First steps as brackish keeper

Laticauda · 12/14/2010, 01:48 PM

Hello,
My name is Raychel, I've been keeping freshwater on and off for the last ten years.

Currently, I have a 90 gallon fancy goldfish tank with albino corydoras, normal and albino bristlenose plecos, and a few endlers livebearers.
I also have a 55 gallon (long) that houses fancy goldfish and a small Panaque maccus, a 29 gallon with fancy goldfish, and a 55 gallon ("tall" - 36"L, 18"W, 20"T) planted tank that has my freshwater angels, bristlenose plecos, peacock gudgeons and a handful of types of livebearers.

Anyway, now that you have a little bit of history on me, now I will go into why I am here! I recently was given many (15) fancy goldfish, and am buying a 125 to help with my problem of overstocked tanks. This tank currently houses many brackish fish, including a "freshwater toadfish." The family had become rather attached to her, and insisted I take her. At first I said "no" but over time, she grew on me (they sent me a picture and told me her name, from then on, I knew it was over and I couldn't fight it anymore.) I've agreed to keep her, and plan on putting her in the 55 long that is currently housing some fancy goldfish, which will be moved to the 125, so Sprocket (that's the toadfish's name) will be the only fish in the 55 long.

First, I'd like to ask some opinions on how to properly identify her, so I can properly research her care to give her the best home possible. Since I don't know her species, I plan on duplicating her current husbandry as best I can until the time comes when I can make the appropriate adjustments for her species. She is being fed on frozen Hikari krill from forceps (luckily for me!)

Also, whatever other tips you can provide me would be awesome. I plan on running a Fluval 405 with her old sump media inside so she can have a cycled tank from the get-go. Will this canister be adequate filtration for this one fish in the 55 gallon? Will I need to add an airstone for additional oxygen diffusion, or since she is just one fish, will the surface (gentle) ripple from the filter output be enough to keep the water oxygenated enough?

Any other tips/tricks you can think of to help me would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance! Oh, and here is a picture of Sprocket....I love her already.

Sk8r · 12/14/2010, 01:51 PM

I wish we could help you. The marine hobby is quite different: we don't universally use filters at all---live sand and rock is our filter; and we use a skimmer to remove waste.

I did have a brackish once in the long ago, and ran it off a hang-on filter of some kind: the one thing that I think would help you is getting an autotopoff float switch (mine is from autotopoff.com) to keep your salinity steady; and then it should be much like any freshwater tank.

sslak · 12/14/2010, 02:22 PM

Cool fish!

Brackish is foreign to me...I went from fresh to reef.

It sounds like you have the experience to pull it off, like you said just duplicate what is being done now and try to improve as you learn through research!

Welcome to reef central! Lots of great information to be had here!

ExPeNsIvE HoBbY · 12/14/2010, 03:10 PM

I have kept brackish fish/tanks/conditions for sometime now. All I can say is find out how much salt(marine salt mix) is needed to reach the Specific Gravity/Salinity needed as there are no calculators or set values for how much to mix.

Another note, the Specific Gravity can fluctuate as these fish do quite commonly inhabit reef areas, and also mangrove swamps/estuaries in the wild.

As for filtration, the fluval 405 will be sufficient. As far as aeration, a bubble stone/wand contributes very little to total dissolved oxygen levels. A powerhead with a Venturi driven aerator is a much better option and by far more effective.

The fish in question: Batrachomoeus trispinosus, commonly known as a "freshwater lionfish" or Three Spine Toadfish requires high end brackish conditions 1.020-1.023 relative specific gravity. Temperature requirements are the same as most tropical fish, 77°-82°F.

Sounds like you have feeding down, but just make sure to vary it's diet as much as possible.

As far as decoration, make sure you have some good hiding spaces as this fish is normally quite still and reclusive, and these hiding spots will help keep stress levels down.

If you have any other questions just let me know.

Laticauda · 12/14/2010, 10:58 PM

Would a 55 gallon be big enough for this fish and the "freshwater" eel that's also in the tank?

There are also two archer fish and a Colombian catfish in the tank, but I know those are definitely too big for a 55 gallon.

I realize people here are saltwater, but this is the closest I can find for help and advice for brackish! Thanks in advance.

ExPeNsIvE HoBbY · 12/14/2010, 11:19 PM

Well actually i am not a saltwater guy so I think I can help
As farmas the tank size, i would suggest a larger tank. The good news is you can pick up a 135g for as cheap as $200 brand new. I picked up one of mine new with stand for $412 out the door after tax.

As far as the "freshwater eel" I assume you are talking about the Gymnothorax Family which would be G. Afer, G. Polyuranodon, G. Rhodochilus, G. Tile. Most likey a Gymnothorax Tile, the most common available moray species in the brackish realm.

Make sure with the eel, you have a very tight fitting lid with no holes larger than about half the size of the eel, they are very good at sneaking out!

