Fresh to salt conversion

What's up everyone ? I just have a few questions. I want to convert my 120 to saltwater. It is going to be a fish only tank. I currently have a 35 salt but fish are getting to big. I used live rock and sand to cycle but dont want to put it in new tank. What is the best way to cycle without. Also, is a skimmer a must for a fish only tank, and would my current rena xp3 along with my magnum 350 with bio wheel be enough filtration, also have a penguin 330 I could put in. Thanks for your advice.

 

Live rock is provides best filtration you can buy.

But of course, if you have LR, you have a "reef." :-/

 

Yup, and it's going to cost you so think about it. 120 gallons x 1.5 lbs/g x $6.00/lb if you just buy live rock = a lot of money. There are those who buy "dead rock" and then seed it with live rock. Oh, and you will need live sand. And it cannot be just any old sand. It needs buffering capacity. But there are cost effective ways of doing this as well. OmarD had a good suggestion in another thread here today on that subject.

Don't get me wrong. It is worth it. Just be really, really aware of the costs involved.

Lighting......Skimmer........Fuge..........etc.

 

And BTW, I am not trying to be a negative Nancy, you are just starting to upgrade. Once you go fish only, you may want live rock, then upgrade further to a reef. All the while you find ya have to repurchase equipement.

That happened to me with lighting. Big time.

 

If you dont want to put rock or sand from the other tank into the new one the best way IMO to cycle a tank is a shrimp tail. Just toss it in and let it start to break down. A skimmer isnt a must have with a fish only tank but wouldnt be a bad idea but not a must at this point. Those three filters would probably do the job for now, good luck and let us know how its going.

 

IME with that filtration and no skimmer you will have a constant nitrate problem. You have nothing removing nutrients.

 

I ran plenty of fish only tanks with cannister filters over the years and never had a problem with nitrates. Lots of chambers for your different media, just make sure you keep the pre filters clean and you should be good for now with your fish only tank.