sand/changing

[xrenegadex]

i wanted to start a new thread on this, but it goes with me changing to sand instead of gravel.

i eventually want to go to a salt water tank. is there a way to take out the gravel in my current tank and put the sand in without harming the cycling?

now, say i have a fresh water tank with a sand bottom, can i change it to salt without doing anything except adding the salt (and the fish of course)?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi xrenegadex

That's a very good question!

I'm going to move your thread into the Salt Water forum, where the members who might have the answer to that might be found.

 

[Ed4567]

AFAIK, the species of nitrifying bacteria in frshwater are different to the species in saltwater, so you would need to re-cycle your tank if you wanted to change over.
I could be wrong though.
Ed

 

[bob`_your_dog]

I was told by a LFS that he thought they were the same, maybe just anouther stupid shop assistant

 

[xrenegadex]

so either way, i should wait before putting saltwater fish in....correct?
also, if i just had no type of reef/coral when i cycled it, do i have to be carefull when adding the coral or reef?

 

[Navarre]

maybe just anouther stupid shop assistant

BAsically its the same bactiera if im not mistaken but its down to the cell walls of the bacteria. Changing from freshwater to salt walt will cause massive ozmozis and ruupture the cell walls killing the bacteria. I would not take the risk and restart all over again to be honest. with the quality of liveorck these days there is no reason why you cannot add the water, salt, liverock and then add fish within 24-48 hours

 

[J-Money]

at least make sure it's really done cycling Also, I'm a newbie so I'm prolly wrong, but I've heard that some corals and ish need kind of a mature tank...

 

[Navarre]

Can i ask why you are cycling the tank with freshwater when you intend to use it for saltwater once its cycled?

 

[1152 Flying Fish]

i think he ment he already had a fresh water tank set up and wants to switch by this:

i eventually want to go to a salt water tank. is there a way to take out the gravel in my current tank

I would be safe and do what Nav said, after the 48hrs, add cheap fish, since they dont have a garentee.

"had to learn that one the hard way"

 

[xrenegadex]

yea...i already have a tank set up, but i want to 'switch' it slowly. as i can't afford to get all the stuff i need in one shot. so i could get the sand awhile and put that in. i can get my second tank cycled while i wait (fishless) so then when i'm ready for the saltwater, i put the current fish in the other tank, and switch to salt.