Remember, you are creating the home for your fish, corals, etc. The magnesium anodes that work better in freshwater need to be changed to aluminum (if you can find them for your boat) or zinc (if you can't) for saltwater use. Maybe you are ready to convert from a freshwater to a saltwater aquarium. Converting Freshwater Aquarium To Saltwater. Most saltwater fish will require more space than freshwater fish; but even so your old freshwater tank may still work, with simply fewer saltwater fish. There are a few things to consider, so let's take a ⦠Perhaps you saw a spectacular aquarium at a friendâs home or just need a new ⦠I'm wanting freshwater fish and not sure how to go about doing this. Live rock, that wonderful, formerly ocean material that contributes millions of beneficial bacteria to a saltwater tank. How to Convert a Freshwater Tank to Saltwater. All rights reserved. Luckily for us all, synthetic saltwater mixes were first introduced about a quarter-century ago, so we now can have ocean-quality water in moments – literally by just adding water. Some people say that freshwater boats will die in saltwater: a boat that 'has seen salt' won't sell as quickly - myths if you ask me. Good water quality not only minimizes stress on the reef inhabitants, but it also minimizes the risk of the effects of stress. So now the freshwater aquarist has some equipment. If you’ve used de-chlorinator, keep using it. If you are petting fish and other water species, cleaning and ⦠Plan to buy a pound to a pound and one-half per gallon. While different species of fish and invertebrates require different salinities, most aquarists opt for a gravity around 1.022 to 1.024. Since live rock plays a major role in converting toxic wastes to non-toxic byproducts, we strongly recommend seasoned live rock for a tank. While other brands are certainly available, we and many of our customers feel confident that the Instant Ocean provides the salt and trace elements in the right proportions that saltwater tanks need. There are biological processes which allow these certain organisms to convert. Chances are good that you already have much of the equipment you’ll need so the conversion shouldn’t be that difficult anymore. So in this article I'll give you a step by step plan - based on facts, not emotions. Making room to bring 'Stripe' the Fahaka freshwater puffer out of the fishroom. You now have or have had a freshwater aquarium and have probably wondered what it would take to convert your freshwater tank to a saltwater aquarium? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Water quality is the single most important aspect of their lives and success. It helps assure you of good batch-to-batch water stability. Im new to saltwater. Posted on July 1, 2019 at 2:00 pm by alivaq. Household chemicals do contain substances that are detrimental to the system. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.Copyright 2020 by AquariumGear.net. Tanks with fish require higher water flow, about 15 to 20 times the tank volume per hour because fish generate significantly more waste. If you have a water softener, keep using it too. How best to remove the dangerous impurities – remove ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, and other water impurities? Haddock. For some freshwater aquarists, making the switch to a saltwater system can seem like a daunting task. A number of advanced freshwater hobbyists eventually decide to set up at least one saltwater fish tank. Saltwater fish die in freshwater due to overhydration, and freshwater fish die in saltwater due to dehydration.This seems to make little sense, given that a fish surrounded by water shouldn't die from a lack of water, but due to the physiology of a fish's skin and the natural properties of water, each type of fish is suited to their fresh or salty habitat, but no other. Drain the tank of all saltwater and discard the filter pads and sand. Updated August 12, 2019 Author: Mike - FishLore Admin Social Media: Are you thinking about converting that freshwater aquarium into a saltwater aquarium? Instant Ocean has minimized its variability from batch to batch. Will you want a fish-and-coral tank or will you want predominantly corals with a few or no fish? To measure salinity, you will need to buy a hydrometer that measures specific gravity. While there is a discussion on how much aragonite you need, we generally recommend between an inch and three inches per tank, or about one to one-half pounds per gallon. Conclusion. Freshwater Aquarium vs. Saltwater Aquarium. 