Starting a 29gal Saltwater Tank?

[pwrmacG4]

I have a 29gal freshwater tank right now and I am getting a 75 gal freshwater planted tank..

I am thinking of keeping the 29gal and making it into a SW tank.. Can the same filter be used with SW? Marineland biowheel 350. heaters shouldn't have to be changed right? other than getting new substrate what else would I have to get?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I would check out the stickies at the top of this forum. They have lots of good info and will give you a better idea what you're going to need to do. You don't really need a filter with SW, just some powerheads to move the water around and a whole bunch of live rock (this will be your main expense).

 

[sweetpickles7]

Also read some of the threads, i know there are quite a few where people are using 29gal tanks.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I'm no expert but...

Yes you could use the filter, though it probably won't serve any real purpose other then water movement and maybe taking some of the big chunks of floating garbage out of the water. And even then its probably not enough flow for the tank so you'll want to add some powerheads and such.

Heaters can stay.

Reef tank with coral or fish only with LR? Big question there. If you want coral you want to upgrade your lighting which will then be your biggest expense. Other then that you'll just need powerheads, live rock, saltwater, SW test kits, and not much else.

 

[pwrmacG4]

I'm no expert but...

Yes you could use the filter, though it probably won't serve any real purpose other then water movement and maybe taking some of the big chunks of floating garbage out of the water. And even then its probably not enough flow for the tank so you'll want to add some powerheads and such.

Heaters can stay.

Reef tank with coral or fish only with LR? Big question there. If you want coral you want to upgrade your lighting which will then be your biggest expense. Other then that you'll just need powerheads, live rock, saltwater, SW test kits, and not much else.

I have a penguin powerhead now that is rated at 175gph flow.. would that be good enough for a 29? so what filters the water then? sorry stupid ?'s

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Not sure if is enough or not, i gotta learn the whole flow thing too.

The Live Rock acts like a natural filter for the water.

 

[sweetpickles7]

No, it would be better if you had more flow. You could use the filter as a refugium, i have seen idunno do it before with his 29gal sw tank. i suggest reading his, as his helped me out alot!

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I've turned my HOB filter into a fuge as well on my 2.5gal reef. Really all it is is a place for LR rubble and a home for pods.

 

[pwrmacG4]

what is a refugium? if I got another powerhead would that be enough?

 

[Lorna]

You really should do some research especially read the stickies at the top of the forum. The basics in saltwater will be answered by those. Here is another good place to start

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