Planning 40-50 Gallon

[SenorDeuce]

So I recently emptied my 55 gallon African cichlids into a new tank and I want to use the empty one to go brackish, mostly just because I've never done it before. I'm going to use play sand substrate, and I was thinking of ordering some red mangrove on ebay. I call it 40-50 gallon because it's a 55 gallon, kinda tall only 36'' across, and I'm not going to fill it all the way so the mangrove can be emersed. I'll probably try a few more basic plants in there too, java fern, java moss, anubias, but I'm not super hopeful on those. So now I have to decide on stock.

This is very preliminary and very novice so don't hold back if I'm way off base.

Definitely want:
4 mollies
3 Figure 8 puffers
3 bumblebee gobies

Maybe:
Nerite Snails
Shrimp (ghost, amano, cherry, don't know much about shrimp. Help please)

Could I also fit some celebes rainbows and/or pristella tetras?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[nmonks]

Definitely want:
4 mollies
3 Figure 8 puffers
3 bumblebee gobies

None of these needs much salt; SG 1.002-1.003 is ample. So with that said, virtually ANY plant tolerant of hard, alkaline water should thrive. I'd start with a mix of Amazon swords, Vallisneria, hardy Crypts like C. wendtii, Java ferns, Crinum calamistratum, Anubias spp., and so on and see how you do. If you have strong light, Bacopa, Egeria and Hygrophila will also do well. Really, so long as you avoid the soft water stuff that needs CO2, you should be fine.

Maybe:
Nerite Snails
Shrimp (ghost, amano, cherry, don't know much about shrimp. Help please)

All the nerites and the small Caridina and Neocaridina shrimps should tolerate slightly brackish water fine. Some will actually prefer it. On the other hand, shrimps are pufferfish food so don't expect small specimens especially to last for long.

Could I also fit some celebes rainbows and/or pristella tetras?

Celebes rainbows will thrive at SG 1.002-1.003. Pristella maxillaris should do, but it wouldn't be my recommended choice. If you want something see-through, why not go with glassfish instead?

Cheers, Neale

 

[SenorDeuce]

Thanks so much for the advice. So assuming a substitution of glass fish for the pristella, do you think I could have all of those species in 40 gallons? What would you recommend as far as numbers to keep everything clean and healthy?

 

[nmonks]

Your main problem will be with the puffers, which aren't noted for getting along in community tanks. The Celebes rainbows especially will be nipped.

Otherwise, one male, 2-3 female sailfin mollies is fine. Add as many BBGs as you want since they add hardly anything to tank loading. A school of glassfish would be six specimens, and the same for the Celebes rainbows. See how water quality pans out, and if you want, up the numbers of the schooling rainbows and glassfish in due course. If you decide to add the puffers, add them last, once the other fish are settled down.

Cheers, Neale

Thanks so much for the advice. So assuming a substitution of glass fish for the pristella, do you think I could have all of those species in 40 gallons? What would you recommend as far as numbers to keep everything clean and healthy?

 

[SenorDeuce]

Thank you so much. That is exactly what I needed. Now I can feel like I have a vision for where this tank is going.

 

[nmonks]

Happy to help. Do read my FAQ, and in due course, have a look at my book!

Cheers, Neale

Thank you so much. That is exactly what I needed. Now I can feel like I have a vision for where this tank is going.

 

[SenorDeuce]

I looked at your FAQ and noticed that guppies can live in brackish. Guppies are one of my favorite fish in my freshwater community tank. If I want to add guppies to the brackish tank, are there certain varieties I should look for or avoid? Would the guppies get harassed by puffers or any of the other fish I've mentioned? I know they tend to be harassed by just about anything with a stroke of aggressiveness because they're slower and draw a lot of attention to their tails.

 

[jonny5]

I looked at your FAQ and noticed that guppies can live in brackish. Guppies are one of my favorite fish in my freshwater community tank. If I want to add guppies to the brackish tank, are there certain varieties I should look for or avoid? Would the guppies get harassed by puffers or any of the other fish I've mentioned? I know they tend to be harassed by just about anything with a stroke of aggressiveness because they're slower and draw a lot of attention to their tails.

guppies would be a bad idea, the ornate fins will get hit by the puffer(especially because guppies are a slow fish) and there very small size may lead them to being food. if you want a community puffer, steer away from green spotted (plus they need half sea water as adults). I wish to add a figure 8 to my community as well but its very inconsistant. Some say they are terrors of the tank, and others say they are quite docile and nice. It depends on the individual fish. any shrimp will get destroyed by the puffer though, plus any other decent sized fish in the tank. Snails are puffer food, but nerites are nearly puffer proof, but if your puffer harrasses them constantly, the snails may die due to stress.

it may work, it may not, its a gamble. I got my celebes being raised in a freshwater tank right now, im considering introducing them into my brack, but they may become archer food, so im not too sure on that.

 

[nmonks]

Archers will eat anything small enough to swallow, no question!

FWIW, I agree with jonny5, guppies and puffers is a terrible combination.

Cheers, Neale

it may work, it may not, its a gamble. I got my celebes being raised in a freshwater tank right now, im considering introducing them into my brack, but they may become archer food, so im not too sure on that.