Ok, Does This Look Good?

[JonathanT]

Ok, after my discussion with nmonk about my optimal brackish setup, I have just a few more questions that need answered. First, I've decided to use a 75 instead of 55 gallon when I do this, since it's got more front to back room for me to work with (and for my fish to live in, obviously).

SG: Probably 1.003

Here's the stocking list:
Bottom:
1x Violet Goby (possibly 2x, if 75 is big enough for two territories)
2x Brackish tolerant Banjo Catfish (Aspredo aspredo or Platystacus cotylephorus)
Middle:
6x Indian Glassfish (the often painted species, poor buggers)
6x Clay Gobies
Top:
2x Male Wrestling Halfbeaks
8x Female Wrestling Halfbeaks

The tank setup I have in mind is using light colored sand (possibly a base of laterite with sand on top of it. Though the catfish should keep it from developing anaerobic spots), along with a lot of stone work (probably glued into place with aquarium safe silicone or epoxy, like in reef tanks), and some hardy brackish-compatible plants.

So, my remaining questions are:
1. Goby territorial displays are awesome to watch if they have enough room. Would two violet gobies have enough room in a 75 gallon (US) tank to get their own territories established? Otherwise I will have only one...
2. What temperature should this be kept at, so that all the fish are happy?
3. I want to use moderate lighting, so I'll need plants that can grow well without heavy lighting.
4. I'd like some suggestions on which plants to try in this setup. I'm not very familiar with aquatic plants yet, sadly. And should I try C02 injection in a tank like this?
5. What should the water pH/other stats be kept at?
6. As for the sand substrate, should I user a layer of laterite under it?

Once I have these questions answered I'll be ready to start, as soon as I get settled into my job and start getting some income!

-Jonathan

 

[nmonks]

So, my remaining questions are:
1. Goby territorial displays are awesome to watch if they have enough room. Would two violet gobies have enough room in a 75 gallon (US) tank to get their own territories established? Otherwise I will have only one...
2. What temperature should this be kept at, so that all the fish are happy?
3. I want to use moderate lighting, so I'll need plants that can grow well without heavy lighting.
4. I'd like some suggestions on which plants to try in this setup. I'm not very familiar with aquatic plants yet, sadly. And should I try C02 injection in a tank like this?
5. What should the water pH/other stats be kept at?
6. As for the sand substrate, should I user a layer of laterite under it?

Two violets in 75 gallons should be fine. These fish have no eyesight as such, and tend to squabble only if they have to share a burrow. Make sure there are extra burrows (tubes or whatever) and you should be fine. It's lilkely the males that fight anyway. If they do fight, either remove one or add another (to spread out the tension). Either should fix things. I don't think they actually hold territories beyond the actual burrow.

Temperature doesn't really matter much. I'd be aiming for around 24-25 C.

Unpainted glassfish are about, and worth waiting for. The painted ones are more prone to disease, and in my experience, if you're going to lose glassfish, it's in the first few weeks. So you want fish that are healthy from the get-go. Once they're in and feeding, they're very hardy fish.

As for plants, I'd definitely use laterite if you want plants (it really does help) but obviously you don't need it is you go with Java fern, Java moss, or Anubias (all of which thrive in brackish). Likewise for anything floating. If you're going with burrowing fish, and you are, then rooted plants are perhaps not the way to go. Epiphytes and floating plants would give you much more flexibility. Buying epiphytes already attached to bogwood is, in my experience, the best way to "kick start" the planting of a low-end brackish tank because you can just pop them in and not worry about the substrate. Also, these couldn't care less about CO2.

Try and get a *dark* sand if you can. Violet gobies prefer muddy substrates and a dark substrate will replicate that a bit more closely. Also, fish tend to fade their colours in brightly lit tanks. With glassfish and halfbeaks, you get better colours when they're in darker water.

You want a pH around 7.5 and moderate hardness for the species you're keeping. Not too hard and alkaline. The sea salt should take care of this for you, so it's a bit of a no-brainer unless you have a mass of bogwood and very soft water to begin with.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[JonathanT]

I suppose you're right, violets do have horrid eyesight! Maintaining a territory outside your burrow would be quite difficult, if you couldn't see two inches in front of you...

I've actually had several glassfish, back when I first got into the hobby (about a decade ago). They turned out to be very hardy, once I got natural ones. The initial batch I got of painted glassfish from wal mart went from four fish to one in a couple days. Don't ask me how, but the lone survivor actually managed to shrug it off, and happily joined the unpainted ones I got later, after I found out the truth about "painted" fish. I'll most certainly be getting unpainted ones for my brackish tank. Nobody is getting any of my money for tainted fish

Dark sand it is then, I want everything to be happy!

Good advice, I'll keep my plant selection to non-rooting types, since the big gobies and the banjo cats would make short work of any sort of arrangment I might set up. I plan to build up the tank slowly, so I'll let everything get well established before putting in any fish. That way the plants can take hold of the scenery, and everything can start to flourish without any interference from clumsy tank inhabitants.

Taking notes of everything, I think I have everything I need to start! Now I just need to get a job

Thanks again!

-Jonathan

 

[nmonks]

I think epiphytic plants are the way to go with your tank. You build them up piece by piece, and choose from any of many varieties of Anubias and Java fern. The big "mother plants" are expensive but good value because they quickly give you lots of baby plants to add to new bits of stone or wood. So you save money over the long term. Java fern is famous for tolerating salty water, but Anubias does well around 1.003-1.005 as well.

The dark sand looks amazing. There's one called "Tahiti Moon" or something, and it's lovely. Mix in a few seashells as well (smashed up a bit, if possible) to give a more realistic marine-y look.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[JonathanT]

Yep, SG 1.003 is what I'm after, so I think I'll do fairly well with Java Fern and Anubias. I'll look up Tahiti Moon, I've heard the name before many times recently...apparently a lot of people like it.

Thanks again Neale! I can't wait to get started on this tank...I'll be sure to start a journal when I do!

-Jonathan