Changing a used Saltwater tank to Freshwater...

myswtsins

myswtsins

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Jun 15, 2008
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So I am sure it has been asked before but I am not able to find too much, searching for the words freshwater & saltwater bring up a lot of results. =) I was just given a very nice 60 gallon saltwater tank with overflow box & wet/dry filter AND 1/2 glass! Besides the fact that this is a new experience with anything other than a HOB or canister filter it is also pretty covered is salt/calcium residue. I have cleaned a SW tank to make it FW before, with vinegar, but what about all the pipes and filter box? I fear that I will not be able to get ALL of it off from inside the piping and stuff, any advice? I read somewhere that you can use oxiclean???

The wet/dry filter has the media balls in it, will I be able to reuse them?
Where does the mechanical filtration go?

Also ANY advice on what to do with this thing would be great! I just bought a 72 gal bow front that I was considering venturing into a wet/dry filter but hadn't gotten there yet. =) Any and all comments, suggestion or advice appreciated!! Thanks in advance!

(The stand is actually a grey/black/white speckled colored but it is COVERED in cigarette smoke/tar)

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personally i don't feel like cleaning the parts you can't see is too big of a deal. once the tank is set up, the fresh water running through the fixtures is slowly going to dissolve the buildup, just as quickly as it got there in the first place. the amount that is there is very small, and the amount that is actually going to be in the water at any given time is going to be miniscule. there is no danger to your fish. it just looks icky. i would just scrape off any big easy chunks, and let the rest go away on its own. i'd imagine that if you run a fishless cycle, most of it should be dissolved by the time you add the fish. again, though - it won't hurt them in such a tiny concentration.
 
Thanks, that is great to hear! That is just one more reason to do a fishless cycle too! =)

*waits patiently for other answers*

Additional questions - I have been trying to read up on my new equipment. IF I decide to go with a planted tank should I even use the trickle filter? (because of the gas exchange)

Any suggestions for what to use to remove the smoke residue off the stand?
 
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Sorry to bump this back up but I need to finish cleaning this thing and get it off my back porch by tomorrow night (pool party). I answered a lot of my own questions but just need some clarification on some.

***1. Can I use oxyclean or green works products on the tank? (most of the visible water stains, like on the front of the trickle filter, will not come off) I am hoping this will also slowly come off once it is running FW??

2. The bottom half of the bio-balls are gross but the top half is pretty clean, I would just replace the gross ones. Can I use bio-balls from a saltwater tank in my freshwater tank?

3. Mechanical filtration in a trickle filter...I can put some filter floss on top of the drip pan but that's about it really, I guess. Any other suggestions? I should use another filter as well right?

4. I want about a 2 wpg, minimal ferts, no CO2 planted tank. If I go with the trickle filter will I have to add CO2?

5. What size pump do I need for the return on the trickle filter? Will a Sen Mini 55 work?

That should do for now. Thanks for always being so helpful! The LFS also just tried to sell me something! :angryfire:
 
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1. On the front of the glass, I would use windex sprayed onto a paper towel far away from the tank to wipe it down. On the inside, I would just use a wet (with water) paper towel and human labor.

2. If you rinse them out, I don't see why not.

3. I would put a sponge, bio-balls, or plastic pot scrubbers under the filter floss for biological filtration.

4. You wouldn't want to add CO2 if you use the sump, it would just gas off. If you go with canister filters, you could add CO2.

5. I know nothing on pumps, but I would recomend one that is at least 300 GPH.
 
Thank you for your response.

1. I have been using water & vinegar solution and it is still not coming off. =(

2. :thumbsup:

3. The filter floss will go on top the drip pan , then the water will drip onto the bio-balls.

4. So I am going to have to be very particular in which plants I can grow in this tank with the trickle filter?? Pretty much anything that heavily relies on CO2 is not an option?

5. Really? Hmm, I was thinking it would have to be a small pump so it could keep the constant water level in the sump area.

Thanks so much!
 
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