Freshwater to salt newbie questions

[nx2ured]

Hi all! I have been keeping freshwater fish for over 15 years now and have recently decided to take the plunge into saltwater. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on, but am still not clear on some things and have a few questions. I have a 55g freshwater tank that will be fishless by tomorrow. It has been set up for a few years and has playsand substrate. Can I use this tank as it is and just add salt to it? If so, should I add it slowly to keep the bacteria alive (like raising the salinity in a brackish tank) or just add it all at once and let it cycle? Also, I want lots of rocks with things growing a peeking out everywhere. What type of fish would be good for this size tank? I like the clownfish and those blue tangs, but do not want to overload it...maybe only 3-5 small fish. Could someone suggest compatable fish/inverts for a 55g newbie tank?

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[cav]

Hi all! I have been keeping freshwater fish for over 15 years now and have recently decided to take the plunge into saltwater. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on, but am still not clear on some things and have a few questions. I have a 55g freshwater tank that will be fishless by tomorrow. It has been set up for a few years and has playsand substrate. Can I use this tank as it is and just add salt to it? If so, should I add it slowly to keep the bacteria alive (like raising the salinity in a brackish tank) or just add it all at once and let it cycle? Also, I want lots of rocks with things growing a peeking out everywhere. What type of fish would be good for this size tank? I like the clownfish and those blue tangs, but do not want to overload it...maybe only 3-5 small fish. Could someone suggest compatable fish/inverts for a 55g newbie tank?

Thanks,
Lisa

You will need to empty the entire contents of the tank I'm affraid and get rid of the playsand. The bacteria from a fw tank is completely different to that of a marine tank and will be of no use.
What are you planning on using for filtration? water movement? skimming? do you want to keep corals? what lighting do you have?

Unfortunatley your tank is to small for a regal tang.

 

[nx2ured]

I was hoping I could just add salt and live rock to the tank as it is and let it cycle? So, I can't use the playsand at all? I am working on a trade right now for a skimmer. I have two 55g HOB filters and two powerheads. I'm still new to alll of this, are the corals the live things that move? If so, I do want those. I am also trading for a 175W metal halide light with a 20K bulb, some base rock - some small pieces, and one overflow box. Oh well, I guess I'll have to choose a fish other than a tang. Any other suggestions on small pretty fish that will go along with clowns?

You will need to empty the entire contents of the tank I'm affraid and get rid of the playsand. The bacteria from a fw tank is completely different to that of a marine tank and will be of no use.
What are you planning on using for filtration? water movement? skimming? do you want to keep corals? what lighting do you have?

Unfortunatley your tank is to small for a regal tang.

 

[cav]

I'd definately start with fresh coral sand any other marine substrates. Make sure you add and arrange your live rock first before adding the sand otherwise you could end up with a nasty rock slide from burrowing critters.
For a reef tank of soft corals you will be looking at 20kg of live rock and powerheads adding up to a total of minimum 20 times your tank volume turnover (1100 gph or 4200 lph) with a skimmer suitalbe for your tank size (usually found by halfing the stated capabilty by the maufacturer, if a skimmer is rated for 1000 litres by the manufacturer it is normally only suitable for a tank of 500 litres).
Your lighting sounds fine although I have never seen a 175w halide (usually 75/150/200/400).
What are you planning on running in the hob filters?

 

[nx2ured]

I am not really sure, that's why I am trying to get everything in order before I even start it! What should I run in the filters?

 

[cav]

As long as you have the correct amount of live rock and flow the only things you should be running in an external would be carbon/phosphate remover and/or floss, none of the normal filter media found in freshwater is needed (bio balls/sponges/ceramic rings etc)