Possibly Converting To Brackish

[Flumpus]

I've got a 75g oddball tank that I'm a little bored with, and would love to have some nice brackish fish in it instead, but I need some advice. I've got a 29g brackish tank with a figure 8 puffer, some knight gobies, and a couple mollies, so I have a little experience, but none with the bigger brackish fish. Here are my questions...

First, all the brackish fish around here are kept in freshwater at the store. My plan would be to put them in freshwater in my tank, and then slowly raise the SG with each water change. I think this would allow the bacteria to change and not die, but if there are any problems with this, let me know.

Second, stocking... I love archers and monos. I know archers can get quite large, so would one be ok in a 75g? Would a group of monos be ok? Also, I'd probably add a GSP along with them.

Third, equipment... Currently it has very modest lighting, a bunch of rocks, and a huge piece of wood that creates good hiding spots for the fish currently in the thank. It's also got a Fluval 404 canister filter. Is there anything I'd really need to add, or would I be good to go? I appreciate everyones help with this!

 

[AMS]

First, all the brackish fish around here are kept in freshwater at the store. My plan would be to put them in freshwater in my tank, and then slowly raise the SG with each water change. I think this would allow the bacteria to change and not die, but if there are any problems with this, let me know.

That should be fine. Do weekly 10% water changes and replace the changed water with water at an SG of 1.002 and do this until you reach you desired SG.

Second, stocking... I love archers and monos. I know archers can get quite large, so would one be ok in a 75g? Would a group of monos be ok? Also, I'd probably add a GSP along with them.

A group of monos would be OK in a 75 gallon tank, but they wont do well in a SG under 1.010. With your current fish, you need a SG of 1.005 or lower, do not go any higher. As for archerfish, Toxotes microlepis should do fine with your current fish and a SG of 1.005 or lower. As for the GSP, aside from not tolerating that many tankmates, they wont do well in a SG under 1.010. SG is the biggest mistake people make when purchasing fish, low-end brackish water fish such as figure 8 puffers and knight gobies can not be housed with high-end brackish water fish such as monos and GSP's. As for suitable tankmates I would suggest fish such as glassfish, orange chromides and halfbeaks. These fish will get along with your current fish fine and their SG's match with your current fish.

Third, equipment... Currently it has very modest lighting, a bunch of rocks, and a huge piece of wood that creates good hiding spots for the fish currently in the thank. It's also got a Fluval 404 canister filter. Is there anything I'd really need to add, or would I be good to go? I appreciate everyones help with this!

The filtration should be OK although I do not trust fluvals all that often, to be safe I would add a small-medium HOB. I would create some caves out of PVC pipes or slate for some territories.

 

[Flumpus]

Oops, I think I wasn't clear. My low end brackish fish WILL stay in their current tank. This will be a high end brackish tank only, with completely new fish

 

[AMS]

Oops, I think I wasn't clear. My low end brackish fish WILL stay in their current tank. This will be a high end brackish tank only, with completely new fish smile.gif

OOPS! Sorry!

Let me try this again:

First, all the brackish fish around here are kept in freshwater at the store. My plan would be to put them in freshwater in my tank, and then slowly raise the SG with each water change. I think this would allow the bacteria to change and not die, but if there are any problems with this, let me know.

Same as first reply, Are the fish in the LFS juveniles? If they were older I would suggest the drip method.

Second, stocking... I love archers and monos. I know archers can get quite large, so would one be ok in a 75g? Would a group of monos be ok? Also, I'd probably add a GSP along with them.

A group of 4 monos would be fine in a 75 gallon tank. In a 75 gallon tank, Toxotes chatareus or Toxotes jaculatrix should be fine. But be aware that monos and other high end brackish water fish like a SG of at least 1.010, the maximum suggested SG for the archers listed above is 1.010. If you want these archers try not to go above 1.010 too much. A GSP is not the best idea because of their aggression. You could possibly try a ceylon puffer, they are less aggressive.

Third, equipment... Currently it has very modest lighting, a bunch of rocks, and a huge piece of wood that creates good hiding spots for the fish currently in the thank. It's also got a Fluval 404 canister filter. Is there anything I'd really need to add, or would I be good to go? I appreciate everyones help with this!

