How To Do Just About Everything
By 1citygirl
Modify a Freshwater Tank Into a Saltwater Tank
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Changing your freshwater tank to a saltwater tank doesn't take a lot of new products and can be relatively easy.
CHANGE YOUR GRAVEL: While most products you have in your freshwater tank can be reused in your saltwater tank, some products will need to be changed. Gravel is one of them. The current gravel you have in your freshwater tank will need to be changed to a calcerous material. Crushed coral, dolomite, and argonite are examples of this. These types of materials help to buffer the water and make a much more stable enviornment.
CHECK AND REMOVE METAL: Saltwater will rust anything metal you may have in your tank, so check and remove any metal products.
FILTRATION SYSTEM: The current system you have in your freshwater tank should be okay in your saltwater tank, but make sure you have a system that keeps the water constantly moving within the tank. It is imperative to a saltwater habitat that the water constantly move and disrupt the surface of the water to allow proper oxygen transfer within the tank. If you fear your filtration system may not hold up, check with your local aquarium supply store.
LIGHTING: The same lighting you have now in your freshwater tank should work fine in your saltwater tank. However, if you are going to have invertebrates in your tank, the lighting (and several other things) will need to be changed in order to keep them in your tank. Check with your local aquarium supply store for requirements.
FOOD: Marine fish will require a varied diet of fresh, frozen, and live food. Flake food should not be a major portion of a marine fish's diet.
WATER: Before introducing fish to the aquarium, make sure you change the water! Nitrate free and chlorine free water is the best, as it will minimize algae problems.
eHow Member: 1citygirl
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