Converting Saltwater to Freshwater

TheBigZoo

Registered Member
Sep 18, 2004
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I have a 125 gallon saltwater setup that I want to convert to freshwater tank for clown loaches, angels, and neons. First, does anyone see a problem with that combo of fish?

My secod question is about filtration. I have corner overflows that go to a 25 gallon sump. I was planning on using a trickle through bio-ball set up in the sump. What other type of filteration should I use? I was thinking maybe 2 biowheel filters on the sump as well... would that work ok? My aquarium has a big hood, and I don't think I could put the bio wheels up on the main portion of the tank because of their size...

Also, I'm not sure about growing live plants -- is it hard? Or is having fake plant decor easier to maintain?

Thanks for any advice and other recommendations about swtiching from saltwater to fresh.

Michelle
 
Absolutely get live plants... The only drawback is having to cut them back because they'll grow right out of the tank (I suppose that depends on what you get). Unless you have a bunch of fake plants already, you will probably spend more on the fake stuff too. I probably cut out more plants every month or so than what I started out with, so you don't have to buy a lot, just get a few and keep planting the cuttings.

Good LUck.
 
You really don't need a Bio-wheel if you are already planning on using bio somewhere else. You can just get some powerheads. As far as plants, I have a bunch of frill in my tank. I am constantly having to replant it because my redbellies always dart through it and tear it out. It just depends on if you want to put effort into the plants or if your fish will mess with them. If you are choosing between fake or live. Go for live definitely. You shouldn't have any trouble with a fresh if you have already had a saltwater tank. Kevin
 
only a few instances are people able to keep neons with angels without major losses of neons eaten by the angels when the angels are full grown. the few instances of success with that combination resulted from neons kept with the angels when the angels were little and growing them up together, but that is no guarantee that your angels won't eat the neons in the end.

Cardinals are a slightly bigger fish that has more color and seems to be more adept at not getting eaten if they are full size.
 
As long as you've got a 25g refugium already, why not just convert that to a veggie filter? It's the same in principle as a refugium (if I understand the concept corretly), you pack the 25 with fast growing plants, light it up, set it up to grow fast, the plant growth will consume the ammonia plus act as surface are for nitrifiers. But there are others who can explain it better than I, I've never tried it, only read about it. I'll try to find the article...
 
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