fw-sw question

[nycfatcow]

hows it going guys its been a while since i posted but i was thinking about buying a nano cube for a FW tank.. yes yes i know MR is strictly SW but thats all i can do right now...

The question i wanted to ask is i am about to buy a 12g jbj for a planted freshwater tank... the filteration thats built into it....do i have to rebuy the cartridges or anything? since they were once submerged into salt? is there anything i need to replace since im going freshwater with equipment that was meant for fresh? media?sponges?

 

[FRY]

you shouldn't have to change anything but i would use a piece of filter floss on top of the sponge as your first stage of the filter

 

[Awibrandy]

you shouldn't have to change anything but i would use a piece of filter floss on top of the sponge as your first stage of the filter

:fish:"DITTO":fish:​

 

[qckwzrd]

I wouldn't use any of the media if its been used in a salt or freshwater tank. Just use new media all together. Fresh start

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

put some salt water in it and call it a mini reef. :sad2:

 

[Davidl919]

If your planning on introducing fishes I would also advise changing the media. Rinsing it might not be a good idea because you have to make sure you don't have any salt build up on the media. Salt will destroy their gills. But if you decide to run just plants then it should be no problem.

 

[KathyC]

I need to butt in here...there are many FW fish that don't mind some salt in their water, and quite a few that require it added to the tank (not salt mix..), and yes there are also some that cannot have salt at all
The plants WILL die if they are exposed to salt in the water.

What type of FW fish are you looking to put in this tank Cow?


...and from what I've seen, quite a few members here also have FW tanks..I have 6 in addition to my 2 SW tanks.. you're still in good company

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Yo dude on a slightly off topic tangent how are you feeling?

 

[qckwzrd]

I have three freshwater tanks, killifish, lungfish and a planted tank with different types of freshwater shrimps. I dont see the need in keeping the old media can't use the beneficial bacteria and if any of it has carbon in it you would be better off changing it for new ones. If there is salt on the media you would want to change it anyway because you cant measure how much salt is on it even if you are putting fish that like or could use a lil. And a lil salt wont kill all plants ie Java moss or Anubias nana

 

[nycfatcow]

haha thanks for all the input guys... first off i have to ask... i have no clue how the 12g jbj is set up but... what media does it use? does it have specific cartridges? otherwise i mite just not use any media at all except a sponge... i dont really like carbon and all that stuff... along killing all the bad bacteria it all elimiates all the good bateria as well.... maybe some ammonia chips of some sort? im planning on to plan this tank out with some easy plants and a nice branchy piece of driftwood with a school of cardinal tetras

 

[nycfatcow]

Yo dude on a slightly off topic tangent how are you feeling?

Im feeling great...thanks for the concerns chief... i should be fully healed... took meds for a freaken year... that wasnt fun:grumpy:

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Glad to hear that you're doing better From what you said the meds were freakin strong too so they shoulda kicked the sh!te out of it. Nice to see you back.

 

[nycfatcow]

haha thanks...yeh they did but i kept strong... tried to do everything i could...played a lot of sports and ran around and stuff haha

 

[qckwzrd]

Cardinals are pretty but they like to school and do better in groups of 6 or more and they can't do too much schooling in a 12 gallon tank. I would put them in atleast a 20 long. I would go with maybe a few pair of killies, guppies or even a pr of blue rams. As far as plants different types of moss (java, christmas) would do well and you can tie some java fern to the drift wood as well. Add some red cherry shrimp and some malaysian trumpet snails. Good luck, be sure to post pics when your done

 

[nycfatcow]

really? cardinals are tiny...they rarely exceed 2 inches or even 1.5 inches... with a planted tank i was planning on in geting 10 of em? you think the bio load will be too much?

 

[qckwzrd]

bio load wont be too much, its just that they would do and look much better in a long tank. cardinals, neons, harlequin rasbora, ect. They love being in groups and being in loooong tanks. You can get fish with the same colors (if not better) that would do great in the size tank you want to do.