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Converting from Freshwater to Saltwater - Page 2

© Winston Vaughan Schoenfeld

The next issue is the substrate (the stuff on the floor of the aquarium). Typically gravel is used for substrate in freshwater aquariums. For saltwater aquariums, crushed coral is the standard. This comes in large bags, just like the gravel, and must be rinsed thoroughly before introduction into your aquarium. Luckily this is one item that will not hurt your wallet or purse too much. I have also seen several aquariums with sand for the substrate, but I have never really been impressed with sand unless it was below a rather dense reef structure.

Since this will be a saltwater aquarium, you will have to invest in salt and a hydrometer. Salt comes in two main sized, 50 gal and 200 gal portions. The general cost for each is $15 and $50, respectively. The hydrometer is a simple tool to measure the salt content of the water in your aquarium, or the mixture that you make to add to the aquarium. These are relatively cheap (under $20), but as always you can get a really fancy one for up to $50 or more. My only comment here is keep it simple.

Most of you have probably heard of a protein skimmer. This is an incredible addition to any aquarium, but only works for saltwater and reef systems. They range in price from about $100 to $300. Protein skimmers remove organic compounds from the water in the aquarium and can really help keep your aquarium in top shape. Before you throw the idea of a saltwater conversion out the door (I know it must be seeming expensive), I should say that I kept a saltwater aquarium for 4 year without a protein skimmer, without problem. The bottom line here is if you have the extra money, I would not think twice about adding one of these to your new saltwater setup, but they are certainly not a necessity.

The heater, aquarium, and cleaning devices (ex. gravel vacuum) do not need replacing. Unfortunately this is about all you can salvage from your old setup. If you do the math, the cost for conversion ends up being $200 to $300 for those of you that want to keep it simple. Additional costs that you may not have thought about are for livestock and perhaps a good marine aquarium reference. Fish for saltwater aquarium can be a bit more expensive. Luckily there are some less expensive species that you can start out with until you feel that you aquarium is in stable condition. As for a book, I would recommend "The marine aquarium reference" by Martin A. Moe. This is a very smart investment, and if you read it, don't be surprised if you end up answering more questions on aquarium boards than you ask. For those of you that are deciding if you should convert to saltwater, my advice is to purchase a copy of the above book, or something similar. It will be about $30, but it will really aid you in understanding the requirements of a saltwater aquarium and what you need to do to convert you freshwater aquarium into a healthy saltwater setup.

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