Setting up my brackish tank

[Madou]

That's a good looking tank and the stocking is spot on, too. Well done

Well thank you!
I'm afraid the scat alone would feel lonely, but I'm not sure, I haven't studied them as much as the others. ;P

 

[Madou]

Alright, time is overdue for an update!

So I now have 4 Tox Jaculatrix, 2 Mono Sebae, 2 Mono Argenteus, 1 Scat Argus, and my new addition, 3 Gymnothorax Tile!

I added Vallisneria Spiralis, as I read they were the most tolerant, so hopefully they are.

My 6 red mangrove are still growing, all of them now have leaves, they're still too small to root into the sand, so they're in a bucket inside the tank.

I know everyone just wants pictures, so here they are.

First of all, the woman that puts up with all my addictions, taking picture of said addiction!

 

[Boomer1224]

nice scat and eel

 

[Mbargas]

I added Vallisneria Spiralis, as I read they were the most tolerant, so hopefully they are.

Vallisneria will do OK in the low salinity range. I have seen Jungle Val doing well along the southern shores of Lake Pontcharrain, and the lower reaches of the St John's River. Both are estuaries in the lower salinity range.

If you plan to raise the salinity into the higher range, you may want to add Turtle Grass, which is similar in appearance to Vallisneria, but it actually prefers the higher salinities that would kill Vallisneria. Minimal salinity 10 ppt (SG 1.0075) optimal 20 to 35 ppt (SG 1.015 to 1.026)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassia_testudinum

 

[Madou]

Vallisneria will do OK in the low salinity range. I have seen Jungle Val doing well along the southern shores of Lake Pontcharrain, and the lower reaches of the St John's River. Both are estuaries in the lower salinity range.

If you plan to raise the salinity into the higher range, you may want to add Turtle Grass, which is similar in appearance to Vallisneria, but it actually prefers the higher salinities that would kill Vallisneria. Minimal salinity 10 ppt (SG 1.0075) optimal 20 to 35 ppt (SG 1.015 to 1.026)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassia_testudinum

That's pretty awesome, even though I don't know how easy it'll be to find.
Sadly I won't be able to find that here, we have nothing but sand and cloudy water in belgium.

 

[J. H.]

We have vals growing all over the Hudson River, and even in places that are full salt when the tide is in. I think they will do fine.
Another thing about vals: if you want them to grow well, you need hard and alkaline water, but I think you would have that in a brackish tank anyway.

 

[Mbargas]

That's pretty awesome, even though I don't know how easy it'll be to find.
Sadly I won't be able to find that here, we have nothing but sand and cloudy water in belgium.

You should be able to order some online. Some marine mail order companies stock them.
Where did you get your mangroves?

 

[Mbargas]

We have vals growing all over the Hudson River, and even in places that are full salt when the tide is in. I think they will do fine.
Another thing about vals: if you want them to grow well, you need hard and alkaline water, but I think you would have that in a brackish tank anyway.

A brief exposure to full salt is OK as long as they get fresher water when the tide goes down.

The difference is that Vallisneria is a freshwater plant with significant salinity tolerance. It actually does better when the salinity is less than 3 ppt. It can tolerate salinities as high as 15 ppt (SG 1.011) for extended periods of time, but it’s growth is significantly inhibited at this higher range:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/24321214?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
On the other hand, Turtle Grass needs these higher salinities to thrive.

 

[Madou]

A brief exposure to full salt is OK as long as they get fresher water when the tide goes down.

The difference is that Vallisneria is a freshwater plant with significant salinity tolerance. It actually does better when the salinity is less than 3 ppt. It can tolerate salinities as high as 15 ppt (SG 1.011) for extended periods of time, but it’s growth is significantly inhibited at this higher range:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/24321214?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
On the other hand, Turtle Grass needs these higher salinities to thrive.

I should be between 1.008 and 1.012. What do you rekon would be the better alternative?

 

[Mbargas]

I should be between 1.008 and 1.012. What do you rekon would be the better alternative?

Tough call. I would try them both, and see which does better.