Setting up 125g brackish tank...

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Conner

Conner

Piranha
MFK Member
Dec 27, 2008
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Kentucky
I would like some tips/advice. I am setting up a 125g brackish tank. It's not ready yet, I'm just waiting on getting some pumps for my sump, and some biomedia, and then finish the plumbing.

I currently have a figure 8 puffer and a G. tile that are going to be the first inhabitants. There are also a pair of archerfish at an lfs that I want to get as well. They also have some mono sebae's in the tank with the archerfish, and I thought I would pick up a couple of those as well.

Would this stocking work?
1 Figure 8 puffer
1 G. tile
2 Archerfish
2-3 Mono sebae

Any other fish that might fit in the tank with this list, or perhaps in place of something?

Also, what kind of substrate is best, or preferred, for a brackish tank? I was hoping to go for a sandy bottom look, but I don't have too.

Thanks,
Conner
 
the short answer would be no. but it could be done for a while at least.

as the puffer does best in a low end brackish environment. around 1.005.

the archers (depending on the species) are more flexible. as some types are fully fresh and some prefer a high end brackish or marine environment. its all about finding the right species for your needs. they like to be in shoals im told single specimens can become very shy and reclusive

the mono's and gymnothorax tile will need a highend brackish environment, and possibly a full marine environment as adults. the eel will need high salinity from the start, as they can be a pain in the ar$e to get feeding if they dont like their environment. and have been known to go on hunger strike for weeks. also give them loads of hiding spots, the more confident they are the easier they are to get feeding.

you will need a group of mono's too. they do best as a shoal. so 6+ so they can spread out their aggresion.

another couple of fish i'd look into are the columbian shark catfish, scats, and if you can find one, the tassled filefish. all three get big so they should fill your tank. but you might not have any room left with the mono's. so you may only get to choose one of the above...
 
Ok, so if I leave the Figure 8 puffer in the tank he's in, could I go with:

1 G. tile
2 Archers (to start, since that's all my lfs has right now)
a couple of scats (if I an find some) or a school of mono's
1 colombian shark

Since I have the G. tile, that's what this tank is going to have fit around. I'm also really wanting the archers, so if all I can have is the eel, archers then I would be fine with that. Anything else would just be a bonus.

So any suggestions for substrate? Sand, gravel, aragonite? I'm thinking sand, due to the eel.
 
Conner;2821183; said:
Ok, so if I leave the Figure 8 puffer in the tank he's in, could I go with:

1 G. tile
2 Archers (to start, since that's all my lfs has right now)
a couple of scats (if I an find some) or a school of mono's
1 colombian shark

Since I have the G. tile, that's what this tank is going to have fit around. I'm also really wanting the archers, so if all I can have is the eel, archers then I would be fine with that. Anything else would just be a bonus.

So any suggestions for substrate? Sand, gravel, aragonite? I'm thinking sand, due to the eel.
Click to expand...

sounds good to me. if you want a puffer though you could get a GSP but they are generally agressive, especially when compared to other fish, but it depends on the puffer itself. if its been raised from a small size with fish chances are it will take to tankmates. but its a gamble.

and as for the substrate (forgot to mention), i have play sand in my tanks. my brackish is marine now but the play sand is fine. fish love it. i love it. and its really cheap. i paid £3 for 15kg of the stuff. that gave my 30gal a 2" deep substrate. so you would probably need about 4-6 bags depending on the depth you want. give your tank a 4" deep sandbed and you'll promote the growth of anerobic bacteria, especially as you near marine salt levels they will help filter your tank in a similar way live rock does.
 
Cool, I guess I'll stick with that list, and get either the scats or mono's, whatever I find first. I really like the silver scats, I hope I can find a couple of those.

I will probably go with play sand. I used it in another 125g tank I set up, an Amazon Biotope. It looks good and is easy to maintain IMO. And the cheap factor helps a lot too :)

What about the "freshwater lionfish"? I know its brackish, but would it be too aggressive (or too passive) for this tank? Just curious...
 
Conner;2824489; said:
Cool, I guess I'll stick with that list, and get either the scats or mono's, whatever I find first. I really like the silver scats, I hope I can find a couple of those.

I will probably go with play sand. I used it in another 125g tank I set up, an Amazon Biotope. It looks good and is easy to maintain IMO. And the cheap factor helps a lot too :)

What about the "freshwater lionfish"? I know its brackish, but would it be too aggressive (or too passive) for this tank? Just curious...
Click to expand...

Not sure on that one. Go speak to JoelR, he has a stunning freshwater lion, he's at the bottom of the "why don't we have a brackish photo thread". He will be able to give you more info on that fish than I ever will. Just pm him. And don't forget to post pics in that thread when your tank is up.
 
Thanks.

I'll be sure to post pics as I go through different stages with the tank. I'm super pysched about getting this tank set up, as I've wanted a brackish water tank for a long time, and a 125g tank is a nice size to stock. :)
 
As I've been reading, it seems people like to start with brackish tanks and then slowly raise the salinity until it is a fully marine setup. At that point, they add live rock and a protein skimmer and viola, a sw tank!

Is it really this simple? Obviously you have to stock the tank with the eventual goal in mind. Since (for now) all I have is a moray eel, would this be a viable path for me? I have the tank tied into a sump, since its drilled with overflows, but the sump could easily be converted to a refugium from a wet/dry. I don't want to start a completely sw tank, since I don't have the money to invest in a good protein skimmer and live rock right now. But those are things I could piece together later.

If I were to start this tank brackish with the ideal of eventually making it full saltwater, what stock from my list above could I still put in the tank?

This is just an idea I've gotten from reading through some of the posts here. I'm just trying to figure out if this is a viable option or not...
 
I have kept a brackish tank for about 15 yrs. Start at Neale Monk's site

http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/Projects/brackishfaq.html

Many brakcish fish do quite well over a large range of salinities, including your eel, (and monos and scats) which can do well in the 1.005 range, as mine does/has.

If you have other "must have" fish, learn about their particular needs, mainly sg, and pick the other mates accordingly. And remember, they grow up! Asmall school of monos or scats fill up a 125gal fast!

While raising a tank from light brackish to salt ovoer time soundsintersting, you're stuck picking only those fish that can survive over the whole range. Besides, why not just get a SW tank in the first place, unless your "must have" fish is both tolerant of the whole range, and also only available in FW or light BW. Even then, most such fish can adjust to rapid sg fluctuatioins, so raising the sg with a saline drip in a bucket over a day or so is all you need.

what stock from my list above could I still put in the tank?

Monos, scats, GSPs your eel, others, see monks page above.
 
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