Suggestions? Taking A Stab At Brackish Waters

[Anthony!]

As some of you may have noticed, I attempted a "Crusade" for a brackish section of the TFF index. (AMS did most of the work, though ) Well, it's about time for me to get a brackish tank set up, and see how everything goes. I figure the tank will be (in gallons) from 29 - 45 (weak structure in my bedroom, probably can't manage a 55) and I would like to have some suggestions for easy to keep, relatively hardy brackish fish. They will surely endure cycling (fishless never worked for me.......) and Lord knows what else. Any thoughts? I like the waspfish, so that's really the only thing I would LIKE to incorporate in the tank. Then again, I could definently survive without them. Sorry for the novel, and thanks for the help!

 

[AMS]

and I would like to have some suggestions for easy to keep, relatively hardy brackish fish. They will surely endure cycling (fishless never worked for me.......)

Aside from mollies and other livebearers I cant think of any common brackish fish that would survive a cycle.

The type of fish I would suggest depends on what SG you want. Low-end (1.005 and lower) or high-end? (1.010 and upwards)

If you did High-end, the only common fish that would fit in a tank between 29-45 gallons would be Green Spotted Puffers and Waspfish. (If you consider waspfish "common")

If you did low-end your options are greatly increased. IMHO go for the biggest tank you can get and go with a "community". Go with a figure 8, a pair of knight gobies, pair of Orange Chromides, decent sized school of Glassfish, and some Mollies. (Note that the gobies and puffer require a fair amount of territory so I really cant call it a community). This way you get lots of activity and low maintence from your tank and the option of planting in the future. Note that BBG's and Violet gobies were not mentioned as their special feeding habits would be difficult to fulfill in a community tank. Not to mention the VG probably needing a higher SG and a larger tank.

You have more options than what I mentioned above, but IMO the community fits your criteria best.

 

[Anthony!]

and I would like to have some suggestions for easy to keep, relatively hardy brackish fish. They will surely endure cycling (fishless never worked for me.......)

Aside from mollies and other livebearers I cant think of any common brackish fish that would survive a cycle.

The type of fish I would suggest depends on what SG you want. Low-end (1.005 and lower) or high-end? (1.010 and upwards)

If you did High-end, the only common fish that would fit in a tank between 29-45 gallons would be Green Spotted Puffers and Waspfish. (If you consider waspfish "common")

If you did low-end your options are greatly increased. IMHO go for the biggest tank you can get and go with a "community". Go with a figure 8, a pair of knight gobies, pair of Orange Chromides, decent sized school of Glassfish, and some Mollies. (Note that the gobies and puffer require a fair amount of territory so I really cant call it a community). This way you get lots of activity and low maintence from your tank and the option of planting in the future. Note that BBG's and Violet gobies were not mentioned as their special feeding habits would be difficult to fulfill in a community tank. Not to mention the VG probably needing a higher SG and a larger tank.

You have more options than what I mentioned above, but IMO the community fits your criteria best.

AMS, as always, you are my hero. That sounds like an incredible tank!

 

[nmonks]

I'm told mudskippers don't really care less about water quality, since they only use it to moisten themselves. Air quality is much more important (has to be humid and warm).

Personally, I've found Brachirus flounders and Rhinogobius gobies to be adequate for maturing tanks (they're what I used) and provided the other water chemistry parameters stayed steady, my feeling is halfbeaks wouldn't care, either. I've certainly kept them in relatively immature tanks, and they seem to breeze through. What they hate is swings in pH and hardness, not to mention salinity.

I'm 100% with AMS about the big tanks-small fish being an awesome combination. Totally underrated by many aquarists, who feel once you get a big tank you automatically have to get big cichlids or something. A 200 gallon tank filled with 2-3 inch fish can look spectacular. You get big schools of things, or multiple pairs of gobies and cichlids all holding their own territories. Very, very cool.

What I'd add to your suggested community would be wrestling halfbeaks for the top level. While they don't need salt, they tolerate 1.003 to 1.005 just fine, and they are very evocative of estuarine habitats where halfbeaks, particularly juveniles of marine species, are very common. Try and find wild-type giant sailfin mollies. They're around 5 to 6 inches long, and truly impressive fish. Neither will be at any risk from the waspfish, though their fry might be, though halfbeak fry will probably stay well away from the substrate and so relatively safe.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[Flumpus]

I second the suggestion of a figure 8 and knight gobies. That's what I have in my 29g brackish tank, and I don't think I'd do anything different. I probably have more knight gobies than I should (four), but so far so good. They've been in there close to nine months now, without a problem.