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Possibly converting 90 gallon saltwater to freshwater

Discussion in 'Freshwater General Discussion' started by NoctuVide, May 21, 2009.

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  1. NoctuVide

    NoctuVide Thread Starter Member

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    This 90 gallon reef I've been working on has been absolutely nothing but one big headache. I lost every fish I've put in it, including the fish to take care of hair algae (Kole Tang and Algae Blenny), which is now running rampant in the tank. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the live rock, but I'm going to bring the coral back to my lfs, clean out the whole tank, and change it over to freshwater. I'm thinking of either trying out discus or more african cichlids. Anyone have any idea if the 4 t5's would be to bright for a discus tank if I change the blues over to full spectrum?
    Saltwater is just not for me....
     
    NoctuVide, May 21, 2009
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  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    How many T5's are over the tank ?
     
    Anthony, May 21, 2009
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  3. NoctuVide

    NoctuVide Thread Starter Member

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    it's a 4 t5 light fixture by current.
     
    NoctuVide, May 21, 2009
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  4. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    If you put two actinic bulbs in and two full spectrum bulbs it may be okay for the Discus'. African's wouldn't mind the bright light.
     
    Anthony, May 21, 2009
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  5. NoctuVide

    NoctuVide Thread Starter Member

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    hmmm, that might work. Would the actincs make the tank and discus look funky at all being that it's a blue light?
     
    NoctuVide, May 21, 2009
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  6. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    No, I wouldn't think so. If anything they should make their colors pop a bit.
     
    Anthony, May 21, 2009
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  7. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Discus dont really like a lot of light.... keep that in mind and antics do nothing for plants if you want to add them...
     
    LemonDiscus, May 21, 2009
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  8. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Just to clarify what I am saying. If you pick to do Discus stay away from a high-tech, high-light planted tank... you are equipt to switch to that with ease... but dont... too much light... I only normally now run 65 watts on my 125 with 2 6500K t-8 bulbs... I am using the other 4 (takes me up to 208 watts) when company is over and I am showing off the tank....

    The Discus get uncomfortable when I crank up my lights... I can tell... Most others cant...
     
    LemonDiscus, May 21, 2009
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  9. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Actinic bulbs don't really add much light to a tank, so I don't think using them would be a problem. Even if it were 3 actinics and one 6700 bulb.
     
    Anthony, May 21, 2009
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  10. NoctuVide

    NoctuVide Thread Starter Member

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    What I was just thinking I might do if I do discus, I have a double t5 fixture on my planted community tank. I might just switch the lighting so that I have a higher amount of light on the planted and put the double t5 on the discus tank. would that work?
     
    NoctuVide, May 21, 2009
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  11. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Possibly... The antics will help with color... BUT it still may be too much... trust me, be leary of too much light on Discus....
     
    LemonDiscus, May 21, 2009
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  12. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    That may be a better choice.
     
    Anthony, May 21, 2009
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  13. NoctuVide

    NoctuVide Thread Starter Member

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    Thanks for the info...I'll definitely keep everyone up to date with whatever I end up doing. I figured I'd just use the sump as extra water flow in the tank when I switch it over
     
    NoctuVide, May 21, 2009
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  14. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    A freshwater sump will work out fine. :D
     
    Anthony, May 21, 2009
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  15. NoctuVide

    NoctuVide Thread Starter Member

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    would I still run all the equipment in the sump (heater, canister filter when I get one) or would I set it up like my other tanks and just use the sump for the extra water?
     
    NoctuVide, May 22, 2009
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  16. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    The sump could be used as a filter still... you have to change the media inside of it. Instead of running live rock in the sump, you would have bio-balls or something like that. Yes that is another bonus to the sump is you can still hide most of your stuff in it.

    Be careful if you pick Discus putting ALL heaters in the sump... I would still keep 1 in the tank for safe measures... Discus mean extra heaters (I have 3 on my 125 and recommend the same for you with that 90 (2 in the sump, 1 in tank).
     
    LemonDiscus, May 22, 2009
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  17. NoctuVide

    NoctuVide Thread Starter Member

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    would the 3 basically be for backup or to make sure the water is constantly in the 80's?
     
    NoctuVide, May 22, 2009
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  18. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    I run all 3 for both reasons... You will loose heaters more often trying to hold that higher temp. Also it is harder for 2 heaters to hold it and impossible for 1 to hold mid 80's in a tank that size.

    The plus to having the extra heaters is if 1 does go out things will be OK til you get another one.

    I have lost about 4 heaters in the 1-2 years I had this tank up. Even expensive ones die when they are running at full throttle..
     
    LemonDiscus, May 22, 2009
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  19. NoctuVide

    NoctuVide Thread Starter Member

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    also the sump is very simple. It's just basically a 20 gallon long tank, the water pump, live rock (right now) and the tube running from the overflow. I'd obviously put the bio balls in the sump, but what would I use for actual filtration? Some sort of filter floss over the overflow tube or should I use a canister of some sort for that part of filtration?
     
    NoctuVide, May 22, 2009
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  20. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Sumps suck at polishing water but are GREAT for biological filtration... I would run a canister to polish the water still in addition.

    You need to divide the sump into 2 sections... 1 to hold the bio balls and the other for the return pump. The overflow pours over the top of the bioballs, you could even put the filter floss under all the bioballs and then the water goes UNDER the divider (so you DONT silicone the plexiglass divider all the way to the bottom... leave an inch or a bit less for water to flow under)

    Look up "Freshwater Sump Design" and you should get some images detailing what I mean.
     
    LemonDiscus, May 22, 2009
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