How much instant ocean for brackish water

They are not too expensive and are betting than using a rough guide. That said, I don't know if fiddler crabs are sensitive to salinity changes but I'd still recommend knowing your water parameters. Congrats on doing the research :thm: It looks to be an interesting tank. Jayhawk AC Members. May 12, 1, 3 38 Lawrence, KS. One tablespoon per gallon gets me to about 1. Your water in your tank will become more brackish as some is lost to evaporation, so if you keep putting in exactly the same amount of salt eventually your SG will creep up.

Hydrometers are a necessity, because you'll eventually use less salt than you do at first to make water at the right salinity. Well, thank you guys. When I first found the forum and posted my quick question my baby was crying to get up from bed so I didn't have time to search the forum.

Then after he was settled I came back and searched and found the sticky post on FAQ's along with the jokes that maybe it will help reduce the newbie questions on "how much salt But thank you for your gentle answers which I am sure y'all have probably answered a hundred times by now. I will see if I can find a hydrometer but where would I even look to buy one? It will have to be VERY inexpensive for me to get one right now.

Otherwise, I may just go in on the very low end of your estimate, Liz , and gradually introduce it to these guys. I was sold one crab as an alternative to ghost shrimp which I have had before I should have known better and done my research first, but I do get impatient sometimes. The LFS sells them as freshwater pets. Bad, bad. Question How do I start a brackish tank? Megabeth Nov 26, Brackish Tank. Replies 22 Views Nov 28, Kribensis Zach Sep 15, Aquarium Plants.

Replies 3 Views Oct 28, wishuponafish. Latest Aquarium Threads. Bought a new plant, need ID please. Started by Ellebrius 9 minutes ago Replies: 1. Plant ID. New here but not to fish keeping! Started by lazylathe 25 minutes ago Replies: 1. Welcome to FishLore. Top Bottom. Many brackish estuary fish will require slow increases in salinity as they grow to adults, eventually reaching full marine salinity.

Most brackish fish, like puffers, datnoids, mollies and gobies, however, do well on 2 tablespoons of salt per gallon of water. Before adding your favorite fish, your tank must "cycle" or become biologically stable.

Cycling is the process where a nitrifying bacteria colonizes in your filter and gravel. This bacteria's job is to detoxify the wastes created by your fish. You will notice that within the first few weeks by testing your water, ammonia and nitrite levels will rise in the tank and slowly decrease.

Also during this time you may see the water in the aquarium start to cloud or look grey. Do not worry, this is natural, the cloudiness will pass quickly on its own, or you can add a bacteria supplement such as Stress Zyme or Cycle to help lower ammonia levels and aid in the cycle.

Fish can be added about three days after setting up your aquarium. This time allows all the salt to mix, and temperature and pH stabilize. To get started, you need to begin with starter fish. The cycling process is very stressful for most fish so we recommend hearty starters.

These are usually black mollies for the brackish aquarium. While your aquarium is cycling do not change any water, clean out your filter media or add more fish. Your tank will be completely cycled when ammonia and nitrite both test at zero and nitrate tests low. This can take anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks. The key here is to be patient. Brackish water will also have a higher PH and alkalinity than freshwater. So when you are setting up your brackish tank, you will want your salinity to measure 1.

You can use any sized tank that you like when setting up a brackish tank. There is no minimum or maximum size. But the same rules apply when choosing the appropriately sized fish for the tank. If you choose a smaller size aquarium, you will be limited to smaller fish.

A larger tank above 30 gallons will give you more options. Many brackish fish are active and need plenty of swimming space.

As with all aquariums, filtration is important. You will need to maintain excellent filtration on your brackish aquarium. You can use a hang on back filter, canister filter, internal filter, or a sump system. When choosing the type of substrate for your brackish tank, you will want to replicate the natural environments.

You can use a sand or gravel base or a mix of both. Crushed coral and aragonite sand is also popular as this will help maintain PH and hardness water levels. Specific lighting for a brackish water tank is not a requirement like it is for a saltwater reef tank or freshwater planted tank. Any light that is aquarium safe and makes the tank and fish look good will work fine. If you are keeping plants in your tank, you will need to make sure your light is suitable for maintaining plant life.

It can take many weeks for an aquarium to finish cycling and become safe for adding fish. This is where beneficial bacteria will form naturally throughout your tank. Over a period of weeks, the bacteria will begin to breakdown harmful ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate.