55 gallon FW to SW

[Redspotter]

Hi,

I'm trying to find some information about turning a 55 gallon freshwater tank into and SWtank for a friend of mine.
The main puffer would be a ceylon, would it be possible to put in SW fish when the ceylon is on full marine?
I was thinking to put some mollies in with the puffer to get her get used to other fish. Good idea?

What types of filtering do you guys have on your marine tanks?
At the moment there is a cannister filter on it, life rock will be put in the tank later on (highter salitiny) would this be working or not?

I know ceylons aren't reef safe but are there some corals that can survive with normal tl light and a puffer around, probably it's depending of the puffer.
Is it maybe possible to put in a second ceylon or is that an absolute no.

thanks

[crazedpuffer]

Yes you can keep other fish with it when it goes full marine, adding mollies for now would probably be a good idea, so you know how it will act with other fish (or at least have an idea)
As for filtration, a protein skimmer is needed. Remora is a good brand of skimmer, and I hear octopus skimmers are good too.
You could probably keep mushrooms or something with the ceylon, but it has a nice chance of becoming food.
Also 2 ceylons would be pushing it in that tank, and they could be aggressive.

[Pufferpunk]

What I did with my GSPs ,was start in BW & slowly (during the span of 2-3 years) raise the SG to SW & switch over the HOB/cannister filtration to live rock/skimmer. I left all the FW filtration on the system, until it was in full SW.

[Idontknow]

PP, would your advice for GSPs from your article apply to Ceylons as well?

"I suggest keeping GSPs in low-end brackish water when juvenile <2", (in a specific gravity, or SG of 1.005-10, at 2-4", medium BW (SG 1.010-15) and adult >4″ SW (SG 1.018-22)."

[Pufferpunk]

Exactly.

[MMaddox]

You'll want a skimmer, and good water movement, and preferably live rock when it's fully marine. See http://www.wetwebmedia.com for all the information you'll need!

[Redspotter]

Thanks for all the replies.
There is been a bit change of plans. The friend I was talking about was still a bit in doubt by changing her community tank into brackish. She decided to not go to brackish.

But the little puffer has already stolen my hearth, so this means she will come and life with me.
I have an 30 gallon tank ready for her. She's only about 2 inch so I believe this should be fine, hoping on getting a real marine tank with sump and everything somewhere next year.

I'm trying to find as much information as possible, but I have to say that all the technical stuff around seawater is a bit frighting.

Can you tell me a bit about the skimmers you have, I've seen ones with airstones and with a motor, venturi and needle rad or something like that?
I'm not really planning on keeping corals or stuff, maybe something that's easy to keep. But a reverse osmoses is this necessary?

I'm a bit nervous because I never wanted to go near seawater, but little puffer eyes just do the trick