Many people would like to own and maintain a saltwater aquarium, but they shy away from it and turn to freshwater aquariums instead because they have been told that saltwater aquariums are difficult to maintain and require additional equipment. This is not necessarily true.
How to Switch a Tank From Freshwater to Saltwater?
In most cases, converting a freshwater aquarium to a saltwater aquarium is simple. Most of the equipment used in both aquariums is the same, with a few exceptions. One of these exceptions is the aquarium substrate. Instead of using the gravel that your freshwater fish prefer, tropical fish prefer a substrate made of live sand or crushed coral. Most filter systems work well in both freshwater and saltwater environments, but many aquarists take the opportunity to upgrade their system.
It's also important to remember that the filter you use in your saltwater tank circulates the water throughout the tank. Disturbing the surface of the water maximizes the amount of oxygen in the water. If you plan to maintain a fish-only aquarium, you shouldn't have to worry about upgrading your lighting system. The only time you will need to upgrade the lighting is if you start adding coral reefs to your aquarium.
A mistake many aquarists make when converting their freshwater aquarium to a saltwater aquarium is thinking that all you need to do is add a little salt to the water and voila, a saltwater aquarium. . All they have done is create an environment that will kill every coral reef, tropical fish, and freshwater fish they place in the aquarium. Bacteria in salt water are completely different from those in freshwater.
People who wish to speed up the water cycling process should take aquarium substrate from a warm saltwater aquarium and transfer it to a temperate saltwater aquarium. Before adding fish to your newly converted aquarium, be sure to purchase a refractometer and hydrometer to test the salinity of your water. The salinity should have a specific gravity between 1.020 and 1.026.
Salt water causes rust. Check your tank and filtration system regularly. If you notice rust starting to form, it's time to replace your gear.
Before you start filling your saltwater aquarium with fish, do some research. Many varieties of tropical fish require a different type of food than freshwater varieties. Many of these varieties should be fed combinations of fresh, frozen, and live food, in addition to fish flakes.
Frozen foods should not be stored in your freezer for longer than three months. If you are buying a fish that is going to need a lot of live food, ask about the type of arrangement that will go from a freshwater aquarium to a home saltwater aquarium.
Most fish owners recommend buying a small tank that can be used as a quarantine tank. Placing a sick fish in a quarantine tank will make it easier to treat and increase its chances of survival.