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I need help starting a brackish aquarium. I have tons of questions!

4K views 4 replies 2 participants last post by  Cornelius1208 
#1 ·
I've been really interested into fish for quite some time now. I have become particularly familiar with the freshwater scene. I love my freshwater tanks very much, but I would like to move on and set up my dream tank: a brackish aquarium.
My favorite fish in the aquarium trade has got to be the archer fish, by far. I've liked these fish every since I was a little kid and read about them in a book. I've always wanted to set up a brackish tank, but am afraid I am unprepared for the responsibilities that come with it. This is where I ask for all the help I can get!

If I were to set up a brackish aquarium, I would like to have at least 120 gallons of tank space, but I would not fill it entirely of water. I would like to have plants that hang over the water's surface so the archer fish can display their unique tactic of spitting at insects. As for substrate, I will probably use play sand as it will be the cheaper route, but if there are better substrates for a low price, please do suggest. I wanted to get pieces of mangrove wood that would simulate the roots of the trees in the natural habitat, but am completely baffled as to where to find them! If you know of a site that sells wood like that, let me know please! Another thing I was curious about is what the salinity level (for the fish I've listed below) be in my tank?

As for stocking, I would like to add a few other species than archer fish to create an interesting, peaceful, and fun community set-up, but I am unsure of the compatibility rate of some species. I've researched some of them, but am entirely unsure about others. Here are some of the species I was considering:

Toxotes jaculatrix - banded archer fish
Anableps anableps - four-eyed fish
Periophthalamus barbarus - Atlantic mudskipper
Stigmatogobius sadanundio - knight goby
Gobioides brussonnetii - violet goby (dragon goby)
Erpetoichthys calabaricus - ropefish (reedfish)
Uca pugnax - fiddler crab
I heard that ropefish are brackish but was unsure about this. If anyone could validate that it would be appreciated! Also, if there any other species of brackish water fish or invertebrates that you think I may like, please suggest some!

Another thing I wanted to do was plant the aquarium, but I have no idea where to start as far as plants go that tolerate brackish conditions. Any help on that would also be much appreciated!

I'm sure I have a hundred more questions, but I can't think of anymore at the moment. I'm sorry for the length of the post, but I just want to know so much! Please help me if you can; it would be much appreciated!
 
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#2 ·
your setup sounds nice. I cant answer a lot of your questions but I can try and help. i am starting another brackish tank and have a 10g currently running. I keep my slainity at around 1.005. I have a figure 8 puffer and he seems to love it at that level. I do have some plants in mine that look like they are doing ok. They did change some when I went from fresh to brackish but they look good now and have lots of new growth. the tank is listed under the aquarium tab.
 
#3 ·
Oh wow, I see you keep cories and tiger barbs in your tank. They can tolerate brackish water?!
 
#4 ·
yeah they are doing great!! they are happy and will eat till thay pop if I would let them. the tiger barbs are even giving the F8P a run for his money when it comes to feeding time. I feed big daddy (f8p) some live cricketts (a snack) the other day and the barbs kept stealing them from him. it was funny.
 
#5 ·
Bump, please!
 
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