switching a 21g from fresh to salt

Hey all,

First of all this looks like an awesome site full of tons of info.
I have a 21g geosystem tank and am thinking of switching it to a saltwater FOWLR tank to start with hopes of getting into maybe some corals in the future. Just wondering what I would need to get the process started. Right now its running with an AC30 HOB, Jager heater and just the standard T8's.

I know I will have to upgrade to at least T5HOs if I want to go to corals in the future so I'm thinking of that already.

I have a fluval 105 sitting around as well. Do I just clean tank and fill HOB and canister with live rock and plug it all in? I have been making a shopping list for equip I need a hydrometer/refractometer, I will prob buy an RO unit since my conscience won't let me take RO water from work ( boiler operator, haha). Is there something I am missing? And if I use the HOB and the canister is it still worth getting the protein skimmer?

Lastly I am thinking of just going with bare bottom and live rock. Thoughts? suggestions as to good, bad, sideways of this method and how much?

I guess I should tell you I have been keeping freshwater for a while and have 3 90gallon cichlid tanks running at the moment so I am not a newbie to fish just to salt.

Sorry for the thousand questions, Thanks for the help

 

I'd keep the HOB filter for running carbon and/or GFO but ditch the canister filter. They can cause elevated nitrate levels if you don't clean them religiously. Better off with just a protein skimmer and HOB filter. That's what I use on my 20 gallon.

 

+! to the above, and i'd suggest ya go with a sand bottom! in a small tank you need as much biological filter as you can get, and going bare bottom kills that theory unless ya just pile it full of rock, then ya have other issues! Also, look into led's, less maintenance and hassle!

 

thanks for the quick replies

K ditching the canister isn't a big deal to me. I would have had to buy new orings and tubing anyways so wouldn't have been that far ahead. Anything to ease on the maintenance is a win in my book.

I will definitely look into LED fixtures. Haven't dealt with much other than T8/T5 even with planted tanks but the LED's seem pretty maintenance free with a bit more initial cost.

So if I go with some sand what is a good guideline? Like an inch or two on the bottom? and live sand or just an argonite or crushed coral? maybe a little bit of each? opinions?

I'm not scared to let it take a while to get cycled so is it better to get a bunch of live rock and risk parasitic issues or just a little bit of live rock and have it cycle the tank over a longer timeframe? I have access to pure ammonia which I used to cycle my other tanks so I will probably do the same with this one.

I guess I am looking for some quick answers cause I may be starting tank next week and then working on the lighting etc. later on as I start to cycle. Money isn't really an issue but I don't want to go crazy either.

Thanks again

 

quick answer, get dry rock and sand! then get a few pounds of LR and LS from your LFS! Then MAYBE add some dr tims one and only and follow directions! Next add stuff slowly, then add good lights! then sit and stare!

 

After trying live rock and dealing with the nasties that come with it (bubble algae anyone?), I only use base rock (and a piece of pest-free liverock from my established tank). Cheaper and less hassles. I usually keep about an inch and a half of argonite sand, but in my current 20g I have only a 1/4 of an inch (just to cover the bottom glass). Speaking from experience, I can say that I highly recommend against using crushed coral. It was always a problem for me about 18 months down the line. Using sand, I have never had an issue.

 

K so right now Im looking at some dry sand-probably about an inch or so (unless there is an advantage to just dusting the bottom glass (?)), and some dry rock, With just a hunk of live rock and some live sand (from an established tank if possible). Right away I will prob need the goods for mixing salt to proper parameters and a protein skimmer. If looking to corals in future would it make sense to just get a powerhead while I'm at it to start out?

The light cycle for a starting tank isn't as critical from what I have read so I might take a while and research the different choices (eg LED, T5HO, Halide, etc.)

I'm pretty phsyc'd about this to tell you the truth. Love all the inverts with salt and can't wait to start really looking into livestock. Is it that much harder to go with corals in a tank this size? is it just a stability issue or are there other factors?

 

i'm thinking for you right now, the best thing would be to slow down and read! Windowhop onlne at liveaquaria, decide a wish list for stocking and then decide the tank arouns that! Then post all that info and let everyone help you tweak it! Welcome and go crazy!

 

haha good point. Love the internet, so much info right at your fingertips! I'm sure I will have a thousand more questions as I go. haha

Thanks for the help guys!

 

yeah anything done quickly in salt water is only gonna cost ya a TON more time and money! Go slow, read, learn and then read more! Devise a plan, a stock and equip list, let us help ya with it, and then decide what you want! You'll a much better end ersult that way than just diving straight in! Good luck!