Marine To Tropical Conversion?

[Marto666]

Marine to tropical conversion?

I have a feeling the second-hand tank I am having a look at tonight is currently a marine tank due to it currently using sand rather than gravel. (Do tropical tanks have sand?)

Is it possible to convert a marine tank to tropical or would it need new filters etc?

Would running a marine tank be a kiss of death for a complete novice?

Thanks again

 

[pompeydaz]

Just a quick one as don't know the other answers but yes you can have sand in tropical tanks

 

[Marto666]

Thanks pompeydaz, so it is quite possible it could be a Tropical tank.

I only questioned this as a colleague thought you could only have sand in a marine tank but this obviously not the case.

Thanks again

 

[KittyKat]

Freshwater tanks often have sand.

It is not difficult to convert marine to freshwater (my current display tank is ex-marine), depending on what equipment they have, you should be able to reuse it.. unless they didn't do any filtration, in which case you need a new filter.

I personally don't think there is any difference in difficulty, they're just different, but freshwater fish tend to survive ignorance better than marine creatures.

 

[Marto666]

Thanks Kitty Kat

I was always under the impression that marine tanks were difficult to maintain but its good to hear there is not a great deal of difference.

What is the difference between freshwater and tropical tanks? Do freshwater not need heaters?

Cheers

 

[jkilby]

Thanks pompeydaz, so it is quite possible it could be a Tropical tank.

I only questioned this as a colleague thought you could only have sand in a marine tank but this obviously not the case.

Thanks again

It depends on the 'sand', if it is actual sand then yes it can be freshwater (I have silca sand in my tank), some marine sands contain crushed shells and things like that which would effect water chemistry.