:scratch: Mr. Dawson and Olaf: I am just getting back into aquariums after a very long sabbatical. I received a nice 55 gal tank at Xmas, w/ power head and bio-wheel filter. After the 45 day break-in, I decided I wanted scats and mono's. The guy at the LFS told me how easy they are and to set up for the brackish, I'd only need to add sea salt at 1 tbs / 5 gallons. WHAT A CROCK THAT WAS! After losing 3 mono's ( the LFS replaced 2) I figured something had to be wrong. I awoke this am to find #4 and last Mono struggling on the bottom. The others died over night so I couldn't see what type of distress they were in. I jumped on the Net, and found this discusion forum and you guys. Thank God! I read through several of your communications and surmmized there was probably low salt in the tank. I drove to town, got a hydrometer and more salt, a test kit, etc. Low and behold, the SG in the tank was "1.000"! With Mono almost gone [ others seemingly doing well, silvers, greens and sabae] I started adding salt to a SG of 1.005. Buy golly the Mono perked and started swimming around. The others got more rambunctious too. Like a shot of steroids. I guess the FS guys are in it for the $$$, certainly not a credible resource for info. Thanks to you both!
Scat newbee
- Thread starter jericsen
- Start date
Just be careful that the sudden spike in salinity doesn't hurt the bacteria in the filter (1.005 shouldn't but just be cautious of an ammonia spike). Not sure if you know so I will state it anyway, both Scats and Monos get rather large as adults with Monos getting 9 inches and Scats getting a bit over a foot long. So they will be too large for a 55 when adult, so just warning. They will also want to be in full saltwater as adults too. Anyway, as long as you know these things you should be good to go! Congratulations with them and good luck!
As for mixing salt into the water I usually do it in a 5 or 6 gal bucket. Letting it sit for some time (at least a few hours, if not a whole day).
Sorry, to hear of the misfortune.
There are very few FS that have the right info.
Good luck w/ your tank.
I am in the process of moving. I set up my old 90 gal to put my fish in, as I setup my 150 gal in my new place. The fish will be cramped for a little bit but I felt that it was the best way of doing this. (T.G. I didn't sell that 90 gal yet).
This new place wasn't in the original goal of finding a place that I could setup up that HUGE tank (20'L x 20'W x 8'H) like the picture I posted over a year ago. The job market REALLY SUCKS here. I have been unemployed for almost a year. I was doing desk-side support for a forture 100 company. I guess I did my job too well.
I am a dislocated designer that knows computer stuff, that is how I got that job.
Well, life has detours for a reason. I will just have to reset my timeline for my goals.
Blah blah blah ok I'll stop.
Sorry, to hear of the misfortune.
There are very few FS that have the right info.
Good luck w/ your tank.
I am in the process of moving. I set up my old 90 gal to put my fish in, as I setup my 150 gal in my new place. The fish will be cramped for a little bit but I felt that it was the best way of doing this. (T.G. I didn't sell that 90 gal yet).
This new place wasn't in the original goal of finding a place that I could setup up that HUGE tank (20'L x 20'W x 8'H) like the picture I posted over a year ago. The job market REALLY SUCKS here. I have been unemployed for almost a year. I was doing desk-side support for a forture 100 company. I guess I did my job too well.
I am a dislocated designer that knows computer stuff, that is how I got that job.
Well, life has detours for a reason. I will just have to reset my timeline for my goals.
Blah blah blah ok I'll stop.
Thanks all for the feedback. I am learning more and more as I scan the net. This is such a great forum! As for the size of the fish...what a great reason to get a bigger tank down the road !As for the salinity vs. ammonia, I will keep a vigil eye. I was so pleased, however, this morning when I checked on my critters, that they were all alive, happy and accounted for. My plan is to SLOWLY raise the salinity in the tank to 1.015 over several weeks. I didn't want to exceed 1.005 as all other co-habitants were seemingly doing well at 1.000. I am just grateful that the initial salt dose brought back my Mono.
About feeding....they are varocious eaters. Everything from flake to cabbage, brine shrimp, blood worms, zuchinni. It seems every time I walk by the tank, they want to eat! [much like me
]. However, I am only feeding 2 x daily. Would appreciate suggestions here. 9 fish total: 1 mono, 2 sabae, 2 silver, 2 green, 2 blck tip shark cats. Oh yes, 1 zebra stripe snail. I feed 1 cube shrimp or blood worms in the am and a quarter size portion of flakes in the evening and float something green during the day. They attack that as they wish.Again, my thanks.
I'm glad to see someone who's putting the effort to giving monos and scats the care they deserve.
However, if you really want to keep them you're going to need a much larger tank. I have 5 mono argentus and 2 silver scats in my 135g and it's beginning to get cramped. You'll also need a very efficient filtration system to go along with them as in case you haven't noticed yet (with them being so young probably) they make ALOT of waste. If you feed them lettuce or spinach, be prepared to go through alot of filter floss and get yourself a protein skimmer. You'll need at least a 150-200g tank to keep all those fish, because even though the max size doesn't exceed the 1" per gallon rule in that type of setting they produce enough waste to make you reach for the python every day. 2x daily is a bit much, one good feeding a day (taking them less than 3 minutes to clean it all up) is good enough for them. Feed them lettuce or spinach once a week. Too much roughage is bad on the water quality. Also, I didn't notice this mentioned but just in case make sure you're using marine salt. Alot of people getting back into the hobby or starting on brackish are told aquarium salt will be fine by the dreaded ***Aquarium shop employee***!!!!
Try to build the tank in the sense that you're keeping SW fish, because esentially you are. Just not right away.
Anyways, a few of us have been through it all with monos and scats so feel free to PM I or anyone else.
Since I haven't Done so, here is a picture of my babies!
However, if you really want to keep them you're going to need a much larger tank. I have 5 mono argentus and 2 silver scats in my 135g and it's beginning to get cramped. You'll also need a very efficient filtration system to go along with them as in case you haven't noticed yet (with them being so young probably) they make ALOT of waste. If you feed them lettuce or spinach, be prepared to go through alot of filter floss and get yourself a protein skimmer. You'll need at least a 150-200g tank to keep all those fish, because even though the max size doesn't exceed the 1" per gallon rule in that type of setting they produce enough waste to make you reach for the python every day. 2x daily is a bit much, one good feeding a day (taking them less than 3 minutes to clean it all up) is good enough for them. Feed them lettuce or spinach once a week. Too much roughage is bad on the water quality. Also, I didn't notice this mentioned but just in case make sure you're using marine salt. Alot of people getting back into the hobby or starting on brackish are told aquarium salt will be fine by the dreaded ***Aquarium shop employee***!!!!
Try to build the tank in the sense that you're keeping SW fish, because esentially you are. Just not right away.
Anyways, a few of us have been through it all with monos and scats so feel free to PM I or anyone else.
Since I haven't Done so, here is a picture of my babies!