Neji

Hello.

I was wondering, since I'm getting bored of freshwater.. I was wondering if I am able to convert my 10 gallon freshwater tank into a salt water tank. And I was wondering, what types of fishes can I put in? Clown fishes? Damsel fish?

Also, do I need to have corals inside my tank? And if so, what type of lighting should I use?

And substrate. Sand? or Gravel?

I hope anyone can help me

Thanks

Mike

Hi Neji - check this article out - http://www.fishlore.com/SaltwaterAquariumSetup.htm

Small tanks can be more difficult to run than a larger tank, say 30 gallons are more. Fluctuating water parameters can be a challenge to keep from going to extremes. The fish would have to be really small as adults for a 10 gallon tank. This question gets asked a lot. Browse through the beginners section of the saltwater forum for more ideas. I need to write up an article for the magazine on keeping a smaller saltwater tank.

pepetj

Hi Neji:

I don't know how if you get "bored" with FW you could handle a SW tank. A SW set-up is a whole different ball game. FW experience is handy but marine tanks are not as tolerant as most FW.

The only things you could keep and use in SW is, in my honest opinion, your current light settings and the tank itself, if and only if, you are going to keep a fish only with live rock tank (FOWLR). In that particular set-up, the lighting is only important for you to see your display.

Forget about gravel. Aim at 20lbs of aragonite sand or alike. And of course at least 15 lbs of live rock. That shall live your water volume around 6 gallons unless you use a sump/refugium.

SW is quite unforgiving when overstocking is done. Water parameters can be a real challenge to keep within a stable/healthy range in such a small tank. RO or even RO/DI water should be considered as the only source of water.

Some essential testing is needed, from salinity (measured in two ways: specific gravity or parts per thousand); pH, as well as ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. You probably won't need to measure Ca, Mg, or PO4 if you stay with FOWLR.

I invite you to read around marine species for beginners that are suitable to Nano SW FOWLR set-ups. Good filtration is obtained mainly from biological filtration through live substrate (sand and rocks).

By the way, I'm a newby in SW.

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

Neji

Thanks for replying Mike

So then should I convert my 29 gallon freshwater planted tank into salt water instead? Or should I just buy a bigger tank. Is it okay to buy like a 55 gallon tank and put it near where the sun is (bad thing I know) but have a background so then the sunlight cannot put in too much light into the tank? Or is it bad?

Would the regular sunlight be okay instead of the special lighting for corals?

Neji

Thanks for the reply too Pepetj

I might want to get a bigger tank and just put it by the window where lots of sunlight does come in, but I was thinking of putting a thick background so then not too much or no sunlight could penetrate the tank. I don't know if that is okay, because people say it's a bad idea. And I live in Lima, Peru. So the sunlight is EXTREMELY strong here. Especially since I believe I am near the equator.

smileyfish

i did the same thing. I had a 40 gallon freshwater tank and i just got plain BORED! so i decided i wanted to switch to saltwater. I found it was probably the best decision i ever made! Ive done a ton of research, 4 books- countless websites- 12-15 visits and inquiries at stores- etc, overall the smaller the tank the harder it is. Saltwater is EASIER than freshwater BUT is MUCH MUCH MUCH more expensive. Generally set aside about $30-50, id just do $50 to be on the safe side, per gallon in tank. 1/3 for tank, equipment etc, 1/3 for live rock (MOST EXPENSIVE and not entirely necessary but really its best to use), and 1/3 for livestock. The first 1/3 will be all together, the second 1/3 will probably be split into 2 or 3 trips but could be 1, and the last 1/3 will be about $20-30 in the begginning and then spread out into more expensive but less frequent purchases. Coral is not necessary but if your bored with freshwater i think a FOWLR tank will bore you too. I would at least get some very hardy easy to keep coral like mushroom coral etc. You should just buy the biggest tank you can (keeping in mind the $/gal. rule) and if you need to put it near the sun. You could probably use some paint that has anti-uv ray properties, but maybe you could put some strong shades over the window to make it almost dissapear plus a somewhat thick background. Really if you could put it anywhere else do, even if you have to buy (or make) a stand, but if you have to you might be able to get away with that extra expense of getting the sun (really the uv rays) away from the tank.

If you have the money and can spend about 3-6 hours a week (which really you should just find yourself doing and getting carried away even just staring at the tank) then go with it!

Neji

Wow that is a lot of information you typed out!

By the looks of it, I was thinking of putting my tank right where the sunlight is but put a background at the back of the tank so not too too much of the sunlight can really penetrate my aquarium. Although I haven't bought the aquarium yet but that is what I am actually planning to do in the future.

But I don't live near salt water, I only live near freshwater and I don't live near the Atlantic. I live near the Andes Mountains that is where all of the freshwater comes down from when it rains during the wet season and overflows the Amazon River and some parts of the land become covered with water.

smileyfish

ha hoped i could help. Well im not sure how exactly you go about getting natural seawater in a tank but generally you use commercial artificial powder that you mix with clean water (RO water) and WHALA sea water

Neji

lol, well the artificial salts for the saltwater is pretty expensive. Like a 55 gallon bag of sea salt is about $35.50 in Canadian dollars. But it's not much in Canada, but for here it kind of is xD I do get paid a lot of money but my friends said not to go and spend your earnings all on the stuff at the gift shops etc. So I'll have to try my best to stay away from that stuff.

I make about $100.00 a day and it's 8 hrs of working in the hot hot sun. I can't wait until raining season because that's the best time when I can still work outside and inside and still stay cool