Article Critique

[howlincody]

I was wondering if you could critique my brackish water aquarium article? It's basically just a rought draft now and I would appreciate any recommendations:
http://www.geocities.com/brackishaquarium/index.htm

Thanks ;-)

[RTR]

Very good start, I like the layout.

Detail of quick skim:

Paragraph 2: "...very unique..." "unique does not have comparisons - it is unique or it is not unique.

Setup 1 inhabitants: I disagree strongly - Monos are very active, schoolers, get very large very fast, should have more individuals to avoid conflict and should not be sharing space with hogs such as Scats, and hyperkinetics such as Colombian sharks. I know folk commonly do otherwise, but I think each of these should be species tank fish, and that a 75 is not large enough for 3 each of these anyway. You asked for opinion and that is mine. This is my only strong disagreement with whole article.

Setup 2: At the end you abbreviate tablespoon - either spell it out or use the standard abbreviation 'tbsp.' - the difference in tsp. and tbsp. are confusing enough without non-standard abbreviations. In the same sentence, "adequete" should be "adequate".

Setup 3: Do you really think box filters are adequate and prefereable to internal power filters or external canisters? This seems iffy to me, especially for the large fish such as Archers and Anableps, but it your choice.

"Large amounts of floating java moss and partially subdued also make it more realistic." ??? partially subdued needs clarification. I don't like the idea of floating Java Moss with Anableps or Archers.

HTH

[howlincody]

Thank you very much RTR for your constuctive critisism ;-). I have changed the article around and finished it.

Setup 1 inhabitants: I disagree strongly
You make a good point. I wanted to try to encourage people more, though, since most people are turned off by species tanks or tanks lacking alot of diversity. I suppose, though, if it will be bad for the fish, it should not be recommended.

Do you really think box filters are adequate and prefereable to internal power filters or external canisters?
Definitely not, heh, I didn't realize I put that there. I meant to say canister filters. Do they even make a box filter large enough for tanks above 10g?

"Large amounts of floating java moss and partially subdued also make it more realistic." ??? partially subdued needs clarification. I don't like the idea of floating Java Moss with Anableps or Archers.
I meant to type partially subdued lighting.

Thanks again for your critisism. Your's (or anybody else's) is welcome on the new version of the article. I would like to get this article as informative as possible before I start asking site webmasters to post it.

[GobyGuy5]

Hello, I caught a little spelling error,

Feeding should be done ATLEAST 2 times daily.

I've been researching a mangrove biotope tank for one of my future tanks, and I think you forgot about all the different types of crabs that inhabit mangrove estuaries, IMO they'd be worth mentioning for an interesting addition to a Mangrove setup. ;)

I'd also LOVE to see your sources, and I bet some other people would as well, could you message me about them? :D

GREAT ARTICLE, the best I've come across on the subject!

[Pufferpunk]

I like your article. when it is perfected, I'll be happy to refer to it for any BW set-up questions.

I do have a few comments/questions:

I feel that brackish tanks do better with emphasis on mechanical filtration rather than biological filtration Why?

Although Java Fern and Java Moss MAY survive, they will not survive the higher salinity level after you raise it gradually
I thought they have been found living in SW

...puffers, and silversides and can be as little as 5.5 gallons.
I don't know of any BW puffer that can live in a 5.5gal tank

Also, you only mention F8 puffers. What about other BW puffers?

I like the visuals, too!

[MonoSebaelover]

I have never had good luck (and have heard from many other people about the same problem) with keeping Fig 8 Puffers with Knight Gobies. I always found the Fig terrorized it and chopped its dorsal off :eek: ! Also include more brackish fish like Red Chromide Cichlids, Green Spotted Puffs, Dragonfish. Other than that nice article. You also might want to go in some depth about how big each individual fish gets, and what their temperment. Since this is a guide for the beginner they should know a bit about the fish they are keeping.

[howlincody]

Thanks alot, guys ;-). I really want this to be an article that the general brackish community agrees with before I start spreading the link.

I've just updated the article extensively. I've added mini-profiles for each fish...but I only have 3 pictures right now (I really wish I would have photographed my monos when I had them) which are the Molly, the Knight Goby, and the Celebes Rainbow.

I would REALLY appreciate any donations of good pictures they have taken of fish I don't have photographs of (which is the majority). I'll also give you credit under the pic.

