Moving From Reef To Freshwater.......need Help!

[mb3195]

Hi all,

I think this seems like a good place to start!

I've had a reef tank for the past 3 years, after a few demorilising events, I decided to pack up the hobby!

Anyway, after getting down to stripping the tank and putting things for sale, my heart strings were pulled a bit, so am now thinking about converting to freshwater, due to lower costs and hopefully slightly less headaches!!

I've got a good size tank (approx 700 ltrs) with an additional approx 100 ltr sump.

I'm not decided yet on the type of freshwater fish I'm likely to keep, but I'm thinking either discus or lake malawi ciclids.

So, a few initial questions:

1) Filtration - obviously I have a sump so can do pretty much whatever I want, what do i need? I'm presuming something like mechanical in the first chamber, biological (recommendations are welcome here as i'm used to using live rock in marines) in the second filter, chemical in the third chamber.
2) Lighting - my current light is likely to be way too powerful for what I need as it is a 6x80w T5. However, I can use either 2 or 4 of the bulbs rather than all 6. How many and what type of bulb would I need?
3) What is the best substrate to use - one that wont cause a build up of detritus, but also looks good?
4) Regarding decorations - what sort of rock is suitable? I will also have plants in the tank.
5) My return pump is rated at 6500 ltr/hour - I will T this off to run through a UV steriliser, so realistically I will probably be achieving 3-3500 ltrs/hour in the tank itself - is this flow rate ok?
6) Apart from the above and heater, is there anything else that I would need? (I also already have an RO unit with an auto top up device)

Sorry for all of the questions!! Not sure I'm doing the right thing so need some encouragement.

Thanks

Mark

 

[Aquascaper]

Go with Cichlids, I'm doing the opposite to you - I set up my tank for Cichlids then managed to talk the wife into letting me go salty again

Most Cichlids like current so don't worry about the return output and as for the rest that will depend on what you're planning on keeping.

 

[DrRob]

Sounds like it should be a lovely set up. Also sounds expensive to maintain so I can imagine the reef being a problem long term. Sumped set ups do open up the options of the heavier feeders like bigger predators and things like rays if you hadn't considered that option. Otherwise you could set up for discus fairly simply in that tank, malawi's would make less use of your RO unit, unless your water isn't good.

Out of curiosity, as you have the kit, had you considered a marine fish only?

Lighting wise, the advice would depend on the dimensions of the tank, what length/type the tubes are and if you're planning plants.