Weekly water changes, constant water testing, replacing vho lighting, adding supplements are only some of the elements that go into a successful saltwater fish tank. Needless to say, a lot of dedication and time are required to keep up with the needs of your fish tank. That being said, more and more people are opting to convert their saltwater tanks to freshwater. This can easily be done if you follow these simple straightforward steps.
1. Siphon the existing gravel in the tank. Take out as much of the debris in the sand as possible. You want to do this to minimize the mess later. Besides it is best if you replace the substrate with a new type.
2. Empty the water from the tank. Remove as much saltwater as possible.
3. Remove any rock, coral, or other decorations in the tank. If you have “live rock” set it out in the sun and wait until it turns white. You can use it in the new setup if you are planning on keeping cichlids or any other fish that likes a high pH (i.e. 8.3)
4. Remove as much of the substrate as possible. The best tool to use is a plastic dustpan. It makes it easy to remove the sand by scooping it out, like you would if using a shovel. A net works too, but it has a tendency to bend, and the weight will cause the mesh to rip.
5. Once the tank is empty, fill it with freshwater from the garden hose, and empty it using the siphon. Repeat this process 2-3 times to make sure there is no residual salt in the tank. The other option (if you can lift it) is to take it outside and rinse the tank out.
6. Once the tank is clean. Fill it with freshwater, dechlorinate the water with a good product, I use Seachem Prime, and fire up the filter.
7. Add the decorations, new gravel, bubbling treasure chest, etc.
8. Add one or two fish once the temperature is stabilized. A good rule of thumb is to wait about 24 hours before adding the first fish.
9. Watch the fish for about two weeks, if it isn’t showing signs of stress (e.g. resting in a corner, breathing fast, red streaks in their fins, or anything out of the ordinary) then go ahead and add more fish.
AUTOPOST by BEDEWY VISIT GAHZLY
