brackish?

[t]

Howdy !!! :) I have had a couple of large and small aquariums going
over the years that have consisted of strictly freshwater setups. As most
aquarists, I had always wanted to try something different. I am much more
interested in starting a brackish tank rather then a full out Marine tank.
Is there anyone out there that is a Brackish enthusiast? I need some help! I
think i made my first mistake. I set up a 20gal aquarium. We had moved and I
had to setup my 90gal freshwater, which has a sand substrate. I had been
wanting to unload some of the sand for ahwile, so this was the perfect
opprotunity to do so, and while I was working away, I remembered that
20gal I had been wanting to set up in a spare room. Immediately I thought,
Brackish. It was set up an hour later. As soon as it was set up, I got a Bag
of Instant Ocean and added the correct amount (I think) for a Brackish setup
and it has been sitting a week with just the sand and a couple of filters
going. I am eager to set up the ornaments and plants and such and get it
going with some fish. However I think I may have a problem. I just realized
that all of the fish stores in my town that even happen to have brackish
species, they are always sold as freshwater fish, and kept as so in
freshwater tanks.
All of the info I have read says to adapt them SLOWLY to the salt. So
basically I should have setup the tank, and only added the salt over a
period of time....
Is there any way around this? Or do I have to empty it and set it all up
again?
Another question is, what type of test kit can I aquire that can tell me
that salinity of the tank?



Any advice as to anything I can do would be great! :)

thanks in advance...

Tristan

[Billy]

"t" > wrote in message
...


> Is there any way around this? Or do I have to empty it and set it
> all up
> again?

I have only had one brackish tank, but yes, sadly, from my experience
and research, you may want to take the following steps:

1: Very large water change with fresh (treated) water.
2: Acquire a hydrometer or refractometer. Refractometers are
significantly more accurate, but the price reflects this. Nearly any
LFS that sells marine equipment will have hydrometers. Research the
fish you intend to keep to determine the salinity level that they
will require.
3: Aquire a fish or 2, something like mollies that are (generally)
pretty stout, and adaptable from fresh to full sal****er.
4: Increase your salinity by degrees over a long period of time, like
a few weeks. Longer the better, naturally.
5: Additional fish should be acclimated in a quarantine tank or every
time you want a new fish you're going to be faced with the same
predicament, compounded by the fact that you have fish in the tank
already that are acclimated to brackish.

Good luck, and keep posting!

billy

[t]

THANKS a bunch for your reply! :) its much appreciated... one idea i had was
to get a 5 gal. tank for the purpose of getting newcomers use to the water
conditions...

so that may be the route i take..

any other suggestions or comments.. welcome!

thanks,
Tristan

"Billy" > wrote in message
...
>
> "t" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>
> > Is there any way around this? Or do I have to empty it and set it
> > all up
> > again?
>
> I have only had one brackish tank, but yes, sadly, from my experience
> and research, you may want to take the following steps:
>
> 1: Very large water change with fresh (treated) water.
> 2: Acquire a hydrometer or refractometer. Refractometers are
> significantly more accurate, but the price reflects this. Nearly any
> LFS that sells marine equipment will have hydrometers. Research the
> fish you intend to keep to determine the salinity level that they
> will require.
> 3: Aquire a fish or 2, something like mollies that are (generally)
> pretty stout, and adaptable from fresh to full sal****er.
> 4: Increase your salinity by degrees over a long period of time, like
> a few weeks. Longer the better, naturally.
> 5: Additional fish should be acclimated in a quarantine tank or every
> time you want a new fish you're going to be faced with the same
> predicament, compounded by the fact that you have fish in the tank
> already that are acclimated to brackish.
>
> Good luck, and keep posting!
>
> billy
>
>

[NetMax]

