Converting an Aquarium from Freshwater to Saltwater
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- crate_keeper
- Dantessa
- crate_keeper
- Dantessa
-
Douglas DuHamel
-
Douglas DuHamel
- crate_keeper
- konieczko123
- GoodyGoody
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» crate_keeper - Freshwater vs. Saltwater
Setting up a saltwater tank needn't be as daunting a task as you seem to indicate. I have a 30 gallon freshwater tank and a 20 gallon saltwater reef tank. The saltwater tank isn't really much more work to maintain than the freshwater. You can't have quite as many fish (I have seven and some would argue that that's too many), but you can make up for that by adding invertebrates.As with freshwater tanks, you either select your fish to suit your tank size, or select your tank size to suit the fish you want. I chose a 20 gallon tank, so I selected fish that would not exceed three inches in size. I also selected a team of invertebrates to assist me in maintaining the tank. There are snails to clean up algae, hermit crabs to clean up algae and detrital wastes, a starfish to sift through the sand for wastes, and some shrimp to clean up any remaining wastes and parasites.
-- posted by crate_keeper
» Dantessa - Re: Freshwater vs. Saltwater
Do you find the ecosystem difficult to maintain with a smaller (i.e. 20 gal) tank? Most people I know who have reef tanks go for 100+ gallons...which is way, way out of the question for me personally, as my floor wouldn't hold that much water weight ;)I would adore a saltwater tank someday, but for now, I stick with my various freshwater aquaria. And I have had brackish, and am shortly going to convert one of my tanks over to brackish again, for a metallic green puffer friend! 
BTW, it sounds like a fabulous mix of creatures you've got in your reef tank. Do you have pics??
I have two freshwater snails in one of my tanks (I learned, after a while, the snails just prefer to be in a tank without fish, especially fish of the nippy variety) and find them to be absolutely fascinating, captivating pets with huge personalities (believe it or not!). I have fallen in love with some breeds of saltwater snails, as they just look so darn pretty!
-- posted by Dantessa
» crate_keeper - Re: Re: Freshwater vs. Saltwater
In response to message posted by Dantessa:Initially I had some problems getting the tank to cycle, but once it did it's been fine. You have to perform partial water changes a little more frequently than with a freshwater setup... say once a week. And you need to check such things as salinity, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, and pH about every other day. Other than that, the interaction of all the critters keeps everything pretty balanced.
I've ordered a few pieces of coral, some macro algae, and some nudibranchs (snails without shells) that should come about any day now and round out my tank. I buy from a LFS and from a couple of places on-line (mostly from http://www.saltwaterfish.com ).
-- posted by crate_keeper
» Dantessa - Re: Re: Re: Freshwater vs. Saltwater
I has, as yet, not bought anything live online. I've been tempted to buy live stock from Drs. Foster & Smith--I use them for a lot of products for my other pets. And I have ordered fresh frozen food from them before with success.Mostly I buy from my LFS as well--once in a while I will rescue from Walmart as a last-ditch effort, but their fish have such poor genetics and are almost always SO sick, it really is a labour of love. I have nursed 3 back from the brink of death from Walmart--1 lionhead, 1 oranda & 1 ryukin (goldfish). None of them will ever grow large or get great colouring--their genes are just so poor--but they are cute and have great personalities.
-- posted by Dantessa
»
Douglas DuHamel
- Re: Re: Re: Re: Freshwater vs. Saltwater
I do that a lot myself,and buying fish on line should not be a big problem,If you decide to buy fish on -line go to some of the fish forums and look at their classified.The people that are selling fish are usually very good,but investigate before you send money there are some nasty people out there.Also find out about shipping costs because that can be alot depending where you are getting your fish from! In twenty years of ordering fish on line ive been burnt three times not bad , but not good either.
-- posted by Douglas DuHamel
»
Douglas DuHamel
- Re: Freshwater vs. Saltwater
I never said it was harder, I meant to say it is alot harder for a beginner just starting out.That's why I said get some fresh water experience in first.
-- posted by Douglas DuHamel
» crate_keeper - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Freshwater vs. Saltwater
In response to message posted by doug101:The shipping charges can be pretty steep at some sites. That's what I like about http://www.saltwaterfish.com they include the shipping cost in the price quoted for the fish or invert. They do have a $75.00 minimum, but I've found that goes by rather quickly. They also offer a 7-day guarantee on most varieties, something even my LFS won't do on SW specimens.
-- posted by crate_keeper
» konieczko123 - Re: Re: Re: Freshwater vs. Saltwater
In response to Re: Re: Freshwater vs. Saltwater posted by crate_keeper:what is the proper size tank to buy for salt water? I have a 20 gal but imm not sure if I should buy a bigger tank
-- posted by konieczko123
» GoodyGoody - Freshwater to saltwater
I have been planning to convert my freshwater aquarium into a saltwater aquarium. i have never had a saltwater tank and dont know what to get or how to maintain it. I want a clownfish and some kind of reef life, its a small 10 gallon tank, my 30 gallon is freshwater. if anyone could tell me what to do that would be great!-- posted by GoodyGoody
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