I want to start a 40g brackish tank.I have a lid, filter, heater, undergravel filters, lots of fake plants, gravel, and a big cave.How much marine salt do I need?I think all I need to get is marine salt and hydrometer because I already have Ph probe.What do I need and how much money are we talking?I live in sacramento, were around here can I get brackish fish like dragon gobies, silver monos, spotted/figure 8 puffers, scats, ect???I know sand is better than gravel but can I just use gravel?I don't want to get them online because shipping cost more than the fish. Thanks for your help.P.S. what fish in this list can go brackish?Peacock eel, kuhli loach, dino bichir, rainbow fish.
I want to start a brackish tank!What do I need?
- Thread starter reptileguy112
- Start date
My opinion (based solely on my experience only):
Substrate depends on what look you want PLUS what fish you get. Dragon goby will do better in sand because that's how it eats is sifting sand in its mouth and getting food from the sand.
Undergravel filters are good depending on your preference. I've not tried under gravel with sand though.
Decor: Again personal preference just do research on whatever type of fish you are getting and see what that typical fish needs. Some may like caves other may hate caves and love plants.
As far as what you need, you have the majority of the basics. Just take your time and research all your fish before purchasing (I've jumped the gun plenty of times) and get fish that live together (attitudes plus tank conditions).
As far as salt, I just buy a big bucket of marine salt and that's last me awhile. It will last me even longer now since my new tank doesn't require much salt as my lionfish did.
As far as keeping tabs on everything. Heater, thermometer, water test kits (strips if nothing else is available), and something to test the salinty. Just remember (because I forget often) with brackish as water evaporates salinty sometimes raises so keep a check during those times.
Hope this helps, I'll try to check back soon to see if you've responded. To kinda give you an idea of what all can go together. I researched for days until I found several fish that share common ph, temp, salinty, and attitudes and they will be in my freshly cycled 55gallon brackish.
List:
Dragon goby
Bumblebee goby
Orange and/or Red Chromide
and Wrestling Halfbreak
Just to start my tank...
Substrate depends on what look you want PLUS what fish you get. Dragon goby will do better in sand because that's how it eats is sifting sand in its mouth and getting food from the sand.
Undergravel filters are good depending on your preference. I've not tried under gravel with sand though.
Decor: Again personal preference just do research on whatever type of fish you are getting and see what that typical fish needs. Some may like caves other may hate caves and love plants.
As far as what you need, you have the majority of the basics. Just take your time and research all your fish before purchasing (I've jumped the gun plenty of times) and get fish that live together (attitudes plus tank conditions).
As far as salt, I just buy a big bucket of marine salt and that's last me awhile. It will last me even longer now since my new tank doesn't require much salt as my lionfish did.
As far as keeping tabs on everything. Heater, thermometer, water test kits (strips if nothing else is available), and something to test the salinty. Just remember (because I forget often) with brackish as water evaporates salinty sometimes raises so keep a check during those times.
Hope this helps, I'll try to check back soon to see if you've responded. To kinda give you an idea of what all can go together. I researched for days until I found several fish that share common ph, temp, salinty, and attitudes and they will be in my freshly cycled 55gallon brackish.
List:
Dragon goby
Bumblebee goby
Orange and/or Red Chromide
and Wrestling Halfbreak
Just to start my tank...
One of the better pages about Brackish fish and tanks that I've found.
http://brackishfaq.webspace.virginmedia.com/Projects/brackishfaq.html
Hope that helps.
http://brackishfaq.webspace.virginmedia.com/Projects/brackishfaq.html
Hope that helps.
+1 Product's posts.
There is a huge amount of fish that can go in your tank. But beware many brackish fish get enormous. Also, pH requirements dictate the substrate (crushed coral yields higher pH). Temp can vary greatly between species. Scats, monos, archers, dragon gobies, Columbian catfish and target fish get pretty large. Some of those are active swimmers and predators. Some require a reasonably stable salinity and some migrate over time. As Prodigy said, research is absolutely imperative.
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There is a huge amount of fish that can go in your tank. But beware many brackish fish get enormous. Also, pH requirements dictate the substrate (crushed coral yields higher pH). Temp can vary greatly between species. Scats, monos, archers, dragon gobies, Columbian catfish and target fish get pretty large. Some of those are active swimmers and predators. Some require a reasonably stable salinity and some migrate over time. As Prodigy said, research is absolutely imperative.
Sent from my C771 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
I decided that I don't want one in my big tank any more, any suggestions for a 20g?P.S. I put 2 angels, 13 neon tetras, 5 neon swordtails, 1 kissing gourami, 2 blue rams, 3 long finned skirt tetras, 2 plecos (one 4 inch one 8 inch), a peacock eel, and a kuhli loach.
For a 20gal
..
Platys -SG<1.005
Guppies -SG<1.005 Can go much denser with care (there are reports of marine guppies in aquaria)
Mollies -SG 1.005 to 1.025 (Though I would avoid P. latipinna and P. velifera due to size and male aggression)
Bumblebee Gobies -SG should be about 1.004. (80-85 degrees)
Knight Gobies -SG 1.002 to 1.008
{I also recommend other small gobies, but due to availability and the countless number of gobies, I wont list them.}
Golden wonder killifish - SG<1.005
American flagfish - SG<1.005 (Sub-tropical)
Wrestling Halfbeak - SG 1.005
Stay away from targetfish, monos, archers, scats, Columbian shark catfish, dragon gobies, most rainbowfish, datnoides and most puffers.
This is very generic. Also, the temperment of the above fish may not necessarily allow for a community environment or cohabitation in some cases. Research, research, research....
Platys -SG<1.005
Guppies -SG<1.005 Can go much denser with care (there are reports of marine guppies in aquaria)
Mollies -SG 1.005 to 1.025 (Though I would avoid P. latipinna and P. velifera due to size and male aggression)
Bumblebee Gobies -SG should be about 1.004. (80-85 degrees)
Knight Gobies -SG 1.002 to 1.008
{I also recommend other small gobies, but due to availability and the countless number of gobies, I wont list them.}
Golden wonder killifish - SG<1.005
American flagfish - SG<1.005 (Sub-tropical)
Wrestling Halfbeak - SG 1.005
Stay away from targetfish, monos, archers, scats, Columbian shark catfish, dragon gobies, most rainbowfish, datnoides and most puffers.
This is very generic. Also, the temperment of the above fish may not necessarily allow for a community environment or cohabitation in some cases. Research, research, research....
1 High-fin Knight goby - also called a fan-dancer goby.
I think a pair of orange chromides might stay small, and may even breed for you.
otherwise, a large group of bumble-bee gobies. they're tiny, so not with any other fish that could possibly eat them.
good luck.
I think a pair of orange chromides might stay small, and may even breed for you.
otherwise, a large group of bumble-bee gobies. they're tiny, so not with any other fish that could possibly eat them.
good luck.