Can I convert a Salt fish tank to a Reef tank

atennaro · 10-02-2001, 08:06 AM

I have a salt fish tank that has been running for more then a year now. I would like to start playing with Reef.
Does anyone have any thoughts on mixing an existing salt fish tank with reef?

I am new to this hobby but love it, My current tank has been running fine with out any problems and I was looking to the next step.

Thank you,
Tony

Spanky · 10-02-2001, 08:38 AM

Hey Tony,

I'm sure we'd all love to help. The whole "playing with someone else's money" and "vicariously setting up a new tank" thing. LOL

Seriously, make a list of your current equipment, lighting, gravel, live rock, etc and post it.

Also, consider the end result. What critters do you have an interest in? Hard corals, soft corals, combination, etc.

Actually, helping someone else is fun for a lot of people.

Jerel

atennaro · 10-02-2001, 09:06 AM

Jerel

You’re too funny,

I will give you a brief introduction to my tank. I currently have a 55-gallon saltwater tank. I am using a Fluval 403, UV Light, Protein Skimmer, and an air pump connected to a stone. I am just using a normal Hood lamp (florescent). The tank uses sand for the base media and fake decorations.
I have the following fish Tomato Clown (small), Niger Trigger( small 4” long) , Bird Wrasse (5” long), and a Rock Beauty (small 2 – 3” long)

I would like to have hard and soft corals (the ones you see the clowns hanging around). To tell you the truth I don’t know what I want because I don’t know the names of everything. Want to add the colorful corals if that helps… Sorry.

Is there a good book on Reef tank that a beginner can understand and learn from?

Thank you,
Tony

MontanaRocknReefer · 10-02-2001, 09:30 AM

Hi Tony!! You have made your first big step in quest of a reef tank. You found this board and you will get alot of great advice and suggestions here.
Your second big step is wanting to acquire a few good books on setting up a reef tank. We have a person on this board who will give you several links to good reading. FISHDADDY PLEASE READ THIS POST!! I'm sure he heard me and will be along shortly!
Your third big step will be along with READ, READ, READ AND MORE READING will be to exercise alot of PATIENCE and things will work out for you.
We at TRT welcome you here and hope you continue coming here and learn along with the rest of us! Johnny

atennaro · 10-02-2001, 09:42 AM

Johnny,
Thanks for your words of wisdom. I want to move ahead, but move ahead cautiously. I don’t want to harm my existing fish but at the same time I would like to enjoy a reef tank.

Tony

Minnreefer · 10-02-2001, 10:00 AM

Here are a few books avaible at Amazon and use the link below, there may be a Amazon prize in the future The Natural Reef aquarium by Tullock is great http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...256896-5171111 and a book by Fenner is aslo good.

A few other items, you might have to trade in your fish, I know that the triger and I think the wrasse won't be safe in a reef, and you will need more light.

As Johnny said read a bunch of old threads and ask as many questions as you can.
Jon

Spanky · 10-02-2001, 10:02 AM

I hope you like to read. LOL

There are tons of great sites on the web too. I'll work on getting you a list and post it ASAP.

Probably the most no brainer way to set of a reef tank is - Live Sand, Live Rock, Good Skimmer, and Good lighting. A big enough sump gives you some wiggle room too.

Don't forget a quarantine tank for fish and questionable critters. Once they are actually in the tank, treating for parasites and disease is next to imposable. A old 15/20gal is good for that.

Jerel

atennaro · 10-02-2001, 10:11 AM

This is amazing I never thought I would get this much help
Thank you so much
Tony

Spanky · 10-02-2001, 10:13 AM

Tony,

We don't have a life!

Alice · 10-02-2001, 10:14 AM

Hi Tony and Welcome to The Reef Tank!

Fishdaddy must not have had his hearing aid turned up

(j/k Dick, lol) so I'll suggest a little reading material to get you started.

The Natural Reef Aquarium by John Tullock is my favorite book to recommend for beginners. It's a good read, very informative without being overwhelming. The Conscientious Marine Aquariast by Robert Fenner is another highly recommended over-all book. My favorite hobby book at the moment is Aquarium Corals: Selection, Husbandry and Natural History by Eric Borneman. If you want easy specifics on coral ID, placement and care, Practical Guide to Corals by Borneman and Puterbaugh (that one may be out of print) and A Quick Gude to Corals by Julian Sprung are both good places to start, Julian's being the more comprehensive of the two.

The biggest thing you'll need to purchase and consider when switching from a FO tank to a reef tank is lighting. You'll need to upgrade to VHO (very high output florescent) or VHO with MH (metal halide) lighting; it gets expensive. You can't go wrong with an Icecap ballast for the VHO's and surfing the web for bargains will save you some money on the set up.

Another thing to consider is that your bird wrasse and your niger trigger are not the best of fish for a reef. I do know people who have had them in reef tanks but you will have to chose your corals and other critters carefully and just be prepared for the fact that there will be some you can't keep or that your wrasse and trigger just might occasionaly bother some of your reef tank inhabitants. It may come to the point where you will have to chose between your current fish and a reef.

HTH a little, keep up with the questions, we'll help all we can!

~Alice

mikeMersot · 10-02-2001, 10:40 AM

Your niger trigger is most likely going to cause a problem, although in my experience Nigers are some of the more docile triggers. You may be able to get away with some inverts, but be very careful, especially if you want a cleaning crew of shrimp, crabs, snails, etc. they wont last more than a few seconds with a hungry trigger.

Spanky · 10-02-2001, 11:09 AM

http://www.aquarium.net/misc/b_issues.shtml
http://fpage1.ba.best.com/~cbingman/
http://nucalf.physics.fsu.edu/pfohl/fish.html
http://www.athiel.com/html/library2.htm
http://horgereef.homepage.com/
http://www.athiel.com/html/library2.htm
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html
http://www.thereefweb.com/index.html
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/

I couldn't find Aquarium Frontiers

There's a lot more and some of these you probably know about.

HTH
Jerel

atennaro · 10-02-2001, 12:39 PM

Everyone,
Thank you
I am so happy with the support that I have received from everyone. I just wish I could offer something in return....

Minnreefer · 10-02-2001, 12:54 PM

Your first born is all we ask

. We only ask that you do your research, take your time and help others when you are able to. And check out our sponsors, they are all great and we would like to support them.
Jon

gregt · 10-02-2001, 12:54 PM

The best thing you can do to pay the board back is to follow the advice and be successfull. Then you'll become one of us.