FW to SW???

[Hunterr]

I have a small 5.5 gallon aquarium that is fully cycled and ready for a really small reef! The only issue is that it is freshwater, and corals seem to only like salt. My question is, can I remove all the decor and fish and very slowly convert gravel to sand or will I have to recycle the tank completely?

 

[MJSerik]

Did you put coral in freshwater?

 

[bribo12]

I have a small 5.5 gallon aquarium that is fully cycled and ready for a really small reef! The only issue is that it is freshwater, and corals seem to only like salt. My question is, can I remove all the decor and fish and very slowly convert gravel to sand or will I have to recycle the tank completely?

You will need to completely cycle the tank again with live rock. Also, a 5.5 is gonna be tough for a first sw tank, there isn't much fish wise you can put in that tank. You will need good lighting for a reef, did you have a light in mind?

 

[Hunterr]

Did you put coral in freshwater?

Oh no. Absolutely not. Hahaha, I was just being sarcastic. Maybe I have clarified.

 

[Hunterr]

You will need to completely cycle the tank again with live rock. Also, a 5.5 is gonna be tough for a first sw tank, there isn't much fish wise you can put in that tank. You will need good lighting for a reef, did you have a light in mind?

I was afraid of that... And the challenge of it is what I want. I do already have a little experience with saltwater though, I have a 55 gallon FOWLR, I just wanted to do a small reef tank as well. And I am still in the beginning stages and haven't really found any lights. Do you have any somewhat cheap, but high quality, ideas in mind?

 

[MJSerik]

Ok, good. You never know.

 

[Hunterr]

Ok, good. You never know.

That's true. since getting into this hobby, I have seen a lot of things that were clearly not researched. Such as putting large animals in really small tanks. That seems popular.

 

[bribo12]

I was afraid of that... And the challenge of it is what I want. I do already have a little experience with saltwater though, I have a 55 gallon FOWLR, I just wanted to do a small reef tank as well. And I am still in the beginning stages and haven't really found any lights. Do you have any somewhat cheap, but high quality, ideas in mind?

Um a par 38 bulb is relatively cheap and will allow you to grow any corals you want

 

[Brilliant_Barbs_21]

I have only LEDs on my reef tanks and that's what I'll recommend. In a tank that small, it doesn't take that much power for all types of coral, so it doesn't have to be too expensive.