Converting from a freshwater tank?

[Varanus]

Has anyone here made a supershrimp tank from a tank that was initially used as a freshwater aquarium? That is have they drained the water, replaced it with brackish distilled water after drying the substrate, and introduced supershrimp once conditions stabilized?

I am considering eventually doing this with a 20 gallon tank I have, and want to hear if there are problems I should consider. My main concern would be if the buildup of using tap water for years (even with a ammonia and chlorine remover) in such a tank could leave things in the substrate that would likely harm the supershrimp?

[mike.d]

I did that with my 10 gallon. But I had a planted tank with potting soil under a layer of gravel so I had to replace the substrate too.

I'm not sure what would be left over in rinsed and dried substrate. I thought I read somewhere that chlorine will evaporate from open tap water in a few days. I would think algae would take care of any left over ammonia as well as any that comes in with your sea salt mix.

[i<3Opae]

I’d think if you get healthy algae growth while cycling, the shrimp can handle it.

[Mustafa]

I've done it. My substrate was sand so I didn't even replace it. I didn't even empty the tank. I did something like a 50-60% water change and then slowly added ocean strength saltwater. The bacteria and most algae and biofilm seem to adjust just fine to the higher salinity. The tank was instantly ready and no problems followed at all.

The only "problem" I can imagine is that you may get very extensive algae growth due to the organic material in your substrate and water, but nothing that will kill the shrimp. You'll just have to remove some of the excessive growth or just not feed your tank for the next 4-5 years or more like our member "tooth".