"t" > wrote in message
...
> Howdy !!! :) I have had a couple of large and small aquariums going
> over the years that have consisted of strictly freshwater setups. As
> most
> aquarists, I had always wanted to try something different. I am much
> more
> interested in starting a brackish tank rather then a full out Marine
> tank.
> Is there anyone out there that is a Brackish enthusiast? I need some
> help! I
> think i made my first mistake. I set up a 20gal aquarium. We had moved
> and I
> had to setup my 90gal freshwater, which has a sand substrate. I had
> been
> wanting to unload some of the sand for ahwile, so this was the perfect
> opprotunity to do so, and while I was working away, I remembered that
> 20gal I had been wanting to set up in a spare room. Immediately I
> thought,
> Brackish. It was set up an hour later. As soon as it was set up, I got
> a Bag
> of Instant Ocean and added the correct amount (I think) for a Brackish
> setup
> and it has been sitting a week with just the sand and a couple of
> filters
> going. I am eager to set up the ornaments and plants and such and get
> it
> going with some fish. However I think I may have a problem. I just
> realized
> that all of the fish stores in my town that even happen to have
> brackish
> species, they are always sold as freshwater fish, and kept as so in
> freshwater tanks.
> All of the info I have read says to adapt them SLOWLY to the salt. So
> basically I should have setup the tank, and only added the salt over a
> period of time....
> Is there any way around this? Or do I have to empty it and set it all
> up
> again?
> Another question is, what type of test kit can I aquire that can tell
> me
> that salinity of the tank?
>
>
>
> Any advice as to anything I can do would be great! :)
>
> thanks in advance...
>
> Tristan


I've personally never found brackish fish to be particularly susceptible
to changes in salt levels. By definition, brackish fish move between
waters of varying salinity (or else they would be freshwater fish or
marine ;~). Many brackish fish move between marine and brackish
according to seasonal feeding patterns, and livebearers at the mouths of
rivers are exposed to increased salinity whenever the river slows or they
move away from the mouth. Salinity also stratifies into layers (in
nature), so fish moving from the substrate to the surface will
potentially cross different concentrations. Me thinks you are worrying
too much ;~). Keep your salt levels modest and acclimate them as normal.
Don't ask me technical details on salt levels though, as I let mine
wander around quite a bit. hth
--
www.NetMax.tk

[NetMax]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> "t" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Howdy !!! :) I have had a couple of large and small aquariums going
>> over the years that have consisted of strictly freshwater setups. As
>> most
>> aquarists, I had always wanted to try something different. I am much
>> more
>> interested in starting a brackish tank rather then a full out Marine
>> tank.
>> Is there anyone out there that is a Brackish enthusiast? I need some
>> help! I
>> think i made my first mistake. I set up a 20gal aquarium. We had moved
>> and I
>> had to setup my 90gal freshwater, which has a sand substrate. I had
>> been
>> wanting to unload some of the sand for ahwile, so this was the perfect
>> opprotunity to do so, and while I was working away, I remembered
>> that
>> 20gal I had been wanting to set up in a spare room. Immediately I
>> thought,
>> Brackish. It was set up an hour later. As soon as it was set up, I got
>> a Bag
>> of Instant Ocean and added the correct amount (I think) for a Brackish
>> setup
>> and it has been sitting a week with just the sand and a couple of
>> filters
>> going. I am eager to set up the ornaments and plants and such and get
>> it
>> going with some fish. However I think I may have a problem. I just
>> realized
>> that all of the fish stores in my town that even happen to have
>> brackish
>> species, they are always sold as freshwater fish, and kept as so in
>> freshwater tanks.
>> All of the info I have read says to adapt them SLOWLY to the salt. So
>> basically I should have setup the tank, and only added the salt over a
>> period of time....
>> Is there any way around this? Or do I have to empty it and set it all
>> up
>> again?
>> Another question is, what type of test kit can I aquire that can tell
>> me
>> that salinity of the tank?
>>
>>
>>
>> Any advice as to anything I can do would be great! :)
>>
>> thanks in advance...
>>
>> Tristan
>
>
> I've personally never found brackish fish to be particularly
> susceptible to changes in salt levels. By definition, brackish fish
> move between waters of varying salinity (or else they would be
> freshwater fish or marine ;~). Many brackish fish move between marine
> and brackish according to seasonal feeding patterns, and livebearers at
> the mouths of rivers are exposed to increased salinity whenever the
> river slows or they move away from the mouth. Salinity also stratifies
> into layers (in nature), so fish moving from the substrate to the
> surface will potentially cross different concentrations. Me thinks you
> are worrying too much ;~). Keep your salt levels modest and acclimate
> them as normal. Don't ask me technical details on salt levels though,
> as I let mine wander around quite a bit. hth
> --
> www.NetMax.tk

You'll find this useful (brackish FAQ, which hopefully doesn't contradict
me too much ;~)
http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/aquaria/brackfaqpart1int.html#top
--
www.NetMax.tk

