Hi Gav

I have not been on this group for a long time since setting up my marine
aquarium some 6 years ago. So I don't know what info you have had in the
past. my best advice is to first go to the library read a couple of books
on marine aquariums. It is a lot more difficult than tropical but worth the
hassle of setup. I have a 190 litre aquarium now, but started with a 30
gallon hexagon, but it was way to small to keep the water stable. I have a
yellow tang that I have had 5 years so make sure of the fish you eventually
want and don't fill it with to many beginners fish like damsels that will
fight with everything. (my aquarium store wont buy back damsels or anything
else so if you cycle with damsels make sure they will take them back if you
don't want them.

The fill a tank with salt water is not good enough for marine fish. You
have to have the water balanced. Even using the instructions on the packet
of marine salt, especially for marine fish will not be ok without testing
the water to make sure you have the right amount of salt to water. Too much
salt will mean diluting it down and may be throwing it away is expensive,
It has to be tested with a hydrometer, as stated below to get the specific
gravity correct. If you are in an area where they add chlorine to the water
or it is not really safe water it is best to add a water neutraliser to be
on the safe side as this will also help your fish.

You will need a test kit for nitrite N02, which will rise as your system
(TankWater) starts to cycle. This rises to a peak and then as the good
bacteria breed this will start to fall and you will start to get Nitrate in
the water. If you have not done this before it is best to read about it in
a book first or get advice from a news group like this one.

It is possible to cycle a tank without putting in fish, The fist time I did
it it was with 2 damsel fish, but this was a not a good thing as they fight
constantly and seem to live forever, so if you have a small tank don't put
too many in.

The second way is to cycle using frozen marine food. Put 1/4 frozen block
on day one, day 4, day 6, and as the food goes off it changes to ammonia
then to nitrite and then nitrate and finally all tests for Ammonia, nitrite
and nitrate will be 0 and you can add fish. Takes about 17 days this way.

Equipment

Test kit Esha do a 5 in one test strip which will save money at first you
need to test for
Nitrite N02, Nitrate N03, ph, the Esher product tests for 5 things.
Marine Salt
Water neutraliser
Marine Lights
Heater
Temperature strip
Thermometer to test water when making it up, before topping up aquarium.
hydrometer
Coral sand
Powerheads to add extra air and water flow
Canister filter, and media to fill it.
back drop


if you can afford it later

Live rock (I would put some of this in at first if youmcan afford it. helps
with water quality.
Skimmer.

Hope this helps Gav

By for now






"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message
...
Give the canister filter a quick cleaning to get the dirt out, but leave
the beneficial bacteria in (it will cycle faster)Then flush with aquarium
water if you used chlorinated water to clean. Get rid of the water and
gravel. Put a calcium sand in the bottom of the tank, and add salt water.
After 24 hours you can add some live rock.
You will also need a hydrometer. You will eventualy want to get a protein
skimmer.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Gav wrote on 5/2/2006 11:09 AM:
how would i go about converting my tropical tank to a marine tank, i want
to keep fish and invertibrates (i think) or would you recomend a
learner's setup to get my hand in with marine environments.

i have currently tank approx 4"x2"x2" on a fairly large cabinet, it is
open topped with a suspended light(which will need replacing as it is not
big enough for tank) heater and external cannister filter.

could any one give me a list of items i will need and also items that are
not essential but help

many thanks

gav