Convert 55g freshwater to salt

jroush21 · 11/08/2010, 08:20 PM

I have a 55 gallon tropical tank but I would like to make a upgrade.
What all would I need to do to make it a FOWLR tank?
What would I need to buy and could you list a close estimation of the costs.
It's convert the 55g or would it be cheaper to get a 30g tank and start that way?

Percula9 · 11/08/2010, 08:57 PM

What kind of filtration does the tank have? Stick with your existing equipment. You would need about 50lbs of live rock and a couple of bags of sand or crushed coral. A protein skimmer also. A refractometer to measure salinity and a master API test kit. The whole conversion can be done for under $500

jroush21 · 11/08/2010, 09:17 PM

All I have for the tank is a heater and the aqua tech power filter

Sk8r · 11/08/2010, 09:48 PM

To do it in a regulation way:
1. (HOB=hangonback) HOB Skimmer (Aqua C Remora) 125.00 or (in sump--aqua C Urchin)
2. 20 gallon sump (20 gallon tank and material to create 4 chambers in it about 50.00)
3. HOB overflow box about 50.00.
4. skimmer pump ---maxijet 1200 20.00 (you also need one mj for mixing saltwater.)
5. mag 5 return pump--about 90.00
6. various hoses. variable.
7 aragonite sand, 50 lbs, about 75.00
8. 45 lbs base rock abt 50.00
9. 10 lbs live rock---varies. about 75.00-100.00
Using mostly base rock takes an 8 week cycle instead of 4 to start up the tank, but as you can see---is way cheaper.
10. salt ---about 50.00
Various test kits: about 100.00.

Mylilreef · 11/08/2010, 10:43 PM

the #1 thing is if you have ever used copper based meds in the tank (quick cure) you need to reseal it if you ever want corals. the copper is deadly to corals even in smallest amounts. my guess is you will evetually want a full on reef. i know i'm not the only one on here that started out the same way.

if the tank will be empty, i,d drill it for the sump system. once you drill you'll never go back! then just a good skimmer! just be sure to spend some extra $$ on a skimmer. it's the one piece of equipment not to chince out on, you'll get what you pay for. and i can tell you from personal experience those seaclone skimmers suck. i've done all of the few DIY mods for it, still a waste of money. everyday i wish i woulda spent at least double on it, that way with my upgrade coming soon i could at least get by with i had for a couple a weeks. now i need to a) throw it in the trash or b) find someone new that doesn't know any better.

i suppose i'll trash it. even giving it away would bring me some BAD kharma

you might also check craigslist. sometimes you can find a whole running setup for less than a couple of the parts you need to convert the old one over.

jroush21 · 11/08/2010, 10:51 PM

How much of a price range would it be to set up a 30 gallon compared to switching my 55g tank?

Sk8r · 11/08/2010, 11:44 PM

The same. Except the size of the skimmer, and the amount of sand and rock.
Alternatively, to get your feet wet in this hobby---you might look at what's called an all-in-one: there are several varieties. here's a link:http://www.marinedepot.com/aquariums...o_cube-ap.html
This sort contains all equipment or a substitute system, and they're pretty good if you don't overload them. There are some extreme nano-fish (the smallest blennies and gobies) that are fine in the nanotanks, and some very small coral fragments or mushroom corals can do quite nicely. A well-set-up all-in-one can look very fine.
If you want to run a very minimal setup, you can resign yourself to quite a bit of algae and some extra work and go with a regular filter, a sandbed, and careful testing and refills of fresh water (these tanks evaporate a lot and have to be topped off with fresh water to prevent salinity rise)---you do a 10% water change a week, test frequently for alkalinity, nitrate/ammonia, ph and salinity, and you could keep a few small fishes, some crabs and some of the hardier mushroom corals. It's a lot of work, changing filters and testing, but if you do it assiduously, you can do it: it's the style of marine tank from the 80's --- it worked, as long as you don't push it with bioload. We ran a 20 on a simple Penguin filter: it was algae all over, but certain corals like mushrooms can cope with that. And the micro-hermits are cute little guys. You can establish a float switch to deliver fresh water, which saves one headache, and over all---it can be done without the automated systems. Just pick very hardy fish and keep a logbook. Also--quarantine any fish for 4 weeks first! They come in exposed to parasites, and you don't want that sort of thing in your tank. Read the sticky posts at the top of the forum---they have a ton of info. And be very careful to stick to nano-fishes, that don't get longer than 3". Many marine fish grow big---no kidding.

jroush21 · 11/09/2010, 08:28 PM

would i need any kind of heater for a 55 gallon tank

jroush21 · 11/09/2010, 08:31 PM

also what kind of lighting sould i get?
if you know any good sites to help with prices it would help.

bertoni · 11/09/2010, 09:50 PM

I'd use two heaters, in case one fails. For a FOWLR, the lights are for your viewing convenience, so just about anything will do if you like the looks.

Corals are another story.