If you are going with larger fish I highly suggest better filtration, and this is optional but I am a huge believer in protein skimmers in high-end brackish tanks.

 

[Flumpus]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I wasn't aware that the archers didn't like it above 1.010 (I was planning for around 1.015). Would the monos be ok at the minimum of 1.010?

Also, since I'd be getting the fish young, could I just add a second filter at some point in the near future?

I had thought about a protein skimmer, and figured once I got to the SG I wanted to hover around, I would consider getting one.

 

[AMS]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I wasn't aware that the archers didn't like it above 1.010 (I was planning for around 1.015). Would the monos be ok at the minimum of 1.010?

Also, since I'd be getting the fish young, could I just add a second filter at some point in the near future?

I had thought about a protein skimmer, and figured once I got to the SG I wanted to hover around, I would consider getting one.

Yes, Monos will be fine at 1.010, but personally I would keep them at around 1.014. You could certainly add a second filter in the future, just make sure the bio-load does not get too heavy in the mean-time. Protein skimmers will work OK at 1.010, and according to Neale Monks they are fully functional at 1.018. A protein skimmer is a worth-while invest if you have large fish like scats and monos.

 

[Flumpus]

Ya, I don't think the bioload would be too bad, because I'd probably just add the group of monos initially, and the LFS has them young and small. I'd have to find the archer and puffer somewhere, as they're not normally stocked.

I would also prefer to keep the monos at a higher SG... What about scats? Any possibility of one or two in a 75g? Anything other than the archer along with a ceylon and group of monos?

You've been very helpful AMS, I appreciate it!

 

[Flumpus]

I think the plan right now is to put in a request for four monos and one archer (jaculatrix) at the LFS, young ones. When they come in we'll pick them up, take 'em home, and start doing 10% weekly water changes with water at 1.002 each week. The goal is to get it up to 1.010, where hopefully the monos and archer will be comfortable. I would like to add a puffer of some sort. I read nmonk's faq on acclimating marine puffers to brackish (down to 1.010), but that sounds a little risky, so it'll probably be a ceylon.

As the fish grow, I'll add a second filter, probably within the first couple months.

Now, my question is about other fish, and stocking, and whether or not four monos, an archer, and puffer is fully stocked for the 75g. Is there anything else I could add? The stocking as currently planned sounds great to me, but I just thought I'd ask.

 

[phlawed]

GSP is very stengy when it comes to food. And if he has to bite another fishes mouth off to get that food he will. So might rethink the GSP additive.

 

[kanzaris]

GSP is very stengy when it comes to food. And if he has to bite another fishes mouth off to get that food he will. So might rethink the GSP additive.

Hi Phlawed

My GSP is about 4inch (Had him for about a year) and his tank mates are one Mono & one Archer and my catfish. Up to recently I had chromides and knight gobys in the same tank and he is the one getting chased away from food. He is not at all aggressive. So how long before he starts acting the way he should do

Sabby

 

[Flumpus]

Sabby, I've heard that from more than one person. I may try out the GSP and just see how it goes. I can always keep an eye on it and take him back to the LFS if things get bad.

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

I had a GSP in with a pair of mollies and a quartet of smaller archers for a year and a half, in the meantime I grew out some green scats in the tank for the LFS as well. I can honestly say that the GSP was never ever aggressive toward any of the other fish. I've since sold the archers to the LFS for in store credit and placed the GSP in his own 30 gallon, he's not really all that happy now.

I'm really beginning to question the whole "Puffers should not have tankmates rule." I honestly can't think of a time when I had any puffer aggression with others either. Bear in mind that I've only worked with Figure 8's and Dwarves and the GSP for long enough periods of time to feel like I knew their behavior patterns!

SLC

 

[Flumpus]

Well, with that reply, and to update this thread, I've had my GSP for a couple weeks now. He's pretty small, in a 75g all by himself, until the monos and archer gets in. I really don't think I'll have a problem with aggression, but I'll just keep an eye on it.

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

Well, with that reply, and to update this thread, I've had my GSP for a couple weeks now. He's pretty small, in a 75g all by himself, until the monos and archer gets in. I really don't think I'll have a problem with aggression, but I'll just keep an eye on it.

Definately keep an eye on it, but I'm sure you'll not have troubles. The archers will get big fast, hope you are prepared for that.

SLC