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bigben
Guest
I am a freshwater enthusiest and am ready to move forward into saltwater aquariums. I have many tanks ranging from 10gal-55gal. I am trying to find out what, if any, of my supplies can be transfered.
misty927
Member
Well, of course the tanks can be used....hopefully you haven't used any copper treatments recently or anything. Heaters can also be used. As for anything else...if you aren't planning on doing corals, you could use the same flourescent lights. You'll probably want to use a different substrate, however. What filtration are you currently using? That might have to be upgraded as well...
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bigben
Guest
I have standard Whisper power filters that hang off the back of my tanks and undergravel filters w/ powerheads. The tank I have set aside for SW is a 55gal. I have had RO water filtering through it for about three months with nothing in the tank except the water and an oxygen line. No gravel, fish, or plants. The tank was heavily covered in calcium and lime deposits and I cleaned it with CLR four months ago. I hope I did not render the tank uninhabitable. I was unaware of the fragile ecosystem required for SW at the time. I am not sure if the steps I have taken to "clean" the chemicals out have been sufficient. I am not opposed to starting with a new tank if necessary. I am very enthusiastic about moving to SW.
symon
Member
I would persoanlly be concerned about the CLR leaves trace chemicals, but i hope others would chime in with thier opinon!
Since you have nothing in the tank yet, I would say Break it all down, rinse that tank with Hot water many times and start all over!
Pick up some Live sand substrate 1-2 inchs and probably some Live Rock, 20 lbs or so, get rid of the undergravel filtration, Mix your water RoDI and salt to about 1.25 ish, let this cycle for about a month testing for ammonia all along , you will see it it spike then lvl out to 0! if you only plan on having fish, you probably have good enough lighting!
Welcome to the Hobby!
Since you have nothing in the tank yet, I would say Break it all down, rinse that tank with Hot water many times and start all over!
Pick up some Live sand substrate 1-2 inchs and probably some Live Rock, 20 lbs or so, get rid of the undergravel filtration, Mix your water RoDI and salt to about 1.25 ish, let this cycle for about a month testing for ammonia all along , you will see it it spike then lvl out to 0! if you only plan on having fish, you probably have good enough lighting!
Welcome to the Hobby!
turningtim
Active Member
Welcome to the boards and coming from a FW backround myself, Welcome to a whole nother ballgame!
Boy, thats a tough call, I guess you could run carbon and hope that removes any residue from the CLR, but thats a real tough call. The UGF is useless, I wouldn't count on the whispers as your main source of filtration but I use on to run carbon/phosban when nessasary. For good biofiltration you'll need about 1-1.5 lbs of live rock and a good live sand substrate. The key thing is a good skimmer and if you go reef then you will need lights as well.
Couple of things to think about. You will need good test kits (salifert being the best), A refractometer to test salinity, a decent size trash can to mix/prep water, Power head, heater for mixing tank.
Try and nail down what you think you want as far as livestock. Then this will dictate the set-up required. Read/research.
Welcome
HTH
Tim
Boy, thats a tough call, I guess you could run carbon and hope that removes any residue from the CLR, but thats a real tough call. The UGF is useless, I wouldn't count on the whispers as your main source of filtration but I use on to run carbon/phosban when nessasary. For good biofiltration you'll need about 1-1.5 lbs of live rock and a good live sand substrate. The key thing is a good skimmer and if you go reef then you will need lights as well.
Couple of things to think about. You will need good test kits (salifert being the best), A refractometer to test salinity, a decent size trash can to mix/prep water, Power head, heater for mixing tank.
Try and nail down what you think you want as far as livestock. Then this will dictate the set-up required. Read/research.
Welcome
HTH
Tim
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bigben
Guest
Thanks for the input all. I feel like I am going from being an expert at FW to being completely ignorant with SW. These threads take a lot of the hesitation I was having away. I have lost the idea of rushing into this process and will take all the advise I can get. It sounds like the first thing I should do is get the testing equipment and live sand and rock to make sure my tank can even be used.
New questions:
Do I need to have special light to support the live sand/rock or only if I am going to try and support coral. I guess I am confused as to the difference between live rock and coral.
Any recomendations on good skimmer/filter brands/models?
Thanks again
New questions:
Do I need to have special light to support the live sand/rock or only if I am going to try and support coral. I guess I am confused as to the difference between live rock and coral.