[t]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! :)



"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> .. .
> > "t" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> Howdy !!! :) I have had a couple of large and small aquariums going
> >> over the years that have consisted of strictly freshwater setups. As
> >> most
> >> aquarists, I had always wanted to try something different. I am much
> >> more
> >> interested in starting a brackish tank rather then a full out Marine
> >> tank.
> >> Is there anyone out there that is a Brackish enthusiast? I need some
> >> help! I
> >> think i made my first mistake. I set up a 20gal aquarium. We had moved
> >> and I
> >> had to setup my 90gal freshwater, which has a sand substrate. I had
> >> been
> >> wanting to unload some of the sand for ahwile, so this was the perfect
> >> opprotunity to do so, and while I was working away, I remembered
> >> that
> >> 20gal I had been wanting to set up in a spare room. Immediately I
> >> thought,
> >> Brackish. It was set up an hour later. As soon as it was set up, I got
> >> a Bag
> >> of Instant Ocean and added the correct amount (I think) for a Brackish
> >> setup
> >> and it has been sitting a week with just the sand and a couple of
> >> filters
> >> going. I am eager to set up the ornaments and plants and such and get
> >> it
> >> going with some fish. However I think I may have a problem. I just
> >> realized
> >> that all of the fish stores in my town that even happen to have
> >> brackish
> >> species, they are always sold as freshwater fish, and kept as so in
> >> freshwater tanks.
> >> All of the info I have read says to adapt them SLOWLY to the salt. So
> >> basically I should have setup the tank, and only added the salt over a
> >> period of time....
> >> Is there any way around this? Or do I have to empty it and set it all
> >> up
> >> again?
> >> Another question is, what type of test kit can I aquire that can tell
> >> me
> >> that salinity of the tank?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Any advice as to anything I can do would be great! :)
> >>
> >> thanks in advance...
> >>
> >> Tristan
> >
> >
> > I've personally never found brackish fish to be particularly
> > susceptible to changes in salt levels. By definition, brackish fish
> > move between waters of varying salinity (or else they would be
> > freshwater fish or marine ;~). Many brackish fish move between marine
> > and brackish according to seasonal feeding patterns, and livebearers at
> > the mouths of rivers are exposed to increased salinity whenever the
> > river slows or they move away from the mouth. Salinity also stratifies
> > into layers (in nature), so fish moving from the substrate to the
> > surface will potentially cross different concentrations. Me thinks you
> > are worrying too much ;~). Keep your salt levels modest and acclimate
> > them as normal. Don't ask me technical details on salt levels though,
> > as I let mine wander around quite a bit. hth
> > --
> > www.NetMax.tk
>
> You'll find this useful (brackish FAQ, which hopefully doesn't contradict
> me too much ;~)
> http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/aquaria/brackfaqpart1int.html#top
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>
>

[Ray Martini]

Couldn't he drip acclimate the fish slowly to get used to the tank?


"Billy" > wrote in message
...
>
> "t" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>
>> Is there any way around this? Or do I have to empty it and set it all up
>> again?
>
> I have only had one brackish tank, but yes, sadly, from my experience and
> research, you may want to take the following steps:
>
> 1: Very large water change with fresh (treated) water.
> 2: Acquire a hydrometer or refractometer. Refractometers are significantly
> more accurate, but the price reflects this. Nearly any LFS that sells
> marine equipment will have hydrometers. Research the fish you intend to
> keep to determine the salinity level that they will require.
> 3: Aquire a fish or 2, something like mollies that are (generally) pretty
> stout, and adaptable from fresh to full sal****er.
> 4: Increase your salinity by degrees over a long period of time, like a
> few weeks. Longer the better, naturally.
> 5: Additional fish should be acclimated in a quarantine tank or every time
> you want a new fish you're going to be faced with the same predicament,
> compounded by the fact that you have fish in the tank already that are
> acclimated to brackish.
>
> Good luck, and keep posting!
>
> billy
>

[Billy]

"Ray Martini" > wrote in message
...
> Couldn't he drip acclimate the fish slowly to get used to the tank?
>


Would depend on the species, I would think. As Max pointed out, some
fish move regularily from varying salt levels, and would adapt very
quickly to to the change. Others would require time to adapt. I
learned very early on to always err on the side of caution, which has
made me rather patient in such things.

b