Now, to get back to your questions:

I feel that brackish tanks do better with emphasis on mechanical filtration rather than biological filtration.
Why?
I put that mechanical filtration is better because I didn't want to advocate undergravel filters. I realize I shouldn't have excluded bio-wheels and I've corrected that ;-).

I thought [java fern and java moss] have been found living in SW

I've never heard of Java Fern and Java Moss surviving full salt water and I doubt it's true (i'm majoring in botany) but it's possible. Do you have links to prove this?

I don't know of any BW puffer that can live in a 5.5gal tank
You must have mis-read that. I meant that a general brackish tank could be 5.5 gallons but not all brackish fish could live in that tank size. I've changed the wording around ;-)

I have never had good luck (and have heard from many other people about the same problem) with keeping Fig 8 Puffers with Knight Gobies.
I've never heard this but I've changed it ;-).

I think you forgot about all the different types of crabs that inhabit mangrove estuaries
I agree that this would be an awesome tank but I was trying to make this article with fish that are common and easy to obtain. I've added Fiddler Crabs. Do you know any others that are easy to find?

Also, you only mention F8 puffers. What about other BW puffers?
Not much of a puffer person, myself. Can you email a few you think I should add (and their tank set-up/size/tank mates)?

Once again, thank you all very much ;) . I'm very glad I have all of your support.

Oh, and remember those pictures (if you have any) ;) My email: howlincody@netscape.net

[MonoSebaelover]

Just thought I would also add that Dat's are not considered aggressive they will just eat anything they can fit in their large mouth. Other than that they are very peaceful minding their own business.

[howlincody]

I actually was wondering the degree of their aggressiveness myself but http://aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0439&view_records=1 says that they are aggressive. I've added that they will eat small fish, though.

[GobyGuy5]

I've added Fiddler Crabs. Do you know any others that are easy to find?

You might try a Red-Clawed Crab, Sesarma sp., that's just a wild guess though, I don't know of other crabs that are easy to find that might come from that habitat. I know they're extremely plentiful, and that's about it, saddly.

A tip for spell-checking your article would be to copy and paste it into word, an easy way to double check your work and find your mistakes, Good Luck, and what about those sources?

[howlincody]

Is that crab pretty common, Goby?

To be honest, I can't really remember many of my sources. Most of it is experience (I had a 90g Mono tank for 5 years but had to take it down due to college...currently I just have a 10g with some mollies and goby) and from reading tons of stuff on the internet. The Brackish water FAQ helped alot. I got alot of individual fish info from "The Aquarium Owners Guide" by Gina Sandford and that also helped with some decorative issues.

I also have a friend that lives in Thailand near an estuary and he drew out the map and explained the flow of the water in each area for me.

I'm pretty much done with the article. Do you guys think it is good?

The only thing I need now is more pictures for the fish profiles (by the way, thanks again to raydee for the mono and colombian shark pics). So, if any of you have any, I'd really appreciate them! Thanks again for all of your constructive critisism ;-).

[GobyGuy5]

In my experience no, but it is mentioned in many different sources for aquatic profiles, as well as books I've read. I personally don't feel they're very common, but as far as crabs go, they are................................
The fiddler crabs are much more common around here, and they do inhabit mangrove estuaries, so they are, IMO, a fitting addition.

Anyways, good luck with your article ;)

EDIT: I think your article is one of the better ones out there on the subject, very comprehensive and well-informed!

[fishypoo2]

Cody,
I'm the Editor of Tropical Fish Monthly. I'm asking you if it is ok if we can re-print your article in TFM. Thanks,

[howlincody]

Thanks Goby ;-).

Ryan, I would be honored to have this article reprinted in your magazine. Is there any way I could get a finished copy? I'd really love to see it in a magazine.

Just send me an email if you want to hammer out any details. howlincody@netscape.net

[tyler]

i don't know if these will help you at all, but i have a few pictures of my green spotted puffer here (http://aquariumadvice.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album09&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&sid=2d9f9029d73fa270c58c503b28e6746c&include=view_album.php).

[howlincody]

Thanks Tyler!

Well, I'm going to start emailing webmasters tonight about placing the article (or a link to it) on their site. I'll update you guys on my progress.

Thanks Again...this article is as much mine as it is all of yours ;-).

[MonoSebaelover]

I know it is kinda late to post this but some new ideas popped into my head. First you should put in the article that Monos and Scats require saltwater as adults. They are born in freshwater then migrate to brackish waters as juvies and small adults, and adults wander to saltwater only to return to freshwater for a brief period to breed. Scats are much in the same. