR will be sitting in a Rubbermaid bin for at least half a day while the water in the tank circulates and 'ages' a bit. I hope it's at least partially cured, or that bin full of rock is going to get really nasty, really quickly.

[FreddytheFish]

Poll-wise, if you want fair results you should post this in General FW, people who frequent the same forum are going to be biased (in a good way :D )

If you do convert it, I'd think it'd be cool to go with a planted Marine tank, with plenty of beautiful macroalgaes.

[Blinky]

Thanks Freddy :)
I have seen pics of planted marine tanks, they can be gorgeous. I don't think I want any Caulerpa getting a foothold in my LR, and there will probably be an angel in the tank who would eat it... but you never know, maybe I won't end up with an angel and something really interesting will grow out of the rock.

I bought a cooler today to transport the fish, and got the okeedokee from my better half. Maybe I'll start another diary of the new tank once I get going :D

[Swimfins]

LOL sounds like your on the way Blinky. Good job.
I've been lugging the r/o water from the machine at Loblaws for a few months now. Gets old fast.
But, I'm sure my tap water is equivalent to yours and in a pinch, I'll top off with tap water (ottawa has poor water however) and have not noticed a prob....soooooooooo, I dunno.
I'm thinking I'll invest in r/o though. I'm in the planning stages of my 90-100 gallon all sps (maybe). LOL dreaming eh??!!
My planted tank is looking so pretty lately I don't have the heart to bust it down. I'm considering sellling it as is, complete with eheim filter, stand, plants and fish. But even that is difficult lol.
Keep us posted.

[Blinky]

Whew! What a day! I took all the plants and fish to the LFS to trade and got more than I expected to :D
Then I picked out some nice big pieces of uncured LR, came home with as much as I could carry (which turns out to be ~30lbs). It's in a Rubbermaid bin with a PH and an airstone right now, it looks nice but smells pretty gross.
After I got home I finished tearing down the tank, cleaned it out, cleaned all the equipment, placed new bio-media in the XP2, filled the tank with warm dechlorinated water and salt and turned everything on. The tank looks HUGE now that's empty! The salt hasn't fully mixed in yet, tomorrow I'll check the pH and SG and move the rock in :D

[Uncarved Block]

?? This poll is a year old! ??? I'm so confused :confused: :confused:

[Russy pelican]

You made the right choice. :bowing: