JKC67
12/29/2008, 08:20 AM
I have previously kept a Marine Reef system for about 18 months, but had to give that up when I moved abroad. I have been back into fishkeeping for about the last 6 years now and I currently have a 5ft x 2ft x 2ft (100 gallon) Tropheus tank. I have 2 large externals, 2 heaters and good lighting. Inside the tank the substrate is coral sand, the rocks are either lava rocks of ocean rocks.
I realise that I am going to have to upgrade my lights, buy a skimmer, get some live rock, refractometer, salt, test kits, etc, etc
(I already have an RO unit, oh and one of my filters has a built in UV)
But what is the easiest and most cost effective way of converting this tank over ?
I have been advised that if the filter media is cleaned properly, then that will suffice - is this true or do I need to get completely new media or some additional specialist media?
Re the substrate - I will get some live coral sand, but will I have to replace all that I have already or can this just be cleaned and re-used?
I presume that the rocks I have can just be boiled and then used as base rocks ??
The water that I have in there at present is very good, I do a weekly water change and a larger monthly change with the filters being cleaned completely on a regular basis. I have never had any diseases or had to use medication in this tank. Can this water be used or partially used to make up the salt water or will I have to make up another 50+ gallons of RO water ? Once the water has been removed and the tank cleaned, is there anything else I should be doing before starting to fill with water and substrate?
I realise that the above makes me sound like a novice to all this, but I do have over 15 years experience of fishkeeping - I just want to make sure I am doing everything properly and that I don't waste any substrate, rocks, media or equipment that I already have.
Thanks
Jon
I realise that I am going to have to upgrade my lights, buy a skimmer, get some live rock, refractometer, salt, test kits, etc, etc
(I already have an RO unit, oh and one of my filters has a built in UV)
But what is the easiest and most cost effective way of converting this tank over ?
I have been advised that if the filter media is cleaned properly, then that will suffice - is this true or do I need to get completely new media or some additional specialist media?
Re the substrate - I will get some live coral sand, but will I have to replace all that I have already or can this just be cleaned and re-used?
I presume that the rocks I have can just be boiled and then used as base rocks ??
The water that I have in there at present is very good, I do a weekly water change and a larger monthly change with the filters being cleaned completely on a regular basis. I have never had any diseases or had to use medication in this tank. Can this water be used or partially used to make up the salt water or will I have to make up another 50+ gallons of RO water ? Once the water has been removed and the tank cleaned, is there anything else I should be doing before starting to fill with water and substrate?
I realise that the above makes me sound like a novice to all this, but I do have over 15 years experience of fishkeeping - I just want to make sure I am doing everything properly and that I don't waste any substrate, rocks, media or equipment that I already have.
Thanks
Jon