Any recomendations on good skimmer/filter brands/models?
Thanks again
misty927
Member
Check out the store portion of this site and you will be able to see the difference. Live rock is essentially dead coral, but packed with live goodies and organisms to aid in filtration and it looks like rock (haha). Corals are living organisms that you must feed and require proper lighting. Your live rock will be fine with mediocre lighting...but you may not be able to achieve the coloration, i.e. pinks and purples, that you want with flourescents only.
And here is a post from a couple of days ago about someone using CLR to clean their tank...they rinsed very, very thoroughly and, I believe, they didn't have any problems.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/200827/cleaning-aquarium
Here is a recent post about skimmers...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/199138/hey-time-to-review-skimmers
As for filtration, on a larger tank such as a 55 gallon, most would recommend going with a sump system, especially if you eventually plan on a reef setup. A sump is kind of like a tank within a tank, where you can build up filtering organisms and for other typical media. If you're doing fish only, you might be able to get away with two large hang on filters, depending on what type of fish you choose and how much detritus they produce. Here is a thread that might help introduce you to sumps...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/198650/sump-refugium
And here is a post from a couple of days ago about someone using CLR to clean their tank...they rinsed very, very thoroughly and, I believe, they didn't have any problems.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/200827/cleaning-aquarium
Here is a recent post about skimmers...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/199138/hey-time-to-review-skimmers
As for filtration, on a larger tank such as a 55 gallon, most would recommend going with a sump system, especially if you eventually plan on a reef setup. A sump is kind of like a tank within a tank, where you can build up filtering organisms and for other typical media. If you're doing fish only, you might be able to get away with two large hang on filters, depending on what type of fish you choose and how much detritus they produce. Here is a thread that might help introduce you to sumps...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/198650/sump-refugium
turningtim
Active Member
misty
.
Ben make sure you shop around for your stuff. Price varies a great deal and so does quaility. Go to your LFSs and shop online. Theres lots of good rock and sand online. Most LFS don't carry a great selection.
It seems you're use to having tanks around, SW is a little more intense. More testing and such but for me it was far more rewarding. Maybe it just the learning experience after so many years of the same things in FW.
No worries read/research.
Tim
Ben make sure you shop around for your stuff. Price varies a great deal and so does quaility. Go to your LFSs and shop online. Theres lots of good rock and sand online. Most LFS don't carry a great selection.
It seems you're use to having tanks around, SW is a little more intense. More testing and such but for me it was far more rewarding. Maybe it just the learning experience after so many years of the same things in FW.
No worries read/research.
Tim
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bigben
Guest
Thank you. All this info is really clearing things up for me. I started reading a SW book last night and was still confused on weather or not I needed special lighting for the "live rock" which, sounds like like an important ingredient for a healthy eco-system. I would like to eventually have live coral but, for now, I will take the steps suggested to get the levels right w/ the lighting I currently have.
The links were very helpful as well. There are so many options out there it's great to get individual owners opinions rather than the descriptions of sellers.
As for the CLR treatment I did. I rinsed it out thoroughly when I used it but, I guess its better to be safe than sorry. I will give it another thorough cleaning. The link suggested using soap. Any recomendations on a soap that is mild enough to clean out of the tank?
Is the sump system the same as a cannister filter I could purchase off the shelf?
Plan of action:
Clean tank
Purchase: Salifer testing kits, Refractometer, protein skimmer, cannister filter/sump system, salt kit, and live rock/sand.
Thanks for all the help!
Ben
The links were very helpful as well. There are so many options out there it's great to get individual owners opinions rather than the descriptions of sellers.
As for the CLR treatment I did. I rinsed it out thoroughly when I used it but, I guess its better to be safe than sorry. I will give it another thorough cleaning. The link suggested using soap. Any recomendations on a soap that is mild enough to clean out of the tank?
Is the sump system the same as a cannister filter I could purchase off the shelf?
Plan of action:
Clean tank
Purchase: Salifer testing kits, Refractometer, protein skimmer, cannister filter/sump system, salt kit, and live rock/sand.
Thanks for all the help!
Ben
turningtim
Active Member
No offense sarwiz but in my opinion a plenum is more trouble then its worth and would not suggest going that route.
