UPdated 50 gallon brackish tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
L

Liz Sagara

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 13, 2011
714
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Texas
Okay so this is what I got: IT's still in the idea stage mostly but it's more in the "Let's start doing something" stage.

My equipment:

  1. 50 gallon tank
  2. PH nuetral (doesn't effect PH) sand
  3. 250 Watt adustable heater
  4. Oceanic Brand Sea salt
  5. Full hood with 2 florescent bulbs
  6. One 45 gallon (200gph) filter and one 350 gph filter both HOB
  7. A bubble bar meant for a 30-50 gallon aquarium and a 40 gallon air pump (don't think this is necessary with all the surface movement the filters have)

My Idea:

  1. One Violet Goby
  2. 3 Banded archerfish

My Maintenance schedule:

  1. Testing the salinity and levels at least once a week if not more to ensure no severe drops or raises suddenly
  2. Weekly 30% water changes
  3. Bi-weekly cleanings of the filter media with used aquarium water. One every two weeks so as not to destroy too much of my bacteria. ANd then in another 2 weeks clean the other one.
  4. Monthly turning of the sand to avoid anerobic spots (I think the violet Goby will help me with this)
  5. Yearly cleaning and checking the equipment to avoid breakdowns and heavy salt and sludge build up. I will check the heater the motors on the filters and the tank itself
  6. ANything else I need to do?

Why I think I can do this:

  1. Even though I could be considered a "begginner" to a lot of people only having been in the hobby since July of 2010, I have spent my free time pouring over books, articles and most importantly asking questions!
  2. I've set up a quickbooks spreadsheet to put all important information like Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate levels as well as salinity, feeding abnormalities, behavioral abnormalities and sickness symptoms diagnosis and treatment.

Any thoughts and suggestions?
 
Sounds like you've prepared. haha. i have heard though that archerfish do better in freshwater. but thats only what i've heard. Your setup sounds good, not overcrowded. with a nice aquascape, this could really turn into something
 
ravensfan73;4800820; said:
\i have heard though that archerfish do better in freshwater. but thats only what i've heard.
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There's one commonly traded Archerfish that does well in freshwater but the Toxotes Jaculatrix that I want requires Brackish water.

ravensfan73;4800820; said:
\ Your setup sounds good, not overcrowded. with a nice aquascape, this could really turn into something
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Do you suggest anything as far as aquascaping is concerned?
 
Wow, impressive :)

Do you intend to run your water level full? Or slightly low so your Archer's can shoot crickets? If you decide to run in less than full, you will be better off with a canister.

I haven't had much luck with live plants in my brackish tank. The plants live, but growth is next to none compared to my FW tanks. Also, the plants have all paled and look stringy. I removed most today and redecorated with fake plants.

Your setup sounds like it's going to be nice! Be sure to post pics :)

Take care...
 
CLDarnell;4800887; said:
Do you intend to run your water level full? Or slightly low so your Archer's can shoot crickets?
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I intend to run full so that they get the full 50 gallons of water and because canisters are out of my price range. But when I do 30% water changes I plan to feed live foods then on a branch I will hang over the tank during that time.

BUT!!! how low would it have to be for me to feed live foods and allow them to shoot more often? I would like to do this. I'm in the idea stage of a piece I can put on the top to allow them to shoot. But where the tank is now there's no overhead room.
 
I run mine full too so I may not be the best one to give advice lol. I am guessing 30% to 50% low would be close though. I have done like you stated, I let them play during water changes...it's amazing how accurate they are! Be sure to unplug your heaters while they are playing :)

I like your approach to the new set up. I am sure you're going to be fine :)
 
Only thing I would have done differently is use aragonite sand to keep the pH steady, around 8.
 
Pufferpunk;4800929; said:
Only thing I would have done differently is use aragonite sand to keep the pH steady, around 8.
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I don't have problems with PH at 8 my PH here tests between 8.1-8.2 from the tap on average and I test it before I put it in my tank to keep it stable!
 
Dont worry too much about their range- mine have hit me from accross my living room. They should be fine if the food is within 2 feet maybe more.
 
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