Easy brackish ideas

[reiverix]

I've got a spare 20g tank so I'm considering doing a small brackish setup. Something peaceful and interesting. Well after looking around it seems all the brackish fish are pretty neat.

So, the tank is running a hob filter (can't remember what kind), heater, and I've put in a sand substrate. It's got 2.25wpg lighting. No fish, but some anacharis, java fern and java moss from my heavily planted 75g. Oh there's no salt added yet either.

Basically it's waiting to be cycled and then I can decide how to stock it. I'm looking for about the easiest and most peaceful fish to do this. Time is no problem and I can wait for as long as it takes to do this right. My 75g keeps me plenty occupied.

Cheers all.


John

 

[CFC]

With a 20g you will be quite limited to your choice of brackish fish as many of the common species grow quite large. However all is not lost, there are many species of small brackish gobies such as bumblebee gobies and oddballs such as glass fish, figure 8 puffers and pipe fishes (if you are lucky enough to find them) all of which make grear inhabitants for small brackish tanks.

 

[reiverix]

Yes, bumblebee gobies look like a winner. So what would be the best other compatible fish with them? I've been reading that puffers can be a wee bit nippy. I have a molly in my 75g that I was considering moving to the brackish tank also. Good move or is that a no-no?

 

[CFC]

Figure 8 puffers and bumblebee gobies actually make quite good tankmates providing there is a lot of small caves amongst rocks for the gobies to dart into if things get too rough, bumblebee gobies are quite fierce nippy little characters themselves and can hold their own reasonably well when it comes to small puffers.

You could move the molly to the brackish but dont do this if you get a puffer or two as puffers tend to nip at livebearers stomachs.

 

[jacblades]

if you can find them, you might try some "freshwater" flounders. they are awesome
although you might not see them very often if your tank is too high off of the ground.