Clay Based Substrate?

[Hammyc]

Hi,

I am very new to keeping a saltwater tank, I used to keep freshwater fishes in this tank and filter(32.5gal and 307 fluval tank/filter if it matters). Moved and haven't touched the tank for 2-3 weeks. Filled it with water and spontaneously bought some live and life rocks from.

The substrate I currently have is the seachem flourite black with a small patch of new sand in the middle.
Should I remove all of them and replace with sand only? Or do you guys think it's fine having it and most likely keeping soft/easier to keep corals.

 

[GillMeister]

Is the substrate something you had in your FW tank?

 

[Hammyc]

Is the substrate something you had in your FW tank?

Yup, and not gonna lie, I got myself a Xenia and leather toadstool and it’s been doing well for the past 3 days well I hope….

 

[GillMeister]

Yup, and not gonna lie, I got myself a Xenia and leather toadstool and it’s been doing well for the past 3 days well I hope….

I usually suggest caution when bringing anything from a FW tank to a marine one. If you had ever dosed meds in the old tank your equipment, substrate, etc.. could gave absorbed it and will release it into your saltwater. The coral you've added might be alive for now but no guarantee they will stay that way. I'd change the substrate to something appropriate for marine tanks.

 

[N.Sreefer]

Were you using planted tank ferts in the aquarium the flourite was in? The root tabs and many of the bottled planted tank fertilizers have a fair amount of copper in them and flourite is designed to attract and bind fertilizer to the substrate. I would ditch it, I imagine it will degrade in saltwater and bind ions you want in the saltwater before breaking down.

 

[Jekyl]

I wouldn't transfer anything from a FW tank to salt. Guessing you used tap water the whole time. That means that all of that copper and other things have attached to the substrate. Start fresh and use only RODI water for best outcome.

 

[Hammyc]

Okay, I thought it would be okay but good thing I asked.
I replaced the substrate with new sand and washed the old filter with tap water.
In the process of adding 4 stage rodi water. Thanks yall!