from FW to SW

[i love fish]

I hv a 40g FW aquarium that's been running 4 about a yr or so and wanna turn it into another SW aquarium.
Anyway i was wondering do any of u know if i can just keep the water thats already in there and just add salt to it to get the SG up so i won't have to cycle the whole thing from scratch?

 

[prime311]

This might be a bit off topic, but if you really care for your fish why would you be so willing to just 'get rid of them'?

 

[i love fish]

Originally Posted by prime311
http:///forum/post/2583944
This might be a bit off topic, but if you really care for your fish why would you be so willing to just 'get rid of them'?
Well, honestly they're not really mine, they're my husbands' and he doesn't do anything 4 them, i take care of them all on my own and I really really really luv SW fish not FW, there's only 6 fish in there and I hv a friend who's willing 2 take them, so it's not like I'm tossing them down the toilet or anything.
Plus I want to have a special tank for inverts and don't wanna have to break the bank by buying a new tank and filter etc.

 

[prime311]

Well the only reason I bring it up is because it takes a lot of work to run a successful saltwater tank, and if you don't truly enjoy the work then its most likely going to be an exercise in frustration for you. I worry about anyone so quick to just dismiss their previous fw fish, because the pattern dictates that they probly won't care enough to make sure their sw fish are well taken care of.

 

[i love fish]

Originally Posted by prime311
http:///forum/post/2583964
Well the only reason I bring it up is because it takes a lot of work to run a successful saltwater tank, and if you don't truly enjoy the work then its most likely going to be an exercise in frustration for you. I worry about anyone so quick to just dismiss their previous fw fish, because the pattern dictates that they probly won't care enough to make sure their sw fish are well taken care of.

I totally agree with u, I think I forgot 2 mention that I already have an existing SW aquarium, I've had it for about a yr now and I hv 3 SW QTs as well, so i do put alot of time effort and money into looking after my fish. I had afew hiccups with the SW aquarium in the begining entirely due to lack of information, bad suppliers and not quarrantining fish or corals, but since I've found this message earlier this yr and buying lots n lots of books on the subject and actually quarantining EVERYTHING, all has been going really well.
Thanks 4 ur concern.

 

[morval]

to answer ur original question NO u cannot just add salt to the tank. while both SW and FW have nitrifying bacteria there are not the same species and one will not survive in the other. so u will need to start this as if it were a brand new tank. seeding it with LR and/or LS from ur other SW tanks will jump start the cycle tho try that when ur ready

 

[sepulatian]

I agree, start the tank over. You can clean the tank and equipment with white vinegar and reuse it, as long as it is all in good condition.

 

[i love fish]

thanks guys