Thinking of upgrading my 37 gallon freshwater to saltwater.

T

TorchwoodMindfreak

Well I currently have a 37 gallon tank and two 10 gallon freshwater tanks. Anyway what I would like to do is upgrade my 37 to a saltwater tank. Is this easily achievable? I'm only 16 so I don't have a lot of money to spend. But I would really like a tank with live rock, live sand, corals, zoas, inverts, and some fish. What steps do I need to do to complete this goal and what stuff do I need to buy? I live out in Glen Rose so there aren't really a lot of fish stores around(if any) for me to go and talk to people in person, and I don't have any friends who are into fish at all. So I thought I'd see what you guys have to say :)
 
I would say your first part is to research some lighting and skimmers, and see what you think you can afford. Then ask lots of quetions here before you do things. Please will generally guide you in the right direction here. This hobby can get price and can't go cheap on some equipment or you will just be wassting money on corals tht die down the road. Water source would be another issue, can you get a RO/DI unit.
 
I ran my first 55 gallon tank with a coralife skimmer and pc lights without much issue using fishstore bought water. i have known people who have used dechlorinated tap water and mixed their own salt but it would make coral keeping difficult, fish its fine. these are the bottom line of what could be done and improvements of any of this will make your life easier. i would take a look at what you really want to give a try, and then we can point you in the right direction better.

You will at a minimum need to make sure there was no copper used in that tank, the kit is about $10, get about 20 pounds of live rock, found on the forums for about $60, and if you are wanting sand you can get a bag for around $20. I would start with a dual t5 light, a 24"light will cost about $120 new and i would get a basic reverse osmosis water filter which will run around $100 new. Either can be found on here for cheaper at times.

most importantly, take your time, read and ask questions, and by all means, plan ahead.
 
I know there has never been any copper in my tank (I have shrimp lol)

I have a bunch of stuff to ask you guys about.

First lights. Is this one any good? http://www.marineandreef.com/30_inch_4_lamp_Coralife_Lunar_Aqualight_T5_Light_p/res08605.htm

Ok now skimmers. which is better? http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopus-bh-1000-hang-br-on-back-protein-skimmer-br-by-coralvue-2347.htmlor http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaC_Remora_Hang_On_Protein_Skimmer_Hang_On_Spray_Injection_Protein_Skimmers-AquaC-AC3111-FIPSHOSI-vi.html#Descriptionand if the second one what is a drain fitting and is it worth the extra $10?

Okay now on to RO/DI systems are these any good any what's the better choice I don't see a difference between the three...
http://www.purewaterclub.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=88_87&products_id=413
http://www.purewaterclub.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=88_87&products_id=158
http://www.purewaterclub.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=88_87&products_id=361

Oh and is a sump worth the time and extra cash?
 
the light looks ok, should be able to keep most of what you want under it. the bulbs may not be exactly what you will want in the long run bit will work great for now.

i have used the remora skimmer before and it worked pretty well. it was a bit sensitive and had to be tuned just right, but most skimmers do

not sure about any of those RO's, i have used both of these and would recommend either. Only difference is how much water they provide per day
http://www.airwaterice.com/product/1MMDI/Mighty-Mite-50GPD-with-DI-Added.html
http://www.melevsreef.com/rodi.html

a sump would be best overall if you can swing it as it will give you more water volume and a place for filtration to help keep the system stable. You could put a better skimmer down there and some macro algae. a decent overflow box like this would get you going, and a 20 gallon tank would probably work fine - http://www.marinedepot.com/CPR_CS_Overflow_Boxes_External_Overflow_Boxes_for_Aquariums-CPR-CR1511-FIOFEB-vi.html
 
The thing I'm worried about with a sump is what if the siphon breaks and it floods? But that overflow looks good. Could I add a sump later if I wanted one or would it need to be set up at the same time as the tank?
 
with these style of overflow boxes, the risk for that is very low. you can make it even less likely by adding an aqua lifter pump to it. i used a similar overflow box for over a year with zero issues.
 
I converted my 40gal cichlid to saltwater with corals. Definitely invest in an RO/DI system or plan to buy your water.
I use the Coralife lights. Started with the 2 lights and now using a 4 light. They work fine but as suggested you will want to replace the bulbs once you have researched your needs. The only down side to the 2 light system is that it's all on 1 cord and switch. I like to have my blues/actinics seperate from my whites. You may also want to look at Zoomed, I believe they are seperately switched and I like the hinged brackets.
Either HOB skimmer will work fine. I struggled with those two brands myself. I went with the Remora because I got it from an LFS who priced matched amazon, just had to pay the taxman.
I also went with a canister filter from Fluval as an alternative to a sump.
 
