Could some one please give me advice on the very basic equipment needed to convert a FW tank into a fish only marine setup...don't want anything fancy mind just something nice. thanks guys...
Total newbie needing advice...
- Thread starter matrix_server
- Start date
You can pretty much use the same equipment - a good filter, heater, quality salt mix, crushed coral for the bottom and a good light that will bring out the color. Keep up with water changes and stock the tank much less than you would a freshwater tank. Add rock work, if you like. Start out with some hardy fish - tank raised clowns, a goby, damsels (although they can be mean), etc. You can keep it simple and still have a nice set up!
Just a quick word of advise. If you have EVER treated this tank for parasites/disease with a copper based med I really wouldn't use this tank. I know that you only want to use if for fish but, you'll still need a clean up crew and they won't make it. Also I wouldn't use the crused coral I'd just use sand in the bottom of the tank . It's a lot cheaper and it works a lot better to remove nitrates and it gives fish and other critters a much more natural place to hide.
hth
Chris
hth
Chris
Theres an Oscar, a couple of plecos, a cat fish and a fire moutth which I will be selling on eventually.,,, why you ask?kbmdale said:
YoFishboy said:
What about a protein skimmer and i would have thought an external filter would have been better than an internal. Its a 50gallon 4ft tank if that helps
matrix_server said:
Just curious. I have a 29 gallon mollie tank that I was told by the LFS I could slowely convert to salt without having to re-cycle the tank. Fish and all would convert over about 6 weeks. I would only have to remove my pacostomus. Of course I would need another power head for flow and a skimmer.
Well i think I'm gonna just give up my oscar...she is way to much trouble so i am gonna start again with sw.
The principles of marine keeping are a little different from FW. Like Chris said, sand is better than a coarser substrate, and I would also suggest using a significant amount of live rock. The biofiltration is unbeatable, and it provides a diversity of small organisms for scavenging and feeding the fish. Mechanical filtration is not as necessary, as in a FW tank, and a skimmer can help a lot to extract organics and keep the water aerated. If you have a sump you will have a lot more options, but the AquaC Remora is your best choice for an HOB skimmer.