As for the archer fish and the columbian shark, they all can be kept together, but yes a larger aquarium is needed.

Expected sizes of your fish(roughly):
Toadfish: 12"
G. Tile: 24"
Columbian Shark: 16"
Archerfish: 6"

As you can see it would be quite crowded, but a cool mix of fish.

Another note, the columbian "shark" is actually a schooling fish when young, up to about 8" or so.

ExPeNsIvE HoBbY · 12/14/2010, 11:19 PM

Hope that helps

Laticauda · 12/15/2010, 12:16 AM

Haha! I'm buying a 125 for my goldfish, these fish are just bystanders! They are the current residents, but I need the 125 for my goldies who are horrifically overstocked right now.

I promised I'd take good care of the toadfish, and if I don't have room for the eel, then it will probably just go where the archers and catfish go. I've posted them up on the local fish site, hopefully someone will be interested in taking them off my hands. It would break my heart to have to "donate" them to the LFS!

12/14/2010, 01:51 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I wish we could help you. The marine hobby is quite different: we don't universally use filters at all---live sand and rock is our filter; and we use a skimmer to remove waste. I did have a brackish once in the long ago, and ran it off a hang-on filter of some kind: the one thing that I think would help you is getting an autotopoff float switch (mine is from autotopoff.com) to keep your salinity steady; and then it should be much like any freshwater tank. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/14/2010, 02:22 PM	#3
sslak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,705	Cool fish! Brackish is foreign to me...I went from fresh to reef. It sounds like you have the experience to pull it off, like you said just duplicate what is being done now and try to improve as you learn through research! Welcome to reef central! Lots of great information to be had here! __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 58 Oceanic/20g Sump/250w XM 20k/2x39w T5 True Actinic 03/2010 Reef Octopus NW Cone Skimmer

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12/14/2010, 03:10 PM	#4
ExPeNsIvE HoBbY Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 8	I have kept brackish fish/tanks/conditions for sometime now. All I can say is find out how much salt(marine salt mix) is needed to reach the Specific Gravity/Salinity needed as there are no calculators or set values for how much to mix. Another note, the Specific Gravity can fluctuate as these fish do quite commonly inhabit reef areas, and also mangrove swamps/estuaries in the wild. As for filtration, the fluval 405 will be sufficient. As far as aeration, a bubble stone/wand contributes very little to total dissolved oxygen levels. A powerhead with a Venturi driven aerator is a much better option and by far more effective. The fish in question: Batrachomoeus trispinosus, commonly known as a "freshwater lionfish" or Three Spine Toadfish requires high end brackish conditions 1.020-1.023 relative specific gravity. Temperature requirements are the same as most tropical fish, 77°-82°F. Sounds like you have feeding down, but just make sure to vary it's diet as much as possible. As far as decoration, make sure you have some good hiding spaces as this fish is normally quite still and reclusive, and these hiding spots will help keep stress levels down. If you have any other questions just let me know.

12/14/2010, 10:58 PM	#5
Laticauda Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 3	Would a 55 gallon be big enough for this fish and the "freshwater" eel that's also in the tank? There are also two archer fish and a Colombian catfish in the tank, but I know those are definitely too big for a 55 gallon. I realize people here are saltwater, but this is the closest I can find for help and advice for brackish! Thanks in advance.

12/14/2010, 11:19 PM	#6
ExPeNsIvE HoBbY Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 8	Well actually i am not a saltwater guy so I think I can help As farmas the tank size, i would suggest a larger tank. The good news is you can pick up a 135g for as cheap as $200 brand new. I picked up one of mine new with stand for $412 out the door after tax. As far as the "freshwater eel" I assume you are talking about the Gymnothorax Family which would be G. Afer, G. Polyuranodon, G. Rhodochilus, G. Tile. Most likey a Gymnothorax Tile, the most common available moray species in the brackish realm. Make sure with the eel, you have a very tight fitting lid with no holes larger than about half the size of the eel, they are very good at sneaking out! As for the archer fish and the columbian shark, they all can be kept together, but yes a larger aquarium is needed. Expected sizes of your fish(roughly): Toadfish: 12" G. Tile: 24" Columbian Shark: 16" Archerfish: 6" As you can see it would be quite crowded, but a cool mix of fish. Another note, the columbian "shark" is actually a schooling fish when young, up to about 8" or so.

12/15/2010, 12:16 AM	#8
Laticauda Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 3	Haha! I'm buying a 125 for my goldfish, these fish are just bystanders! They are the current residents, but I need the 125 for my goldies who are horrifically overstocked right now. I promised I'd take good care of the toadfish, and if I don't have room for the eel, then it will probably just go where the archers and catfish go. I've posted them up on the local fish site, hopefully someone will be interested in taking them off my hands. It would break my heart to have to "donate" them to the LFS!