You shouldn’t be filling up your saltwater aquarium or even performing water changes unless you’ve ensured your tap water is optimal and safe for your beloved aquatic pets. Water is indeed the single most crucial component in any aquarium. As a cheap alternative, you can treat tap water with a conditioner, but unfortunately, it doesn’t safeguard your reef tanks from nuisance algae. The best way to make tap water safe for saltwater aquariums is by purifying it using a RO/DI system. However, the only problem with tap water is the algae-promoting nutrients and chemical impurities it contains. But if the existing filtration, with the bacteria cultures in tact, was used, the tank will complete cycling much faster then a new set-up.If the thought of using tap water for saltwater tanks has crossed your mind, you aren’t alone. Copper is one of the biggest enemies for saltwater aquariums.Īfter the conversion, the tank will still cycle. Some additives are specifically made for saltwater, so check the labels on the packaging before using them.Īny products that contain copper must be avoided. Most of the additives can be used as well, such as a water conditioner and Algone. The maintenance schedule for cleaning the tank and water changes remains the same as in freshwater.įor most tanks, all there is to it is to replace the gravel, remove and replace the décor and to add water with the seawater mix. For the first batch of saltwater, fresh water should be used instead of just mixing salt into the tank. In addition to the above, a saltwater mix and a hydrometer to measure salinity will be required. Test Kitsįreshwater test kits can not be used in saltwater and have to be replaced by saltwater test kits. Lighting will get more important with a reef tank later on if desired. To enhance the color of the fish, one might be replaced with an actinic bulb. LightingĪt this early stage the regular fluorescent light will be fine. Should sand have been used in the freshwater set-up, it can be used for the saltwater tank. crabs.Ĭrushed corals and aragonite will keep the pH stable as well as provide calcium for a later update to a reef system. The substrate in saltwaterdoes not only provide biological filtration as in freshwater, but also as a home for many animals that might be added over time i.e. ![]() The substrate for saltwater should either be sand, crushed corals, or aragonite. The new decoration can include live rock, rocks, or fake corals in the beginning. Most saltwater fish nibble on everything they can get a hold on. Plastic plants and décor should not be used in a saltwater tank. If cleaning is needed, water only is the way to go. The tubing, heater, and air pumps from the freshwater tank can be used in the new saltwater tank. Seeding aquariums with freshwater bacteria will speed up the process of cycling the new saltwater tank nonetheless. The freshwater bacteria are good for spiking a brackish tank, but a different strain of bacteria needs to colonize saltwater aquariums. The nitrifying bacteria in fresh and salt water are closely related, but slightly different. As explained further down, sand is the preferred choice of a saltwater aquarium and this kind of filter will simply clog up. ![]() One exception would be the undergravel filter. ![]() In this case a trickle filter or a protein skimmer can be added. Later on in time, especially if live rock and more animals are added, a change in filter type might be justified. The original filtration can be used in the new saltwater aquarium as well. Household chemicals do contain substances that are detrimental to the system. It is advisable to clean the tank with a sponge or filter floss with water only. There are no special aquariums that differ in fresh or saltwater set-ups. The exemption is a reef set-up, where the lighting system alone can easily cost as much as a fish only tank.Īs you are fired up by now, we will take a look on what equipment you can use in converting a freshwater into a saltwater aquarium. Freshwater and saltwater, including live rock, can be compared by size and cost.
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