How to get Fresh water tank SALT READY! HELP! ::PICS::

[SaltLifeLove]

My itch to upgrade has come sooner than I thought! However I am not that surprised!
I am looking into purchasing a 55 gallon with a stand from craigs list. The tank is currently a fresh water tank, and I was wondering if any one could help in letting me know what I would need to do to get this salt ready? Any information about this filter, is it ok for running a salt water tank? I will upgrade eventually, but would it be ok for awhile? I would eventually add a sump and a overflow and upgrade lighting.
I DO NOT WANT TO BUY IF THIS ISNT A POSSIBLE TASK. ANY AND ALL OPINIONS AND SUGGESTIONS WELCOME. HE is asking a $100 for the setup.
I am willing to spend the money on a reasonable light fixture however I would really like to wait on the filter, so thats why I am curious if this filter would suffice for awhile. What cleaning methods would I need to do to get this salt ready? I currently have a 20 L and want to have a tank running at least a month before I start adding anything. I plan on cycling with live sand and about 50lbs of live rock. Does this filter require bioballs, will it raise my nitrate levels? DO i need a sump with this filter??
Thanks everyone!

[Zestay]

dont do it.
theres to many unknowns.
the tank is going to be your CHEAPEST investment.
for a newbie i cant reccomend this

[SaltLifeLove]

Originally Posted by Zestay

dont do it.
theres to many unknowns.
the tank is going to be your CHEAPEST investment.
for a newbie i cant reccomend this

What kind of unknowns?? I have already invested over 400 into my 20L...I am willing to spend the money, and I am concerned about mainting a 20L because I have been told smaller tanks are much ahrder to maintain than larger tanks especially for a newbie because of mainting levels....

[Zestay]

mainly copper
copper is poison to marine inverts.

copper is used regulary to treat fresh water fish.
so unless you want the chance of having a graveyard id avoid like plague

[SaltLifeLove]

I am aware of copper being being poison to inverts, but even after everything is remvoed...taken apart...cleaned properly and so on there is still a danger??? Traces of copper remain on the glass?? Lurk in the filter??

[flying_dutchman]

Get the tank drilled or drill it yourself you can't any more once the tank is filled.You could also get a siphon overflow, but the only real good one's are from life reef and they are $100+. I definitively would get a sump, I don't have one on my 30, and it drives me crazy, ugly skimmer that takes a 1/4 of the display, no filter sock etc etc. I would say not to the filter, get a good protein skimmer. Clean the tank with just water, you can add some vinegar. DON'T USE CHEMICALS!!!

I will upgrade eventually, but would it be ok for awhile?

How long is a while? $100 sounds pretty good, but I would ask the LFS for a qoute first. Glasscages sell a 55 for $98 but stand and shipping is not included, and they charge $75 for a overflow. http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=O...&sProdID=AQ_55
You can always DIY a stand:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1169964
Hope it helps

Good luck

[SaltLifeLove]

My husband was not wanting to spend over a $100 for tank, stand and decent enough filter. We estimated about $300 in LR and another $150 or so in LS. Probly another $300 in lighting. WE want the tank to cycle a month or however long needed before transferring fish, inverts etc.
Could I eventually use my current 20L to make a Sump? I am pretty dumb when it comes to the mechanical workings of things... building and drilling... so forth.
If i got this set up and cleaned it well, upgraded the lighting and added LR and LS would it run ok this way for a few months with fish and inverts without updating the filter.... and added a sump I guess that is my biggest question...argh I am frsutrated just thinking about it lol

[flying_dutchman]

I would NOT use the filter, it is designed for freshwater. I will be a nitrate trap. I'm sure you can get LR and LS cheaper on craigslist, and spent the money on a skimmer. They sell a 250w MH on ebay for $140 or something, get a workhorse ballast and add some HO T5. Spend the left over money on a skimmer. You sure could use the 20L as a sump

So the answer is YES if you add a SKIMMER. And trow out the filter

[sohal1025]

Say NO to bioballs,,,,Nitrate factory----Live rock will filter well.

[SaltLifeLove]

Originally Posted by flying_dutchman

I would NOT use the filter, it is designed for freshwater. I will be a nitrate trap. I'm sure you can get LR and LS cheaper on craigslist, and spent the money on a skimmer. They sell a 250w MH on ebay for $140 or something, get a workhorse ballast and add some HO T5. Spend the left over money on a skimmer. You sure could use the 20L as a sump

So the answer is YES if you add a SKIMMER. And trow out the filter

Unfotunatley I can not find LS or LR on craigslist AT ALL! My LFS charges 4.99 a lb for LR its the cheapest place in town, and it is the best I have seen locally.

I feel totally lost now...once things start to make sense I loose my train of thought!
Throw out the filter...use the 20L as a sump....buy a skimmer...upgrade the lights to T5's. This is all I need for filtering?
Ok, I dont understand the workhorse ballast?
God I feel stupid...haha

[SaltLifeLove]

Originally Posted by flying_dutchman

I would NOT use the filter, it is designed for freshwater. I will be a nitrate trap. I'm sure you can get LR and LS cheaper on craigslist, and spent the money on a skimmer. They sell a 250w MH on ebay for $140 or something, get a workhorse ballast and add some HO T5. Spend the left over money on a skimmer. You sure could use the 20L as a sump

By the way I really appreciate your help

[SaltLifeLove]

Originally Posted by sohal1025

Say NO to bioballs,,,,Nitrate factory----Live rock will filter well.

