Best Freshwater Converter

[PoseidonCichlid]

I posted this question in saltwater getting started but since this forum has a lot more traffic I thought it would be wise to ask it here as well:

What's the best brand name product in your opinion for converting a freshwater tank to brackish or saltwater? There are no fish, plants or other living things in it now so this doesn't have to be a gradual conversion, I can even drain it and start from scratch if necessary. If the answer is different whether we're going brackish or full saltwater that would be useful information as well. Thanks for your input.

 

[ScaryFatKidGT]

Put salt in it? lol

 

[PoseidonCichlid]

When I saw the "how often do you lose fish" thread I was tempted to write "every time I feed my piranhas" but that's just the jokester nature of fishkeepers...

I want to know if there are any recommendations (or warnings) about using Instant Ocean, etc. Most people have their favorite methods, if yours is using plain salt (I hope you're using sea salt and not table salt), please describe the process and percentages you use.

 

[keegster803]

It depends if your making a reef or just a normal saltwater tank. Is it going to be a Reef? A FOWLR? Or a brackish water tank?


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[PoseidonCichlid]

It depends if your making a reef or just a normal saltwater tank. Is it going to be a Reef? A FOWLR? Or a brackish water tank?


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Exactly the point of the thread, I can't wait to read you go into each scenario in detail, do you use the same product for each?

 

[keegster803]

Well, there are reef crystals, and there are other crystals. But one main thing is that I would strongly recommend using only R/O water In the tank, as it will keep down algae growth


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[PoseidonCichlid]

Well, there are reef crystals, and there are other crystals.

What's the difference? How many different crystal formulas do you use by name? Which is your favorite?


But one main thing is that I would strongly recommend using only R/O water In the tank, as it will keep down algae growth
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You have more trouble with algae growth in saltwater than in freshwater? That's news to me, please explain...

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

You have more trouble with algae growth in saltwater than in freshwater? That's news to me, please explain...

If nutrients aren't controlled carefully in sw tanks nuisance algaes can grow extremely quickly and even over grow/kill coral. The use of ro/di water eliminates the possibility of nutrients or damaging elements being introduced through was or top off.


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[PoseidonCichlid]

I'm guessing that's why you also use protein skimmers but before we get off focus again on algae can you address the main issue regarding salinity conversion and the brand names and process you use? What I thought was a simple question apparently is harder to get feedback on than pulling hen's teeth! Most people have a favorite product and recipe for everything about this hobby, but apparently here nobody wants to talk about it like it's a state secret or something, LOL!

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

Not sure what your asking tbh, there is no product to convert from fw to sw to my knowledge. It's just a matter of draining the tank cleaning it, replacing fw decor/substrate with sw rocks and sand re filling the tank with sw. As far as what equipment you'd need, that depends on tank size and what you want to do with it.


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[bribo12]

Not sure what your asking tbh, there is no product to convert from fw to sw to my knowledge. It's just a matter of draining the tank cleaning it, replacing fw decor/substrate with sw rocks and sand re filling the tank with sw. As far as what equipment you'd need, that depends on tank size and what you want to do with it.


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+1
It would be much easier to help if you gave a size and what kinda tank you are trying to setup.


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[PoseidonCichlid]

Not sure what your asking tbh, there is no product to convert from fw to sw to my knowledge. It's just a matter of draining the tank cleaning it, replacing fw decor/substrate with sw rocks and sand re filling the tank with sw. As far as what equipment you'd need, that depends on tank size and what you want to do with it.


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So you use locally collected saltwater and not a package formula mixed with freshwater? Aren't you worried about disease, parasites and unwanted species' larvae? That would worry me a lot more than algae.

 

[bribo12]

So you use locally collected saltwater and not a package formula mixed with freshwater? Aren't you worried about disease, parasites and unwanted species' larvae? That would worry me a lot more than algae.

No bigred is saying you mix your own saltwater. You make rodi water and then add your preferred salt (IO, reef crystals, Red Sea coral pro, kent, etc) and mix with a powerhead. Then you check the salinity with a refractometer and add it to your tank.


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[BigRedsReefs10]

No I use Red Sea coral pro reef salt and I mix it with ro/di water.

+1 to what Bribo said

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[PoseidonCichlid]

No bigred is saying you mix your own saltwater. You make rodi water and then add your preferred salt (IO, reef crystals, Red Sea coral pro, kent, etc) and mix with a powerhead. Then you check the salinity with a refractometer and add it to your tank.


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Finally somebody mentioned products! Only took 2 pages of replies to get here...which one do you use and why do you prefer it? If you are mixing water for a brackish environment for example, would you use a different product or the same one only using less concentration according to directions? Is there any controversy here or do all the mainstream products have stellar reputations with the buying public?

 

[bribo12]

All salt mixes are similar in trace elements. I use reef crystals for a year then switched to try out Red Sea coral pro. IMO most salt mixes are similar in number of trace elements. For brackish you'd just use less salt to get a sg of 1.001-1.008 depending on species you want to keep.


Tbh you asked quite an open ended question. Being more specific usually gets better results.


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[treemanone2003]

X
C l.
Nmm


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[PoseidonCichlid]

X
C l.
Nmm


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If these are abbreviations of product names please spell them out for the unfamiliar. It looks like you're posting nuclear launch codes...

 

[treemanone2003]

X
C l.
Nmm


Sent from my iPhone that doesn't like me. Or you !!

Edit: Phone was on chest and hamster was crawling all over and replied to thread without my knowledge or permission.

I will say that I agree with the others about the question. Too open and lacking direction. Being more specific will generate the answers you're looking for instead of beating around the bush.


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[PoseidonCichlid]

Tbh you asked quite an open ended question. Being more specific usually gets better results.


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Tbh getting good results is getting rarer here, as somebody mentioned to me in another aquarium advice forum (and as several have told me in private msgs) between all the arguments, trolls and smart-aleck short useless answers, receiving a polite informed detailed response from the get-go is always a welcome surprise.