Going from fresh to salt, need advice.

Hey guys and gals,

I've had my fresh water tank for sometime now and I want to transfer over and try salt water. Let me list what I have and you can tell me what I will need to do. I know im going to get a sump tank hopefully a 15 gallon tank is enough cause I have one of those handy.

100 Sea-Clear Acrylic Tank with under tank hook ups.

2 bio-wheel 330 filters

1 heater

I have a pro-tein skimmer from previous owner, not knowing if it works I plug it in and it seems to.

and I guess thats it...

my questions are...

will I need other filters besides what I have? or can I get by with the two bio-wheels? How do I make salt water? anyways any info is awesome! Thanks!

Jesse!

 

Welcome to 3reef first of all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!My advice to you is to read a good book about saltwater aquariums/reefs etc. It will only help you and the livestock you will be keeping. One thing that many people are guilty of is getting into the hobby with no idea as to what it entails, how much it will cost, time devoted to the hobby, care and husbandry of livestock to name a few.
I could spend alot of time offering you advice, hints and tips which, don't get me wrong, I don't mind doing, but in all fairness to you and the livestock that will be relying on you for their survival and success, you will be better prepared for what lies ahead in going from a freshwater tank to salt, if you prepare yourself by doing some research. If you go to a full blown reef tank, then it is that much more involved as adding corals to the equation is whole different ball of wax.
You need to decide what you plan on keeping and what type of tank you plan on having(FOWLR, w/inverts, or reef).
Reading up on the fish, inverts and coral requirements, selection and compatibility should also be addressed.
I wish I could offer you a few words of wisdom and then you would be done and be a advanced reefer, however, it is not that easy. Other that to take your time, read and research as much about the hobby as possible before jumping into it including, but not limited to, doing some calculations as to the cost involved, types of equipment needed, what they do and how they work, testing parameters etc. I cant really come up with a short word of wisdom to cut corners and make you a competent reefer!
Well if you have any questions after reading and researching, feel free to ask us and we will be happy to help ya.
The world of saltwater is truly an amazing and beautiful hobby not without its downfalls and doubts, but if you keep at it and follow some general guidelines, it will be a very rewarding venture into the world of reefdom!
good luck!!!

 

Are you going to go reef or fish only? And how much money are you willing to spend? If you are doing a fish only tank, you can get by with the 2 biowheel filters and a couple of powerheads. You will also need between 50-100lbs of live rock and some live sand which will help denitrify the tank. A good protein skimmer is a must as well.
The best method though would be to use a sump and refugium under the tank. This adds tank volume and a place to place your skimmer as well as grow live macroalgae for nutrient export. Since your tank has all the plumbing this would be the way to go, especially if you plan on a reef tank. You will want at least a 30g sump for that size tank.
For a reef system you will need special lighting as well.
Good luck!

 

Research....Research....Research... before you buy anything. That's just what I do.

 

I made this move a few months ago - I definitely wish I had read more before I started, not while I was. So, research is definitely reccommended as I did'nt frind it too complicated switching from keeping Cichlids, but there is alot more to maintenance, care and precision.

As a beginner to SW myself and sticking with fish only for now, I enjoy the new elements as I feel like I'm 'interacting' more with my tank than when I kept FW.

But at least you've found the reefers here - I received excellent advice and guidance which has helped me no end and being new, they explained everything so well - better than any LFS I tried for advice. Good luck!

 

words of wisdom from Coral Reefer heed them please.

 

Before I made the switch to salt I read Bob Fenner's "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" and everything I could find online. It took a while and is still an on-going process...
Go slow, get some good liverock and a good skimmer and then still go slow...
Best of luck!