Converting 70 gallon tank from fw to sw

http://www.melevsreef.com/overview.htm

Read that before you buy a book.. lots of books aren't all that great but I
do not know anything about the one mentioned in the other response. I have
just found that getting advice here.. well actually on the reefs group where
I hang out, but this one would work too.. is better than books. There is no
such thing as a self sustaining reef or marine tank.. I have kept freshwater
for more than 30 years, got into marine a year ago. Throw almost everything
you know out the window except cycling processes..
If you want all the *colorful rock* etc, if you mean more than just live
rock, which is very colorful if it's got corraline in the pinks reds and
purples, sometimes blue-ish.. it's very pretty.. but you are probably
thinking of reef tanks you have seen with all the gorgeous corals in every
color you can imagine. A new lighting system would be a must for that and on
a 70 gallon tank, you're looking at well over $500 for something adequate to
support most corals. Sun coming in through a window will do nothing but
promote algae growth.
You would not want to change out that much water (half) at one time in a
sal****er tank, even just once a month. It's really not needed at all unless
you need to bring a problem under control, such as ammonia. You could use
your whisper filters if you take out the pads and just use the whisper for
water circulation.. I use them but keep the pads out except about once every
couple weeks I stick them back in, stir up the substrate a bit (crushed
coral..) and let it filter out, then take the pads back out. It is a little
more complicated than just a 1 2 3 step kind of thing! You first need to
decide what you want to do.. if you just want fish and live rock (live rock
is a great filter..) or if you want a reef tank or a combination, in which
case you need to be sure your critters are reef safe and won't snack on a
coral in the tank that you just spent $50 on..
Anyway.. go read that link first.. it's a great overview written by someone
on the reef newsgroup after Finding Nemo came out...

Teeb


"Kathy Moon" wrote in message
om...
Hello!

I've kept an aquarium for years. I started with a ten gallon filled
with guppies. Blah, Blah, Blah.... I now have a 70 gallon with
Irridescents and believe it or not, goldfish. I had 2 "worms" that
decided to commit suicide... no matter how tightly I sealed the top,
they managed to find a way out...

At any rate, I'd like to know how to convert this tank (in plain
english please ie: step 1: step2: step3: )

I would like to wind up with one that is as self sustaining as
possible. I know thats a fantasy, but with as minimal amount of
maintenance as is possible.

The sw aquariums that I have seen in the past are absolutely beautiful
with wonderful fish and "rock" colors that just can not be duplicated
in a fw aquarium.

The specifics:
The aquarium is in my living room. It can be placed 2ft to the E side
of a South facing window, or 12ft to the N of the same south facing
window. The window has light filtering blinds, but are not black out
blinds. In either spot, indirect sun is almost all day, with first
location getting the minimal amount from the side rather than the
front.
The aquarium has a solid cover (two lamps versus one long that I
seldom ever turn on) with "holes" for filteration system in back
(currently using two whisper 60's) I use a submergible heater, that
for yr's now has been very accurate)
About once a month, I use a python to remove about 1/2 the water and
replace. Both filters (charcoal) are changed monthly. I use about 2
T's aquarium salt every couple months with water change and StartRight
with every water change.

Thanks for any help!