[marciemp]

Hi,
We are changing a tank over from freshwater to saltwater, is there anything special we need to do to clean the old tank out? What about the filters?

We just bought a second hand tank that was being used as a saltwater, then the guy used it temporarily as a freshwater to house some of his baby fish.

There were never any medications used in the tank. It has 2 canister filters that he was using in the freshwater tank.

We want to set it up today, and get our fish moved into it, but I am unsure how clean it needs to be, especially the filters. I will trasfer all of the water, live rock and sand from our mature tank, as well as the filter and protien skimmer. The tank is bigger so we will need to top up the new tank. I am hoping that by transfering the old equiptment, rock and sand, the tank will not cycle again.

Should I clean the filters out that came with the new tank and were being used with freshwater really really well, even sterilize them with salt or boiling water, or would it be best to leave them, just clean thwm out a bit, so the bacteria stays. I am worried that the good bacteria from freshwtaer filtration is different than saltwater. I am also worried about any diseases and such that could be transfered. The tank was healthy, but you never know what could be lurking.
Thanks for any help,
Marcie

72 gallon Fish, inverts, live rock, and a few zoanthids

Hoping to transfer to a 92 gallon corner bow front

[RyanG]

Use vinegar and water to clean the tank. If you want to set it up, I would suggest that you go with a sump/refuge setup. That really is the best way to go.