Can i use my freshwater tank to start a new marine project?

[macdreamy]

Hi guys

looking for some sound advices here

i've a tank i used for planted setup

wonder if i could utilise the tank for a marine setup

the tank is 2ft x 1.5 x 1.5 crystal glass 5mm

thks in advance for any advices

[tansh]

Hi guys

looking for some sound advices here

i've a tank i used for planted setup

wonder if i could utilise the tank for a marine setup

the tank is 2ft x 1.5 x 1.5 crystal glass 5mm

thks in advance for any advices

I suggest go for min 8mm thickness for the size of tank.For long run worry that ur tank might give way or leaking.

[Solo77]

Bro, is possible but selection of equipment is important and less loading to ur tank.

[macdreamy]

Bro, is possible but selection of equipment is important and less loading to ur tank.

thks for the advices

mind if you can elaborate?

[Solo77]

Bro, yr tank will be using canister as filter? As salt water is denser,, hence pressure on the tank will be higher. That is why ppl advice u to go for at least 8 mm as 5 mm looks and feels fragile. To minimize the pressure, yr rock and equipment should go for light and not too much pressure to yr tank. Hope this help.

[DUCADOS]

Up for all the above bro who contributed...

Yes... Thinkness of glass in reefing is very important!

Tank is a heavy thing so safety is always the priority...

[macdreamy]

Icic

Planning to use a overflow siphon to sump with existing tank as it'll be quite impossible to drill holes in existing tank

I do have an option of going for 10mm tank but asahi glass so the clarity wise will be compromised

Any opinions on the overflow siphon system?

[Solo77]

I presume u are talking abt overflow box. Think u can chk out reef octopus or aquamarin for their ready made overflow system. As this is hang on, pressure on yr glass.

[xaine]

5mm is still possible, just have to take caution. Does your tank have bracing ? It does help, if there is.

As Solo77 has mentioned, having a hangon overflow box does add stress at the mounting point. One other means is to build your own PVC overflow pipe, using the pipe, you can find support in some resting points, thus reducing the pressure on the tank walls.

[tunicate]

Bro linus,

It's important to ask yourself: "Will I be able to sleep well at night knowing it may crack open dumping 127L of salt water over the floor?"

I've said this, & I'm going to say it again. My cousin converted his arowana tank to marine & had it cracked open in the middle of the night a few weeks later. He lost the tank, live stocks, water, carpet. Suffice to say, no one in the family slept that night.

What don't you sell your current tank in a fresh water aquarium forum, and do this from a clean slate. Then you can really plan this out the way you want it. No need to compromise.

[macdreamy]

I'm grateful to all advices received

Think I probably will head for the 10mm asahi glass

The thought of tank cracking and falling apart is really disturbing

But the overflow box is the next best thing to not drill a hole in glass

I ever thought of going the easy way, using canister and no skimmer

But realizing if things were done in the proper way, results will show

So sump is the plans along with a skimmer

As this is a virgin trip to the marine world, there are some concerns in water sources and other elements of water along the journey

Having said this much, I appreciate all input of useful information guiding me in my journey

[Solo77]

Bro, a skimmer is not a must but most will recommend. If u are keepin little or no fishes, then u will have very low bio load and can go skimmer-less with regular water chge. A sump is good but not necessary. Bro hammy used to keep a 2ft cube tank without sump and was successful in keeping spses. He uses Deltec mce600 as skimmer. He adopted sandless bed and siphon out waste regular. Therefore, u can consider than. There is always risk in keeping marine and one got to prepare for it. What we can do is to try our best to build in measures but thing still fails at times. If u need tour guide to see see look look setup, can arrange. Lol.

[macdreamy]

Thks solo77

Hope the chiller is serving you well?

[Solo77]

Hehe. Tested once. Hasn't connect, planning this week. Got an external controller with external probe to control it so that can set higher temp and not limit to just 27. How's ur planning so far, need help, can contact me and will try to assist.

[BFG]

5mm definitely cannot support. When you fill it with saltwater, you will see that the glass pane will bow. Just a matter of time for either the silicone will give way or the glass pane will develop a crack. The final situation in this scenario is a wet floor. Best thing to do now is to do more research and saved up while doing so. This is not a race and there are no finishing point. Myself had saved up for 2 years before getting into this hobby.

[macdreamy]

bro solo77, still in the mist of drawing up a plan for all the necessities, no hurry on my end

been patient since my planted days have given me lessons

bro BFG, im going for a 10mm new tank for new setup now that i know 5mm cant support

its not really about saving but pondering about the direction this setup is going

[BFG]

For everything else, safety is of the utmost importance.

[straydum]

5mm definitely cannot support. When you fill it with saltwater, you will see that the glass pane will bow. Just a matter of time for either the silicone will give way or the glass pane will develop a crack. The final situation in this scenario is a wet floor. Best thing to do now is to do more research and saved up while doing so. This is not a race and there are no finishing point. Myself had saved up for 2 years before getting into this hobby.

my tank is made of 5mm crystal glass and it hasn't caused any problems. the tank maker, n30 also gives a 5 year warranty and base on their works in marine tanks i do trust them. having said that my tank is only a 60x30x36cm tank. larger tanks would definitely need thicker glass of more than 5mm.

as for the original question on freshwater to salt, i did the same thing when i started.

took down my freshwater tank, added a sump, changed the lights, added a skimmer etc. if i could go back then and redo it i would have went for a larger sump straight away to house more equipments that will eventually be necessary. having a good skimmer at the start saves one the process and money of upgrading later on. extra space in the sump that may seem excessive at first is always better then not having any space later on. the increased total volume is also not a bad thing. as for the overflow, i would personally have more ease with a drilled overflow then a overflow box/pipe based on my experience with them failing