Thinking about brackish...

[StingrayKid]

I'm thinking about making a lil' 5 gallon I found in my basement into a bracksih aquarium and buying a GSP to put in it. I want to know how much salt I have to put in it and what kind of salt. I have regular aquarium salt but, do you need to use marine aquarium salt?

 

[kevin007]

5 gallon? ...too small of a tank for gsp

 

[StingrayKid]

A green spotted puffer? GodricPuffer has his in a 6 gallon... They don't get very big.... I really need to know about the salt more than the fish right now.

 

[FrankSlapperinni]

What you have to understand about a salt water tank is that salt (obviously) does not evaporate, and for every drop of water that evaporates, the salinity changes. The smaller the tank, the quicker the salinity changes. Salinity changes are one of the more stressful water conditions that can effect your fish.
I would recommend a 10 gallon absolute minimum for a GSP, if you realy want puffers in your 5 gallon, you should go with the popular dwarf puffers.

 

[StingrayKid]

Yeah, but my 10 gallon is going to be my DP tank. I'll just make my 5 freshwater!

 

[diVer]

GSPs need about 30 gallons per fish. I hope you don't plan on keeping one in either a 5 or a 10 gallon.

 

[samsung-401]

I didn't know that...

 

[StingrayKid]

Yeah, I'm not planning on putting GSP's in anymore. I plan on dwarf puffers in my 10 and guppies in my 5.

 

[GP]

Hi, I see I was mentioned so I'll put my info in here. The GSP gets to be up to 6 inches. Thats BIG!! He is only a baby right now, and in a month he will be in a 20 gallon growout, then later put in a 60 gallon, with two GSP's. My 6 gallon is only a very short temp tank. Good choice on the dwarfs btw.

 

[SirMinion]

You won't regret getting dwarfs, they are full of character.

Lovely little guys.

 

[Clare]

Most brackish water fish require a salinity level of 1006, 1000 being freshwater and 1025 being marine. Hydrometer is best way to check.
As brackish water fish are often estuarine fish they can often tolerate and often actually benefit from variations in salt levels, this is when in a general sized tank and depends on what fish you have.
I agree that small tanks would change rapidly and stress the fish but my figure eights ( 2 in a 200 litre tank ) benefit from this and seem healthy and happy. Readings i have are 1004 to 1008.

 

[GP]

Thanks Clare, but he changed his mind to Dwarf Puffers. I think it was a good choice!