Ben, Try and go with a sump system, if you have a smaller tank around that will work and couple of baffles and you have a sump w/skimmer section. I would not use any type of soap, just rinse the unknow what out of it. The soap may leave a residue itself that will not be good for the tank. Put your money in a great skimmer before getting a can filter. The whispers that you have will work well enough to run carbon and phosban when nessasray and let the skimmer do the rest.
You are diffinately on the right track, read/research and come back with more questions. Your approach is great!
HTH
Tim
Ben, Try and go with a sump system, if you have a smaller tank around that will work and couple of baffles and you have a sump w/skimmer section. I would not use any type of soap, just rinse the unknow what out of it. The soap may leave a residue itself that will not be good for the tank. Put your money in a great skimmer before getting a can filter. The whispers that you have will work well enough to run carbon and phosban when nessasray and let the skimmer do the rest.
You are diffinately on the right track, read/research and come back with more questions. Your approach is great!
HTH
Tim
sarwiz100
Member
I have not used the plenum myself, but have also read about trouble with them. No offense taken. Also i 1000% agree with the no soap, ever. You never can tell what is in it. I take the tank outside (if it's warm enough) and, depending on size, CAREFULLY stand it on end, or on it's side, and clean and rinse with freshwater from the hose for hours. Then (also depending on weather) set it upright on a level surface (have 4-wheel dollys, the heavy-duty kind) and fill it and check for leaks.
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bigben
Guest
I have so many tanks I do not know what to do with them all, other than convert them to saltwater. So, I like the idea of having a tank hidden in a cabinet to house all the apparatus' that I will need. I found a diagram from the thread listed above about filters. I have a 30gal tank that is not currently in use. That should be sufficient for my 55gal for display I think.
I can see how SW is going to be fun. Rather than add water add fish in FW, this is going to be a fun challenge.
I can see how SW is going to be fun. Rather than add water add fish in FW, this is going to be a fun challenge.
turningtim
Active Member
Good Ben that 30 will be great! The big question is will it fit under the stand? Thats OK you can make one! Search plumbing 101 here and read it. Its a great guide to flow and the mechanical aspects of plumbing. Its rather long and no need to read it all but its worth taking a peek at. I'm curranty in a large DIY project, just waiting for some parts and such. Will be posting in diy shortly I hope. So I can help you out. You maybe done before me!
I used a pressure washer with straight water for one of my used tanks. Just stay away from the joints. If you have one. Take it outside and rinse it to death. I think it will be ok though.
My LFS has a 150 cube i think and the owner has a HUGE coral in it. She runs a plentum with a DSB and I keep telling her its gonna blow, you can see the gases building up. I keep waiting to see this huge display tank torn down and this coral toast. Its such a shame b/c a couple of monthes ago it was beutiful and now its just gone down hill. Of course I don't have a clue what I'm talking about!
Oh well.......
HTH
Tim
I used a pressure washer with straight water for one of my used tanks. Just stay away from the joints. If you have one. Take it outside and rinse it to death. I think it will be ok though.
My LFS has a 150 cube i think and the owner has a HUGE coral in it. She runs a plentum with a DSB and I keep telling her its gonna blow, you can see the gases building up. I keep waiting to see this huge display tank torn down and this coral toast. Its such a shame b/c a couple of monthes ago it was beutiful and now its just gone down hill. Of course I don't have a clue what I'm talking about!
Oh well.......
HTH
Tim
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bigben
Guest
That's the plan. Most of my tanks are on regular ole furniture. I am planning to build a steel frame, then set everything up, and cover everything with finished wood panels. I am hoping to avoid a lot of alterations to the design by having everything open to start with. I plan to use magnetic fastners to attach my finished boards to the steel frame.
I will check on plumbing 101 prior to making any final decisions on design.
Thanks again for all the tips and advice!!!!
Everyone has been a big help!
I will take all the info I can get.
Ben
I will check on plumbing 101 prior to making any final decisions on design.
Thanks again for all the tips and advice!!!!
Everyone has been a big help!
I will take all the info I can get.
Ben
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bigben
Guest
OK.
All the tips have been great.
I have decided to build a sump out of my 30gal.
So far, my plans are to split it into three equal (10gal) sections in the following order.