11/08/2010, 09:48 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	To do it in a regulation way: 1. (HOB=hangonback) HOB Skimmer (Aqua C Remora) 125.00 or (in sump--aqua C Urchin) 2. 20 gallon sump (20 gallon tank and material to create 4 chambers in it about 50.00) 3. HOB overflow box about 50.00. 4. skimmer pump ---maxijet 1200 20.00 (you also need one mj for mixing saltwater.) 5. mag 5 return pump--about 90.00 6. various hoses. variable. 7 aragonite sand, 50 lbs, about 75.00 8. 45 lbs base rock abt 50.00 9. 10 lbs live rock---varies. about 75.00-100.00 Using mostly base rock takes an 8 week cycle instead of 4 to start up the tank, but as you can see---is way cheaper. 10. salt ---about 50.00 Various test kits: about 100.00. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/08/2010, 10:43 PM	#5
Mylilreef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 304	the #1 thing is if you have ever used copper based meds in the tank (quick cure) you need to reseal it if you ever want corals. the copper is deadly to corals even in smallest amounts. my guess is you will evetually want a full on reef. i know i'm not the only one on here that started out the same way. if the tank will be empty, i,d drill it for the sump system. once you drill you'll never go back! then just a good skimmer! just be sure to spend some extra $$ on a skimmer. it's the one piece of equipment not to chince out on, you'll get what you pay for. and i can tell you from personal experience those seaclone skimmers suck. i've done all of the few DIY mods for it, still a waste of money. everyday i wish i woulda spent at least double on it, that way with my upgrade coming soon i could at least get by with i had for a couple a weeks. now i need to a) throw it in the trash or b) find someone new that doesn't know any better. i suppose i'll trash it. even giving it away would bring me some BAD kharma you might also check craigslist. sometimes you can find a whole running setup for less than a couple of the parts you need to convert the old one over. __________________ -Cory Current Tank Info: 55g mixed reef (upgrading to 150g Tall), 30g Long w/softies(soon to be a sump for the 150g), 20g Tall mixed, 5g w/softies, 10g quarantine that somehow turned into another softy tank

11/08/2010, 11:44 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	The same. Except the size of the skimmer, and the amount of sand and rock. Alternatively, to get your feet wet in this hobby---you might look at what's called an all-in-one: there are several varieties. here's a link:http://www.marinedepot.com/aquariums...o_cube-ap.html This sort contains all equipment or a substitute system, and they're pretty good if you don't overload them. There are some extreme nano-fish (the smallest blennies and gobies) that are fine in the nanotanks, and some very small coral fragments or mushroom corals can do quite nicely. A well-set-up all-in-one can look very fine. If you want to run a very minimal setup, you can resign yourself to quite a bit of algae and some extra work and go with a regular filter, a sandbed, and careful testing and refills of fresh water (these tanks evaporate a lot and have to be topped off with fresh water to prevent salinity rise)---you do a 10% water change a week, test frequently for alkalinity, nitrate/ammonia, ph and salinity, and you could keep a few small fishes, some crabs and some of the hardier mushroom corals. It's a lot of work, changing filters and testing, but if you do it assiduously, you can do it: it's the style of marine tank from the 80's --- it worked, as long as you don't push it with bioload. We ran a 20 on a simple Penguin filter: it was algae all over, but certain corals like mushrooms can cope with that. And the micro-hermits are cute little guys. You can establish a float switch to deliver fresh water, which saves one headache, and over all---it can be done without the automated systems. Just pick very hardy fish and keep a logbook. Also--quarantine any fish for 4 weeks first! They come in exposed to parasites, and you don't want that sort of thing in your tank. Read the sticky posts at the top of the forum---they have a ton of info. And be very careful to stick to nano-fishes, that don't get longer than 3". Many marine fish grow big---no kidding. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%. Last edited by Sk8r; 11/08/2010 at 11:52 PM.

11/09/2010, 09:50 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'd use two heaters, in case one fails. For a FOWLR, the lights are for your viewing convenience, so just about anything will do if you like the looks. Corals are another story. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
converting freshwater to salt tmrw, looking to buy tmrw	sinful	Tampa Bay Reef Club	2	08/24/2008 10:17 PM
converting my 75g freshwater to salt tmrw...WTB(what I need)	sinful	Orlando Reef Caretakers Association (ORCA)	5	08/24/2008 07:28 PM
Converting a freshwater QT to saltwater QT...	Xirxes23	New to the Hobby	5	05/30/2006 01:45 PM
Converting a freshwater tank to a saltwater	andrewnstarlet	New to the Hobby	8	02/08/2006 12:14 AM
About to convert to freshwater...pls stop me	pmr	Reef Discussion	26	02/01/2006 10:00 AM

11/08/2010, 08:20 PM	#1
jroush21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 8	Convert 55g freshwater to salt I have a 55 gallon tropical tank but I would like to make a upgrade. What all would I need to do to make it a FOWLR tank? What would I need to buy and could you list a close estimation of the costs. It's convert the 55g or would it be cheaper to get a 30g tank and start that way?

11/08/2010, 08:57 PM	#2
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	What kind of filtration does the tank have? Stick with your existing equipment. You would need about 50lbs of live rock and a couple of bags of sand or crushed coral. A protein skimmer also. A refractometer to measure salinity and a master API test kit. The whole conversion can be done for under $500

11/08/2010, 09:17 PM	#3
jroush21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 8	All I have for the tank is a heater and the aqua tech power filter

11/08/2010, 10:51 PM	#6
jroush21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 8	How much of a price range would it be to set up a 30 gallon compared to switching my 55g tank?

11/09/2010, 08:28 PM	#8
jroush21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 8	would i need any kind of heater for a 55 gallon tank

11/09/2010, 08:31 PM	#9
jroush21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 8	also what kind of lighting sould i get? if you know any good sites to help with prices it would help.