Freshwater to saltwater

[gsvettec4]

Can I take my freshwater tanks water and just add salt to make them saltwater ready?

I would like to take everything out of my freshwater tanks except the water and convert them to salt tanks.

That way I have water that is already cycled.

 

[thatguy]

You can but it won't be cycled. The bacteria are different. Once you add enough salt it will kill the FW bacteria and you have to wait for the SW bacteria.

I did it with mine over time because I was bringing a puffer from FW to SW.

 

[gsvettec4]

But at least I would have clean free water without having to produce 200 gallons of RO water????

 

[hagfish]

No chance I would reuse water from a freshwater tank. Especially in a tank that big since there will undoubtedly be a ton invested in livestock. Water is easily one of the cheapest things in this hobby. I would just do it by the book and start with fresh salt water. It probably wouldn't matter. But just why do it? Play it safe.

 

[SSTG]

ph would be a problem

 

[edwing206]

start with fresh saltwater that way you can be sure it is 100% clean

 

[superfirefly]

Check the tds of your freshwater tanks if it is 0 (which I would be totally amazed) than it would be fine to use if it is anything else then I would make fresh RO/DI saltwater.