Very cool! Be sure to give that tank a good cleaning, white vinegar is very helpful. I use the gallon jugs walmart sells for cheap. Also, saw this overflow for sale you could use to add a sump, it's just like the one I used and it holds it's suction so you don't get overflows during power outages. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=88199
 
Man I wish I could rehome them quicker lol I can't get to the lfs till probably the 13th :( (going camping) and of course i found someone selling live rock close by -_- hopefully they'll still have some once I'm ready.
 
Sorry you got stuck with that, maybe you can have your step dad call our resident RO guy to help understand the needs of your tank. You could ask your step dad if he simply wanted to be able to make water with it and If that is the case, all RO/DI units can do that, you just put a valve before the DI and Home Depot sells the water tank. We can help step you/him through setting it up for that, no problem. The RO you got is for drinking water, not a tank. Will it work? Sure, but you are very likely to have tons of issues that will make this a lot more difficult, and not nearly as fun, because the water will have a higher TDS than you want brand new. For example, i replace my filters when my water measures 5TDS, the best this RO unit can produce is 5TDS water, so out of the gate i wouldnt use it in my tank.

The water quality is the number one most important thing in our tanks, and you are doomed to fail if you start with bad water. I apologize if i sound like a downer here, just dont want you to lose all your enthusiasm for this great hobby because you get started and have algae breakouts all the time or cant keep corals alive. It is so important in fact, that just yesterday at our club meeting we had an hour long presentation over RO units to make sure veryone understood the role they play. If you cant get a better RO unit out of him, maybe you can at least get an addon DI stage, that would help you tremendously - http://www.melevsreef.com/shop/diadd.html

As for salt, people will debate it all day which is best, id just grab whatever your LFS has when you go to town. It might matter more down the road if you get SPS corals, but right now it wont. Franks Tanks or True Percula on your side of things will have what you need, so give one of them a call, franks is closed on sundays btw. Just as a note, Home Depot salt will not work, just in case your step dad gets any ideas because a bucket of salt at a LFS costs like 60-70 bucks and he wants to try something else.
 
Well I bought the instant ocean reef crystals, sand, a hydrometer, and a test kit. I called franks tanks and he happened to be in to I went and bought the stuff from him and had a chat for a while. I'll try and explain to my step dad about that. We havn't opened it yet so maybe I can convince him on ordering one online. He's worried about the company going out of buisness and not being able to buy the filters for them thats why he doesn't want one from online.
 
very cool, franks tanks is one of the best stores around. he actually helped get me back in the hobby years ago, he wont steer you wrong.

mention to your step dad that the ones online we linked you to use industry standard sized filters, you can order filters from any number of online or local vendors and they will work. melevsreef ro filters fit air water and ice ros, air water and ice ro filters fit bulk reef supply ro's and vice versa for each and every other. the one you bought i think actually uses smaller filters that are not industry standards.
 
Hi welcome to the wonderful world of reefing , unfortunately it will cost how ever with a club like this members are always willing to help anyone whom needs and my best advice I can give is take it in the long run it will save you a lot of cash and you won't be buying things twice as I did when I started, ok so there's the YODA speech on to the steps Fresh water uses small hang on the back filters this is good for fresh Not so good with reef , more on that later
Here comes the caps HAVE YOU USED COPPER BASED MEDICATIONS IN THE TANK, salt water life will not tolerate any copper it will kill everything even if you clean it real good copper seeps into the silicone and you can't get it out , next is sand a good live sand is going to take place of the hang on back fresh filter along with the live rock And a good Protein Skimmer should get you well on your way (I would get one rated for 80 gallons reef fish are dirty and with a little over-skim you can add more thank of it this way everything in the reef tank is alive even the water carries good bacteria to brake down ammonia which is a by product of fish urine and poop look at a Remora Pro skimmer with over flow box and drain, it will be perfect and keep everything crystal clear. Get the high end salt mix like Tropic Marin it has all the necessary
Chemicals in it in the proper levels if you use a med or low grade salt mix it is going to cost more for the additives in The long run, and get the test kits for ph,ammonia,nitrates,nitrites and a hydrometer to mix salt these are a must as you stated you don't have a LFS neer you ?
 
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