0. Rather than close down completely I thought that converting to fresh water would be a better option in terms of monthly expenses? Fish are osmoregulators, meaning their cells contain different amount of solutes compared to the water surrounding them. I know that alot of fish can survive both fresh and salt water (like fingerfish and mullet), and have even seen trout thriving in salt water. Login/Register access is temporary disabled, Converting from Freshwater Tank to Saltwater. Your best choice for a beginning saltwater tank is probably a 55-gallon, largely because it has enough water to allow the aquarist a little more variety and some forgiveness for less-than-ideal water. Certain organisms can be converted. LiveAquaria is the largest online shop for all of your fish needs. Boyd’s also makes a Chemi-pure that will remove phosphates and silicates, those two primary contributors to brown and green hair algae in a tank. Over time we hope your tank continues to evolve into a stunning masterpiece! Preventive protection is the key to living in saltwater. Corrosion is less of a problem in freshwater, so you'll now need to be more vigilant with routinely checking anodes. A 10 gallon freshwater tank, which can typically hold about 12 average sized fish, will do fine for up to about 3 average sized saltwater fish. Learn how your comment data is processed. Never thought anyone had ever tried it on chromis, damsel, clown, tang, surgeon and grouper. Now, let’s talk about filtration. At a pet store I saw an orange swordtail (freshwater) be converted to saltwater and put into a saltwater tank in a matter of 5 minutes or less by slowly mixing saltwater into a bowl with the fish. The simplest and probably best is this: Weekly or bi-weekly water changes that replace about 10 to 20 percent of the tank water. Saltwater Fish Difference Salt water fish are amazingly beautiful! Next, let’s talk about your water. We’re going to assume that you don’t have a large aquarium that could double as a jacuzzi in your house – at least, not yet. You also probably have gravel or bottom material. Keeping fish can be a rewarding hobby, and when many aquarists first get started they often stick solely with freshwater tanks. For these and many other reasons, we use Instant Ocean. Here’s something else you need to think about: Will you want a fish only with live rock (FOWLR) tank? Since freshwater fish swim in water with approximately 0.5 ppt, the chloride cells in their gills are designed to pump sodium, calcium and chloride into the fish. Differences to expect when converting to a marine aquarium. By guest, 6 years ago on Aquarium Equipment. bowfront saltwater aquarium that I want to convert to freshwater which will contain chilids, only. However, only a very very few species can go from salt to freshwater. I have been raising African cichlids for awhile. But the real material that makes for a successful saltwater tank? Since you replace it about once every six months, it’s significantly cheaper than carbon filters. ok here is the deal on converting salt and fresh fishes. If you have well water, you might have used some sort of water softening/metal/ion removing system. You can also have success with smaller tanks, such as a 30-gallon. the only variance is the amount of time you have to use to convert them. At this gravity, many species of fish and corals can co-exist in comfort. Beginners Shouldnât Start with Saltwater Tanks. I am keeping the cycle alive by dosing with a little ammonia each day. The second, at least after the initial mix, is a saltwater safe container for routine water changes. Youâve been amazed by the beauty of the fish and invertebrate, the stunning variety of the species and the subtle grandeur of all the corals and algae that you could only have with a saltwater tank. If you already have experience caring and maintaining freshwater fish, then making the transition to a saltwater fish tank can be done so without too much difficulty. It contains a wet/dry filter, protein skimmer, uv filter and "fine" gravel.It has green algae on the inside glass, stringy algae in the wet/dry and uv filters supply hoses, and salt residue on the sides of the wet/dry. The freshwater "rule of thumb" for the number of fish in a tank is 1" of adult body length fish per gallon of tank water. : https://shop.spreadshirt.co.uk/AquariumAdventures**Stuff I Use**Lumix G7 - http://amzn.to/2nK1TD43-Axis Gimbal - http://amzn.to/2Ch5OjZMy Phone - OnePlus 3T : http://amzn.to/2ynzj0WBetter Phone - OnePlus 5 : http://amzn.to/2xFPDelWebcam - Logitech c920 : http://amzn.to/2E4bxXILavalier Mic : http://amzn.to/2ga7pLGBetter Lavalier (longer cable) : http://amzn.to/2xEOe7LBest quality Lavalier : http://amzn.to/2i9t3nrBoom Mic: http://amzn.to/2Ey0sSkShotgun Mic: http://amzn.to/2ghuoboBetter Shotgun: http://amzn.to/2gizjciorBetter Shotgun: http://amzn.to/2wVdx13Wind guard: http://amzn.to/2icyYIt Rode SC6: http://amzn.to/2iaZemBPistol tripod: http://amzn.to/2kP3J7gTubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/discusnewbieMusic by Chillhop: http://youtube.com/chillhopdotcomJoakim Karud - Canals: https://chillhop.bandcamp.com/track/canalsDisclaimer: Some of the links above may be affiliate links - where I get a small commission if you purchase anything, at no extra cost to you - I have fish to feed! You’ve been amazed by the beauty of the fish and invertebrate, the stunning variety of the species and the subtle grandeur of all the corals and algae that you could only have with a saltwater tank. Shop today and get free shipping on qualifying orders! Consider giving them to a friend who might like to start with a freshwater tank. ANY freshwater fish with the exception and a few scaleless species can be converted to saltwater. How difficult will it be? Unlike gravel (which is chemically inert), aragonite provides a source of calcium that helps maintain a pH of 8.2 in your saltwater tank. From sustainably raised freshwater and saltwater fish, plants, invertebrates, corals, and reef rock to premium aquarium supplies, food, and equipment. An ion exchange resin, Boyd Chemi-pure scavenges (removes) ammonia and nitrates.