How do I convert a 5 gallon freshwater tank to a saltwater tank?

Question

I know there's nothing different unless I want to get elaborate with filters and skimmers, but does anyone have suggestions on how to clean it out? I'm planning on using a sandy bottom with live rock. I know it's small, but it's just going to be for my poor cleaner shrimp.

Answer 1

When I saw "5 gallon" I was glad to see you're only planning to keep a shrimp. I have a 10 gallon quarantine with live rock, an emerald crab and peppermint shrimp, a variety of snails and some hermits. Since I do regular (weekly) water changes, all I use is a hang-on filter and a powerhead. For a 5 gallon, you can probably get away with just a filter if the shimp is all you'll have in it.

I would just do 20% water changes with a gravel vacuum. If you have a small powerhead, you can use it to blow water in and around the live rock so any debris gets washed out to where you can use the gravel vac to siphon it away.

Answer 2

set it up with live sand and 2-3 lbs live rock, add a pound or so a week until you have at least 5-10lbs. this will really help with filtration. you will be fine in a tank that size with regular HOB power filter. you should get a small heater i think like 25 watts or so. i would use the live rock and cycle with it. then add your shrimp when its done cycling. its going to be hard to keep the salinity in check in that small a tank. i would check the salt levels almost daily.
just change out 1 gallon max when your nitrates get above 10ppm or so. keep ph up high, around 8.3 is good
salinity 1.022-1.026
you really dont do any cleaning other than filter maintenance and water changes when needed.

Answer 3

If its your first tank do not DO NOT start with a 5 gallon. If you are starting out its best suggested that you get the biggest tank you can afford. In a big tank theres more room for mistakes. In 5 gallons (nanos/picos) you cant stock it the way you may want to and one mistake it will crash. So for starter tank you should really i suggest start around 35-55g the bigger the better! good luck and do a lot of research because this is not an easy hobby and certainly not cheap!

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LOL read the question wrong Just make a refgium in your main tank. There are hang on ones you can buy for like 30 bucks. that come with a mini power head.

Answer 4

somewhat the only element you may desire from the freshwater tank is the aquarium, and it has to have in no way had any copper uncovered to it (that's in an incredible variety of drugs for treating fish). you have have been given to purchase stay rock ($5-$12/lb finding on the place you purchase it, you like a million/lb in line with gallon on the least), stay sand ($20-$40 for 20lbs, a million/lb in line with gallon is a mind-blowing purpose right here), lighting fixtures in case you like corals (there are various judgements, could prefer to connect a saltwater talk board and initiate getting to know, ReefCentral is a mind-blowing selection). The tank might desire to be cycled until now including fish, which could take an incredible variety of time. there are an incredible variety of issues to purchase for the tank. I surely have quite a few thousand invested in my ninety gallon reef. you like an RO/DI unit to boot to purify water, as faucet water is terrible for the fish. i could actually initiate getting to know on boards while you're pondering it. it somewhat is an incredible variety of artwork, yet interior the top that is going to pay off. My tank calls for little maintence now and has been setup for virtually a 365 days.

Answer 5

Unless you're adding corals, you shouldn't need anything new (save for the salt and additives/supplements). If you're already caring for a cleaner shrimp, you're probably already familiar with what it takes to maintain marine aquariums.

I always gave my marine tanks extra time to cycle because unless you've got strong lighting over your tank, there may be a lot of die-off from your live rock.

Answer 6

add salt