Going Aggresive, Question...

[kimkissyfish]

Hi,
I have a 46 bow that I have had for about 3 years with fresh water HUGE Cichlids.......
Well, I want to make it a Dogface puffer tank.
Can I just take out the cichlids and everything else and put sand OVER the earth colored large gravel rocks( do a 50% water change) and add salt and let it sit for a while? My thinking is that the tank is so well established, why waste all that good bacteria..... The pop on a skimmer and a power head...
Can this be done this way? I have 2 other SW fish tanks but have always started from scratch.
Thanking you kindly, Kim

 

[nighthawk]

The way I understand it is the bacteria in your freshwater tank is different than that in the salt water tank and the bacteria in one will die if introduced into the other type of water.

 

[waterwolf]

I would remove the gravel already present in your tank and get sand or crushed coral(sand is prefered). Sometimes freshwater gravel types may impact your ph in a saltwater set-up. Also if your going to mix salt in the tank make sure your 100% accurate of your volume of water, let it circulate a few days and keep checking the specific gravity. IMO starting it from scratch and seeding the bacteria from one of your established tanks would be a better idea.

 

[grouperhead]

A 46g is going to be way too small for an adult dog face. Bo

 

[justchillin]

i agree with bo about the puffer 46 is too small...as far as setup changes nighthawk i right the bacteria in FW is totally different than SW so i would follow waterwolf's instructions (i also vote for sand over CC)...

 

[kimkissyfish]

Thanks for the replys,
I will just tear it down and start fresh. I have always had such a hard time "waiting" for the tanks to cycle.. LOLOL
Hmmmm, I really love the dogface but if my tank is too small I guess I will have to rethink this. How about a Picasso Trigger.. I really love those too. My original plan was to use my 75 for the puffer and trigger BUT I went with inverts, so NO GO!
Oh well............
Thanking you kindly, Kim

 

[broncofish]

What about a velnti puffer, or a hawaiian spotted puffer?

 

[kimkissyfish]

Bronco,
Thanks for the suggestions BUT.. after reading killafin's post on being stung. I think I will stick to NON-Venamous fish..HAHAHA
I am chicken............lolol
Thaking you kindly, Kim

 

[grouperhead]

Toby puffers can't sting you. Bo

 

[kimkissyfish]

Grouperhead,
That changes things..LOL thanks a bunch!
Kim