Whats your opinion on the filter? Can this filter run without bio balls?

[Zestay]

that whole set up is a waste of time and money. please listen to us =)

[flying_dutchman]

Originally Posted by SaltLifeLove

Unfotunatley I can not find LS or LR on craigslist AT ALL! My LFS charges 4.99 a lb for LR its the cheapest place in town, and it is the best I have seen locally.

I feel totally lost now...once things start to make sense I loose my train of thought!
Throw out the filter...use the 20L as a sump....buy a skimmer...upgrade the lights to T5's. This is all I need for filtering?
Ok, I dont understand the workhorse ballast?
God I feel stupid...haha

That s*cks, at my LFS it's 3.50 a pound, and found a guy on craigslist that sold it for $2 a pound. You might find some liferock online, you can look at the RC sponsors.
http://liveaquaria.com/product/aquar...lies.cfm?c=393 sells some good rock.
For T5 you've two options, buy a all in one fixture, or buy a ballast, endcaps, and T5 and then put it together. The workhorse ballast is just one of the cheaper ballasts. The LR and skimmer will provide filtration, you can always add a refugium for nutrient export http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/aqu...a/aa041400.htm. And frequent water changes O' course. What do you plan to keep in the tank?

[VacavilleFC3S]

i agree with everyone else, don't waste your money buying crap your just going to throw away, $100 bux isn't all that great a deal, i paid $80 brand new for my 90g RR and stand

[SaltLifeLove]

Zestay "that whole set up is a waste of time and money. please listen to us =)"


I am willing to listen to everyones opinion. However so far you are the only one stating that the whole set up is a waste of time.
dutchman has suggested ways to make it work and sohal simply stated no bioballs...
I have not made this purchase and the more I consider it the more I lean away. I would really like to find a previosuly run 55 gallon salt water tank with a good filter and stand, but cant seem to find any locally....

[SaltLifeLove]

Originally Posted by VacavilleFC3S

i agree with everyone else, don't waste your money buying crap your just going to throw away, $100 bux isn't all that great a deal, i paid $80 brand new for my 90g RR and stand

Where did you get your 90g for $80??? Every 75 or 55 gallon tank I see people selling that were previously SW are asking $400!!

[flying_dutchman]

If you worried about copper, after you rinsed the tank through fully get a copper test kit fill it with freshwater and test it.

[SaltLifeLove]

Originally Posted by flying_dutchman

If you worried about copper, after you rinsed the tank through fully get a copper test kit fill it with freshwater and test it.

Thats a good idea, but if it tests positive for copper than what do I do??lol

[flying_dutchman]

Keep rinsing again and again until it tests negative.

[Zestay]

if your interested in a 55gallon tank that needs a copper test kit. first price a copper test kit

around 19 - 25 dollars

now figure that into the cost of the aquarium
100 + 20ish = 120

cost of brand new 55gallon tank from walmart.
129 dollars

risk of having copper in a brand new tank. alot less than the used tank.
whose to say if there is copper it will ever wash out. or just be to low to test for?+


if its about saving 15 dollars, your in the wrong hobby. save a headache buy a new tank.


how old are those silicone seams on that 55? older than a brand new one..

the real question you should ask yourself is why should i buy a used tank?

[SaltLifeLove]

Originally Posted by Zestay

if your interested in a 55gallon tank that needs a copper test kit. first price a copper test kit

around 19 - 25 dollars

now figure that into the cost of the aquarium
100 + 20ish = 120

cost of brand new 55gallon tank from walmart.
129 dollars

risk of having copper in a brand new tank. alot less than the used tank.
whose to say if there is copper it will ever wash out. or just be to low to test for?+


if its about saving 15 dollars, your in the wrong hobby. save a headache buy a new tank.


how old are those silicone seams on that 55? older than a brand new one..

the real question you should ask yourself is why should i buy a used tank?

When you break it down that way, I see where you are coming from. I am deffinitley not worried about $15.00
I was trying to save money by buying a used tank and getting the stand along with it. I am not opposed to building a stand, except for the fact I know my husband doesnt have the time.
If I can use the 20L for a sump and buy a skimmer and new lights then I would rather do that. I guess I didn't realize that would be enough filtration??...or maybe its not and I shouldn't be the one figuring out the logistics of this! argh

[flying_dutchman]

If you have the resources to build a stand, I would definitely buy a new tank.
Water changes, skimmer, LR, LS, and maybe a refugium should keep the parameters in check. I guess you have a RO/DI? If not get one.

[ddinox64]

If that thing is already running a trickle filter then there must be an overflow. Is it a HOB or internal? Just remove the bio balls. Not like you have to use them because it comes with them. Throw them into the recycling bin.

Millions of tanks each year that use to be freshwater become saltwater tanks with no ill effects. Buy the tank.

Doesn't look very long. Only 36" or are those 18" tiles? If it's 36" sump might be too small for fuge but you'll get your skimmer, heater and return pump in there. Or if you're not in a hurry. Sell that sump keeping the overflow and buy a 30 or 40 gallon tank off of CL for cheap and build your own sump/fuge with the money you make.

[sohal1025]

My son set up a 55gal with just LR for filtration and an Octopus HOB skimmer, and two 150 MH lights. No sump and everything looks awesome. Sps, Lps grow very well. Systems can be simple too. Water changes go a long way.