Intake from tank
First chamber Refugium
Second chamber protein skimmer
(Baffle)
Third chamber return
I plan to T the intake water (per plumbing 101) to distribute between the Refugium (first) and the protein skimmer (middle) and have the "fuge" overflow into the middle section. Than a baffle leading to the (third) return tank where I will keep my heater.
I am confused as to where I will get my mechanical and chemical filtration with a setup like this. Is the protein skimmer and refugium sufficient to remove all the waste? Or, am I missing something alltogether? I do not see many threads talking about the regular filtration methods I am accustomed too.
:notsure:
Thanks again for the help all!
Ben
All the tips have been great.
I have decided to build a sump out of my 30gal.
So far, my plans are to split it into three equal (10gal) sections in the following order.
Intake from tank
First chamber Refugium
Second chamber protein skimmer
(Baffle)
Third chamber return
I plan to T the intake water (per plumbing 101) to distribute between the Refugium (first) and the protein skimmer (middle) and have the "fuge" overflow into the middle section. Than a baffle leading to the (third) return tank where I will keep my heater.
I am confused as to where I will get my mechanical and chemical filtration with a setup like this. Is the protein skimmer and refugium sufficient to remove all the waste? Or, am I missing something alltogether? I do not see many threads talking about the regular filtration methods I am accustomed too.
:notsure:
Thanks again for the help all!
Ben
turningtim
Active Member
What you see in plumbing 101 is a more natural way to filter. Your skimmer will remove the protein waste produced by fish and food. You refuge will use the nitrate and phosphate in the system to grow. I don't know how much you read on a refuge. But this another tank with lights sand and marco algea for malnutrient export. Also in the fuge can be a "Pod Pile" of LR rubble that will let the Pods grow with out being harassed. Then some will take a short ride to the main tank and feed the fish.
Also stole a pic from Squidd on how the arange the sump/fuge. You don't want equal parts. The skimmer section should be big enough for the skimmer and pump, The return pump section will most likely be the smallest area, The fuge you want to get as big as possible. You will also need baffles to cut down on mocro bubbles going back in the tank.
A system like this does work! I don't have a fuge, just a sump and skimmer, like I said before I run an old whisper 60 for carbon/phosban once in a while and thats it. I try and let me critters do the cleaning for me. Even w/o a fuge my trates don't get above 10, phosphate are .25 at worst.
Did you get how to calc the backwash room and such?
Here's the pic (TM Squidd)
Look in to AMS skimmers
HTH
Tim
Also stole a pic from Squidd on how the arange the sump/fuge. You don't want equal parts. The skimmer section should be big enough for the skimmer and pump, The return pump section will most likely be the smallest area, The fuge you want to get as big as possible. You will also need baffles to cut down on mocro bubbles going back in the tank.
A system like this does work! I don't have a fuge, just a sump and skimmer, like I said before I run an old whisper 60 for carbon/phosban once in a while and thats it. I try and let me critters do the cleaning for me. Even w/o a fuge my trates don't get above 10, phosphate are .25 at worst.
Did you get how to calc the backwash room and such?
Here's the pic (TM Squidd)
Look in to AMS skimmers
HTH
Tim
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bigben
Guest
Sounds like an easy enough change. Everything is still in design stage. I have not decided on a skimmer brand yet. From reading threads it sounds like Coralife is a popular brand. I have also been looking at off the shelf sumps. It appears that many of them have Bio-Balls. Any thoughts on these things. They appear to be used with some sort of a drip system. I am not sure if I want to get into anything like that if it is not a requirement. If its good for the system, of course, I will use it.
So far I know that I will need for my fuge:
Raw water
lighting
live sand
"little critters"
Redesigned usage for availabe sump space:
Aprox.
12gal - fuge tank
6gal - skimmer tank
2gal - baffle
3gal - return tank
7gal - available space for power outage protection.
Using mainly the return tank for the "empty space"
Lots of decisions and options :thinking:
Thanks,
Ben
So far I know that I will need for my fuge:
Raw water
lighting
live sand
"little critters"
Redesigned usage for availabe sump space:
Aprox.
12gal - fuge tank
6gal - skimmer tank
2gal - baffle
3gal - return tank
7gal - available space for power outage protection.
Using mainly the return tank for the "empty space"
Lots of decisions and options :thinking:
Thanks,
Ben