Brackish aquariums

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Ok so this is more of a curiosity thread than anything else; from what i have gathered a brackish aquarium is an aquarium where the water is slightly salty, no?
Its just my lfs regualy stocks "brackish fish" like glass catfish and bristlenose plecs(correct me anyone if im wrong) although it has no brackish tanks;
a. what are the consequences of having a brackish orientated fish in a non-brackish tank and is it cruel?
b. how do you maintain a brackish tank and what brackish fish are there available?

Thanks for looking at my thread and any info is much appreciated

 

[CFC]

Glass catfish and Bristlenose plecs are not brackish, in fact the only catfish that are found in brackish water are those of the Ariidae family (sea catfishes).

Keeping non brackish fish in a brackish tank will shortern they lifespans considerably, fish that are not developed to live in salt water have no way of dealing with the extra salts so they form as hard deposits on the kidneys until eventually causing kidney failure.

Brackish tanks are maintaned in exactly the same way as FW tanks only you add a lot of salt to the water. Some commonly seen brackish fish are scats, monos, columbian shark catfish, moray eels, most gobies, some puffers and archer fish tough there are hundreds more that can be obtained if you look in the right shops.

 

[Lateral Line]

There is a list of brackish fish pinned at the top of the brackish forum, here.

Some brackish fish start out in freshwater, but most will not live long in freshwater.

*** EDIT ***

Ah, you were moving the thread, that probably explains the weird error I got when trying to post this.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Thanks for the info

 

[jflowers]

a. what are the consequences of having a brackish orientated fish in a non-brackish tank and is it cruel?
b. how do you maintain a brackish tank and what brackish fish are there available?

a. Non-Brackish fish in a brackish tank can be as bad as CFC stated for the otherway round, though some fish such as Kribs can be kept in both as they are highly adaptable. Do research this extensively though, don't rely on one sites/persons say so.

b. As CFC said, same as FW, but with salt ([Edit:marine salt, not tonic salt or table salt]). There are different levels of brackish, and each will support different fish. Low-end brackish (around SG 1.005) will support Figure 8 puffers and bumblebee gobies. Mid-range (around SG 1.010) will support young monos, Green spotted puffers and archer fish. High-end (SG 1.010 - 1.018 anything above is considered marine) Adults of the mid range fish usually, but some, such as Green spotted puffers can be supported in this range.

SG = Specific Gravity, the most common way of measuring salt content using a hydrometer or refractometer. Also measured in ppT, parts per thousand, 1.020 is roughly 30ppT, but SG changes with the temp, hence the 'roughly'.

The glass cat fish you mentioned, did you mean Indian glass fish Parambassis ranga, if so, these are low to mid range brackish. Not catfish though.

As Lateral line said, Many high-end Brackish and Marine fish will travel to certain breeding spots to spawn in FW, the most well known of which is the Salmon.

HTH

Jon

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Yes sorry i think they were indian glass fish...Thanks for the info though- im not planning on having a brackish tank anytime soon but i was just curious of how it all works; so is it a bit like maintaining a marine aquarium? Do you need different types of plants to ones that can survive in freshwater aquariums?

 

[jflowers]

Yes sorry i think they were indian glass fish...Thanks for the info though- im not planning on having a brackish tank anytime soon but i was just curious of how it all works; so is it a bit like maintaining a marine aquarium? Do you need different types of plants to ones that can survive in freshwater aquariums?

Plants have been a real problem for me. Java fern and anubias are supposed to be ok, but mine have died in an SG of 1.007. Anubias died first, java fern is hanging on with a few leaves growing, praps they will get used to it.

Yes, just like a marine, I don't use a skimmer though, I do in my marine. but the same as for monitoring the SG and PH very regularly, every day and every other day respectively.

Jon

 

[CFC]

With brackish you dont have to be quite so carefull with the SG as this naturally swings in the natural brackish enviroment from tidal changes and such, as long as it doesnt change either way by more than .002 in a 24 hour period then the fish are quite adaptable to it.

As jflowers said it is important to maintain a high pH which should be around 8.