My little experiment...

[jenBLKAROWANA]

Well, from my previous post on what I can put into my brackish tank to eat the algae on my rocks, I was given the idea of saltwater crabs. Well, I went to my LFS and talked to their SW guy. With the proper aclamation, he said I MAY just be able to pull it off! So I bought 4 red legged reef hermits, and an emerald green crab....That night, I put them into a bucket with the water they came in (which was @ 1.025 ppl), and started a slow drip of the water from my tank (which was @ 1.016 ppl)...I put a air line into the bucket to "aggitate" the water, and a small light to keep them warm. I did about 1 drip per second, for 7-8 hours....Then I crossed my fingers and put them in my tank.....

Well, this was about 2 weeks ago, and the little guys are alive and doing a great job! I am going to get a couple more of the green crabs, and mabey a few more of the hermits, they are small and its taking them awhile...lol....they said I could also try snails....but I am going to wait for a little bit on them....

Thanks for reading this....I just had to let you all know that saltwater crabs can be converted to Brackish!!!

Jen

 

[guppy]

Congrats, watch for wasting, that is when they slowly lose mass and then their legs fall off. you might also need to add trace elements to let them molt.

 

[Ornatapinnis]

Told ya!!!!

A specific gravity of 1.016 is pretty close to full strenth salt water so there are many "saltwater" things that will work. BLue leg hermits are real good a getting gravel real clean too. THe emerald crabs do pretty good but the hermits are more effecient. I would suggest against the snails (astrea - turbo's etc) they don't seem to be as willing to adjust to lower S.G. A lawn mower blenny or sailfin blenny would adjust real easily and are good at getting the "film" type of algae like on your glass for example.

The 7-8 hour acclimation period is not needed. In fact with fish espcially, it would be more stressful than helpful. 45 minutes to an hour will be fine. THe jump from 16 to 25 isn't that huge of a differance. Once you've doubled the amount of water you started them in, they are ready to go. I take scatts, mono's and green puffers and acclimate them to full saltwater in 15 minutes or so with no problems.

Off topic: did you get your arrowana home yet? I wanna see....

 

[Zoodiver]

THe jump from 16 to 25 isn't that huge of a differance.

For an invert it's huge. Even for alot of fish that's a pretty drastic swing. Alot of saltwater inverts will tolerate brackish. Just keep an eye on them. Over long periods of time, they tend to drop dead.

 

[jenBLKAROWANA]

Told ya!!!!

A specific gravity of 1.016 is pretty close to full strenth salt water so there are many "saltwater" things that will work. BLue leg hermits are real good a getting gravel real clean too. THe emerald crabs do pretty good but the hermits are more effecient. I would suggest against the snails (astrea - turbo's etc) they don't seem to be as willing to adjust to lower S.G. A lawn mower blenny or sailfin blenny would adjust real easily and are good at getting the "film" type of algae like on your glass for example.

The 7-8 hour acclimation period is not needed. In fact with fish espcially, it would be more stressful than helpful. 45 minutes to an hour will be fine. THe jump from 16 to 25 isn't that huge of a differance. Once you've doubled the amount of water you started them in, they are ready to go. I take scatts, mono's and green puffers and acclimate them to full saltwater in 15 minutes or so with no problems.

Off topic: did you get your arrowana home yet? I wanna see....

I do have my Aro home...looks really good...Pics are on the way....I have to get out to my Sis's house to get them posted....Sorry! You will have to be patient!!

Jen

 

[jenBLKAROWANA]

Congrats, watch for wasting, that is when they slowly lose mass and then their legs fall off. you might also need to add trace elements to let them molt.

Will the trace elements hurt my fish?

 

[Ornatapinnis]

Iodine seems to be the trace element that inverts with exoskeletons need added to the water. The addition of it to your aquarium will not harm your fish.

A calcium supplement is not a bad idea either but if you do water changes often and are using instant ocean your calcium level in your water most likley is fine as it is. Espcially if you are using a calcarious substrate like oolite or aragonite.

Can't wait to see the pictures!!!!!!

 

[benzjamin13]

I would like to try that with my friend's tank, but he's got some puffers and I know puffer will eat crusateans.

 

[jenBLKAROWANA]

Iodine seems to be the trace element that inverts with exoskeletons need added to the water. The addition of it to your aquarium will not harm your fish.

A calcium supplement is not a bad idea either but if you do water changes often and are using instant ocean your calcium level in your water most likley is fine as it is. Espcially if you are using a calcarious substrate like oolite or aragonite.

Can't wait to see the pictures!!!!!!

Ok....The substrate is rock....A pebble perhaps....This tank WAS fresh water, and we converted it over to brackish...I have Scats & Monos & Knight Gobies, oh, and Orange Chromides....I want to switch out the sub....but I have a hundred pounds of gravel in it....UGH....I want to put in some crushed coral instead. SO...I will just have to deal with the rock for a bit, and I did notice the green emerald picking up a piece and turning it looking for food...Its sooo cool to have those little guys in there.....

Could I use KENT MARINE - IODINE or should I use KENT MARINE - ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS???

OH.....I use the OCEANIC salt......does this supply enough calcium? (i will prob look it up to)

Jen

 

[Zoodiver]

Oceanic is ok. I like Instant Ocean the best. Either of the Kent products will work. I'd go with the "Essential" version to get a broad range of them.