Converting to Saltwater

[am3ience]

Hi, so I've been in this hobby for a year now, and I currently have 2 tanks, a 36g heavily planted, and 55g African Cichlid tank. I'm thinking of converting my African Cichlid tank to a saltwater tank FOWLR but eventually will be a reef tank when it's ready.

I've never done a saltwater tank before and this'll be my first one. I don't have room under my stand for a sump (the stand is divided by 2 dividers) so i'm thinking HOB protein skimmer. Currently I have about 3-4" of PFS in my tank, and already have some yellow and red rock that has been in there for a while. I'm thinking of just adding on to the rock with live rock if that's ok. How much pounds of liverock should I get? And can I get a standard stocking list of fish to work with? I want to try and fit as many fish as I can in there. Without making it a nightmare to maintain !

 

[fishhuman]

First take the divider. Add 25-50 pounds of liverock. In a tank this size only a few(5) small fish will do. Look on liveaquaria for fish choices.

 

[am3ience]

First take the divider. Add 25-50 pounds of liverock. In a tank this size only a few(5) small fish will do. Look on liveaquaria for fish choices.

When I say dividers, they're not removable, as in they're part of the stand's structure. Also looking at other stock lists, it seems that I can put a little more than just 5 fish.

 

[reepher315]

Id suggest not reusing any rock you have in a freshwater tank. The bacteria is much different. Unless im not understanding something. A complete fresh start would be the best course of action. Also yea 5 fish is probably the max for an easily maintainable bio load.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Welcome to the hobby! There is a lot of knowledge and help here!

Go slow and do your research before pulling the trigger on salt.

55's are tuff to do as coral reefs as most are tempered glass and make it hard to sump because of their dimensions. Not saying it can't be done and many have, but most find that after they did use a 55, they wished they had used a different size.

Yes, I currently have a 56, but I bought it when me and the wife were still in a apartment and was space limited. Also I knew I could drill it. It has a 20 long under it running out the back underneath with a reef octopus 150 in it. Has Lps and sps.

My very first salt tank was a 75 reef ready back in the early nineties. It was so much easier to start learning with that tank.

 

[fishhuman]

When I say dividers, they're not removable, as in they're part of the stand's structure. Also looking at other stock lists, it seems that I can put a little more than just 5 fish.

Saltwater tanks hold less oxygen than freshwater, also saltwater fish are never used to being contained in small areas because they come from one connected ocean. Because of this they have bigger bioload a and are more aggressive on average.that is why the # of fish you can have is greatly reduced.

 

[Chloie Benson]

Hi, I am not that new to this hobby but I think I have to know about converting to salt water. I just wondering too if changing it would be good for any type of fish ? I have read that I should have research first about it because there are tropical fish that needs different varieties and it has a lot of maintenance in doing so.