12 replies to this topic

[shayne]

Gday all, I want to change a 60ltr tank to upper level brackish and would like advice on how slowly/quickly,if at all  i can add the salt water and not knock out my established BB. Tank has thin layer of gravel and 2 well established sponge filters. Any advice on acclimating BB or even starting from the beginning welcome. Thankyou

[Poncho]

I've only just done the same thing and did it in one whack. I didn't notice any major impact but have two fish in the tank so it's not ha ill stocked

[Buccal]

Many treatments using salt is usually close to same dosages as making a tank brackish,,,,, this small elevation in salt should not have any noticeable impact on filtration beneficial bacteria.
But just do it in two halves, the third day being second dose.
Make sure you get the measurements for additional salt for every water change correct and keep a salt measuring device in tank at all times, even though salinity creeping up a bit is ok,,, but you may obtain species that don't like levels of salt to high.
Remember also as water evaporates the salt does not and stays.,, so the more water evaporates, then the salt levels become higher.

I'm I being to nosy asking what your considering on keeping that's brackish ????

[shayne]

Thanks for the replies guys, am going to make the change slowly but with more confidence. Buccal the fish is i believe [best guess] a devil fish/ Gymnapistes marmoratus. A real oddball. I was telling some one about my recently acquired bullrout and they said i caught a western bullrout do you want it? No such thing i believe but i grabbed him anyway. Captured in the lowest reaches of the Swan and only ever water changed with fresh i'm told. Whilst he is still living i don't think this could be the best for him long term.Want to treat him well and the knowledge gained will help when my juvie Mono argents grow and need brackish. My other concern for this little guy will be maximum/minimum temps.Come summer if he needs a chiller he may be released or offered on here.

Edited by shayne, 14 June 2016 - 05:19 PM.

[Buccal]

Ok, I see,, yes this fish is just in huge numbers in the Albany inlet,,, the mullet nets and Cobler gidgey fishos see them all the time in the shallows at night under a touch, as I saw millions of them in my time at Albany.
They are similar to the native trumpeter,,, meaning not really brackish but do fairly in brackish,,, certain populations do better than others being subjected to higher levels of fresh water.....
And yes I'd say your summer time temp aim would be 27'c absolute max,,, and very heavy airation with or without hot weather.
Get your proper aquarium ocean salt, not for treatments but for making ocean water stuff.
This proper ocean extracted salts or specific made ones will have many valuable trace elements which support strengthened immune systems.
Also pay attention to carbonate levels,,, keep at the higher end of the realms of the fish calculated from a mean average of all tank mate likings of KH GH levels,,, which should be high being brackish or higher still with salt water.

And what you have from the swan is either a actual stonefish which is a reletive anyway, or a scorpion fish.
Scorpion fish I wouldn't imagine fairing to well, but stone fish are known to adapt in many situations.
Spun out bloody things,,, only a face that god would love.

[malawiman85]

This is the guy.

[shayne]

Thanks for the advice but i lean towards my ID. Haven't counted the dorsal fins or been brave enough to pat it and confirm scaleless skin. Has the cheek spines. I'm using an old museum published fish ID book and one by Swainston publishing.No tank mates as yet other than some unlucky shrimp  .If i can make this work i might throw in a small trumpeter or even the much loathed blowfish.

Thanks MM, you know this new fangled computer stuff is beyond me.

[Buccal]

Lol, I thought you were saying you got a devil fish, and your mate Also gave you a fish from the swan,,,, but the whole time you were talking about the same fish.....
And yep that's the ones I see at Albany in MM's pic.
Their eye shines super bright under a torch at night, more so than other fish.
Except for the stonefish and scorpion fish I mentioned, it all still stands.

Edited by Buccal, 14 June 2016 - 07:52 PM.

[Jules]

you get it from brett?

I was gonna get it for one of my tanks, he said it was fairing well in full fresh.

[Buccal]

There are some populations found to inhabit many of the same areas as the native sooty grunter (trumpeter) in southern wa.
The sootys are very tolerant of fresh water, and same type of habitat types hang out,, so it seems ok to assume fresh is ok.
Good to employ a bit of sea salt though,,, keeps the pathogens and nasties from effecting fish as easy.

[shayne]

you get it from brett?

I was gonna get it for one of my tanks, he said it was fairing well in full fresh.

Probably was Jules can't imagine to many around.Really should learn his name, so far he is that cool guy at the fish shop. He said a mate had expressed interest but hadn't got back. He had limited room and wanted to see his living conditions upgraded. He does appear to be ok in fresh but on the limited info i have so far i just feared it might not be good for him long term.. Amazing looking critter when i have to shake him of a sponge filter and convince myself he's still ok. Arches the dorsal and flexes his cheek spines, it would make a warthog think twice.Would like to know if fresh was good enough long term and think they would appeal to some oddball keepers.

[Buccal]

If a fish is being effected by osmosis issues (cellular collapse), it'll stop eating and you'll see the signs,,, within a week you'll know.

[shayne]

There are some populations found to inhabit many of the same areas as the native sooty grunter (trumpeter) in southern wa.
The sootys are very tolerant of fresh water, and same type of habitat types hang out,, so it seems ok to assume fresh is ok.
Good to employ a bit of sea salt though,,, keeps the pathogens and nasties from effecting fish as easy.

Am using saltwater purchased from a sponsor and going sloowwwly .

Edited by shayne, 15 June 2016 - 08:10 PM.