Getting A New Tank

[Queen Bee]

A friend is getting rid of their saltwater tank. She has had it for about 1 1/2 years and it has never had any problems that I know of. I am going to take it, but I have a lot to learn about saltwater tanks. She is running a 20 Gallon. I know she has some anemone, clown and damsel. Other than that, I only know she has a skimmer. I have freshwater tanks, but this is so much more involved than my other tanks. I would like to move all the rock, sand, fish to my 30 gallon tank instead of putting it back into the smaller tank. My 30 is currently a freshwater tank. The freshwater fish are being moved to another one of my tanks.

What do I need to do to get my tank ready to accept saltwater tanks?
Will I need to get more live rock and add it before or after I get the saltwater tank moved?
Moving it to a 30 gallon, what about upgrading the skimmer or other equiptment? Will 10 Gallons really matter?
Is stocking the same as freshwater 1" fish per gallon?
Finally, I need to learn a lot quickly. Tank cleaning and upkeep. Water parameters. Really I know nothing, and need to learn everything. I have time as she is not moving it until I am ready. Any links or websites that are good to get info from?

 

[seffieuk]

to the salty side

30 gallons is a good size,

You need to think about:

How much live rock is in the tank, is it adequate to filter the tank
What make and model is the skimmer
when were the tubes last changed and what lighting is it
what is the anemone
flow - how many powerheads are there and is it enough flow
what stock is in the tank and do you want to keep
replace the sand bed
Research, research some more and make loads of lists

Read lots of journels, the orca 550 and the rio 125 would be good, take notes and ask lots of questions

Seffie x

 

[Queen Bee]

Thanks, I know she has done minimal maintence to the tank. She has had about 1 1/2 years. the sand is covered purple and green Maybe I will replace the sand. Thanks for heading me in right direction about what to ask. So different from freshwater!!

Excited, always wanted gobies!!!!!!!!!

 

[john.o]

Hello and welcome to the salty side...

The first question I will have to ask you, is has your 30g ever had any copper based treatments used in it?
If yes then this tank is going to be no good for a reef tank!!
If no then I would start by giving it a good clean out with white vinegar, just give the glass a good rub down with a vinegar soaked cloth then leave for a little for the acid in the vinegar to do its thing , then obviously give it a very good rinse out, next you want to get your water in the tank and up to temp { 26c, I would say always use RO water most LFS sell this or better still invest in a RO unit yourself rrp £80 and up you want one with DI if possible} once the tanks up to temp add your salt to the required s.g 1.026 seems to be the preferred end of the parameters for reef tanks {again use a good quality reef salt,D&D pro / red sea pro to name two of the more popular ones}
When you have the above done with the power heads heaters skimmer ecct running I would then add the live rock and then the sand around the rock work and that’s about it, sit back and wait for the tank to cycle {the cycle time will depend on how long the live rock is out of the water during transport form your friend house to your tank}

 

[sorgan]

I would sling the sand, if it's green and purple on top it's obviously not been sifted by anything and will be an ammonia trap, if it gets stired up it will nuke the tank.

 

[Queen Bee]

Getting rid of the sand, great idea. She told me she never actually cleaned the tank, only topped up the water.

She only lives about 15 minutes away, so the rock will be transported in water and should make the trip ok.

My 30 gallon has had multiple treatments in it. (Was buying fish that always seemed diseased later) Always used jungle products. Did treat for velvet. Doesn't say anything about copper in meds. Would cleaning with the vinegar eliminate residue from the meds?

 

[Rumpy Pumpy]

My 30 gallon has had multiple treatments in it. (Was buying fish that always seemed diseased later) Always used jungle products. Did treat for velvet. Doesn't say anything about copper in meds. Would cleaning with the vinegar eliminate residue from the meds?

What you could do is use a sharp blade to cut out the silicon calking from the inside of the joints (careful not to perforate the actual joint between the glass panels though) and then recalk it with aquarium grade silicon.

If there's a residue from the treatments it will be in the silicon, not the glass (once you've removed any deposits from it with vinegar or other acid)

I did this with mine and had no problems.

 

[Queen Bee]

Ok, not going to be an easy or quick switch. What does the cleaning with vinegar do for the tank? I will do as suggested, I just like to understand the whys and hows as well.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Rumpy Pumpy]

Ok, not going to be an easy or quick switch. What does the cleaning with vinegar do for the tank? I will do as suggested, I just like to understand the whys and hows as well.

Thanks for the help!

Removing an replacing the silicon caulking doesn't take long. I did my 4 ft tank in less than a couple of hours (plus drying time). It's not difficult either.


The vinegar thing, I believe, is to dissolve any limescale deposits which may hold stuff you don't want in a reef setup.

 

[seffieuk]

Vinigar just gets all those stubburn stains off easily

I would spend half an hour researching the meds you put in the tank first - most probably didn't have Copper in, do a bit of googling.

Seffie x

 

[john.o]

vinegar will only really get all those stubborn stains

If there has been copper treatments used, you could remove the silicone and re seal as R_P said
and i second it’s not as difficult as you think . Big C has done a tank build thread some ware on this forum that will show you exactly how to do it {very good thread with tones of info}

 

[Queen Bee]

thanks again. I will look for the thread about recaulking the tank. If I find out none of the meds had copper in it, should this still be done or will the vinegar be enough? At first, I had lots of time to get things together. Now, it seems the sooner I can get it out of her house the better.

I've been researching a lot the last couple of days. I am going out to lfs today to pick up new live sand.Fiji rock will have to wait a little longer. I read somewhere about cleaning the rock with a toothbrush quite often. She has never done this. How do I know if her rock is still alive, or if it is even possible that the biological organisims can die if not looked after?

 

[seffieuk]

Nah, you dont need to clean the live rock with a toothbrush, if you do you will lose some critters if the rock was uncured then yes, you would scrub.

As long as the rock was capable of being live in the first place and has heat and flow then it is unlikely to be dead - it might however be smothered by coraline etc so may need the help of a tuxedo urchin (dont be tempted by any other urchin, they will not suit your tank)

A quick google should give you the answers you need about the meds

Seffie x

 

[Queen Bee]

going to start getting the tank ready to accept the salt today! No turning back now, all freshwater fish are moved and tank half empty. Few minutes on google and here I go!

thanks to everyone for their help and advice

 

[seffieuk]

Your are welcome, how about starting your journel now with photos of the set-up?

Seffie x