converting a salt water aquarium to a fresh water setup

R

rorchilles

Registered Member
Nov 1, 2006
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my buddie is giving me a 40 gal tank setup he used for a reef set up
i do not want to go salt water and this seems like a great tank it is coming with ehiem canister filters powerheads stande etc...

i want to know if there is anything i should know before i do the conversion.
do i just rinse out the tank and replace all filter media tubing etc??
i want to make it a planted tetra tank

thanks
 
I've successfully converted my uncle's 300g tanks from fresh-salt-fresh(again).....Just rinse out the tank....As for the filter rinse, do it lightly....Some of that beneficial bacteria can be worth something....
 
Has the tank been empty for any significant period of time? Then there really isn't any beneficail bacteria to save.

You will need to do a cycle to prepare the tank for your fish.

I would clean all parts with a mild bleach and water solution, rinsing till you do not smell bleach and on the final rinse, overdose with dechlor.

Glass tank? Did your buddy use copper meds ever in that SW set up?
 
the tank has been empty for about 2 wks
i dont know of copper meds
if i clean all parts thouroughly and replace all the filter media and hosing would i be ok
i figure i would alow it @ least a month of setup and cycling before i add any serious fish i might use a couple of danios or white clouds to help with the cycling bit i will also use some turbo start bacteria to help with the establishment of the bio filter
i also only use reverse osmosis water for my tanks
 
I think that cleaning will be fine.

What is turbo start? Got a link? The only quick start I am aware of that works is Bio-Spira.

Why do you use RO water? Something wrong with your tap water? What kind of fish do you plan on keeping?

What other tanks/fish do you have?
 
20 gal w/ glowfish , a pearl guarami , a laser corie, a couple of bamboo shrimp & a gold nugget pleco
my tap water comes from a well and is treated with chlorine tabs & a water softner
i use r/o cause i have an osmosis on my sink ansd i get 5 gallon jugs delivered to my house weekly it makes everything just easier.
i want an all tetra tank with cardinals , neons, blind mexicans etc... maybe a couple of congos
i dunno quick start / turbo start its refrigerated and my lfs sells it and it really helped with my 20 gal
 
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