Changing From Tropical To Marine?

[Smells a bit fishy]

Hi there, I have looked for my answers however I can't seem to find them.

Ok I currently have a tropical set up that has been running for a couple of months. Now I'm thinking of changing to a marine. What are the things I will need.

The tank is a 200 litre 4ft tank. I am currently using an internal Fluval U4 filter. I have also got a Fluval 205 as well.

I don't have t5 bulbs, but I can get a kit that has a box under the tank with wires connecting to either side of the bulb. Can't remember what they are called.

I will also get a power head and a skimmer.

However what is the best way to transfer it to a marine tank slowly as I don't have £300 to transfer it straight away. The other question is my tank ok for a marine set up.

One more question, how much harder is it to run a marine in comparison to a tropical.

Many thanks for your future help

 

[fishy55599]

Live rock
heater
ro water and salt
sand
test kits
refractometer
2 powerheads
skimmer

you do not need T5's for rock and fish and some soft corals are fine under T8's. so dont need right away.

buy bits at a time, and look for good second hand deals.

your tank is fine for marine.

it isnt much harder actually

 

[StandbySetting]

You could use a Hydrometer instead of a Refractometer to save on costs, some say that they're not as accurate but with regular calibration they're just as good. You could also source Live Rock from people breaking down a marine set up.

As for power heads for a standard reef set up with soft corals you'll want a turn over of 4000 Litres per hour, 2-3 circulation pumps would have to do this.

You'll want aragonite sand as it will buffer the PH.

 

[lewiss]

Live rock
heater
ro water and salt
sand
test kits
refractometer
2 powerheads
skimmer

you do not need T5's for rock and fish and some soft corals are fine under T8's. so dont need right away.

buy bits at a time, and look for good second hand deals.

your tank is fine for marine.

it isnt much harder actually

+1 to Fishy.

You do want T5 lighting eventually but there is no rush for this. The fish and rock will be fine under lower lighting such as T8's.

Your tank is very good for marine, the bigger the better, and 4ft - 200L is a good size.

What do you want to keep? Have you any ideas?

Def not as hard as you think. Have a look at the resource centre found here

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Ok, is it much more expensive for RO water? My LFS I saw today they sell salt RO water. Is this recommended?

Ok, so if I was to buy T5 bulbs, I really like the coral in a marine so will probably like to have quite alot, I can fit those to my current tropical yeah?

I have most of what is needed as in test kits and heater and filters and things. I read somewhere you don't need to run a filter as the coral reduces ammonia. But I will have to get 2 powerheads or will one be plenty?

As ideas for stocking I havn't really looked, however my daughter loves finding nemo. So a nemo not sure what fish, and Dora and crabs as I love those

 

[StandbySetting]

2 Power heads will be better, with one you're likely to get dead spots, the salted RO will be fine providing it is of the right salinity, however, it may be cheaper to mix it yourself.

Which test kit do you have? Some are only formulated for fresh water, and with some alternative cards are needed.

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Ok. I have the API freshwater master kit. I know I will have to get a refractometer. And as sand goes, can it be any sand? I got some aquarium sand from my LFS or does it have to be marine sand.

 

[seffieuk]

to the salty side of the forum

The live rock is the heart and lungs of your new tank, not the coral

One question and its a big one - have you ever used copper based medications in your tank? If the answer is yes then your tank will not be suitable for a reef

Seffie x

 

[fishy55599]

Ok, is it much more expensive for RO water? My LFS I saw today they sell salt RO water. Is this recommended? i buy ro, but my LFS dont sell it salted

Ok, so if I was to buy T5 bulbs, I really like the coral in a marine so will probably like to have quite alot, I can fit those to my current tropical yeah? yeah

I have most of what is needed as in test kits and heater and filters and things. I read somewhere you don't need to run a filter as the coral reduces ammonia. But I will have to get 2 powerheads or will one be plenty? no filter needed (its LR btw)

As ideas for stocking I havn't really looked, however my daughter loves finding nemo. So a nemo not sure what fish, and Dora and crabs as I love those clownfish are fine, but dory is a tang and need a bigger tank-sorry, certain crabs are fine

 

[StandbySetting]

You'll need some form of aragonite sand, coral sand is generally the cheapest.

 

[fishy55599]

Ok. I have the API freshwater master kit. I know I will have to get a refractometer. And as sand goes, can it be any sand? I got some aquarium sand from my LFS or does it have to be marine sand.

needs to be marine tank, as it has certain things needed, get a saltwater kit

 

[StandbySetting]

The API kit will do, but Saliferts would be better as they're more accurate, you need to order the salt water cards from API themselves, the nitrite one and the high range PH one is the same however.

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

I've never used medication, however I did get the tank second hand. What would you use copper based medications for? Can you get hold of them in the UK?

Ok is RO water expensive? So I will need 200 litres to fill it then 40 litres once a week.

 

[fishy55599]

i get plain ro £3.50 for 25l

 

[StandbySetting]

RO water is generally 10 pence a Litre, so buying and plumbing in your own machine would be cheaper in the long run, you wont need copper based meds as it is lethal to invertebrates.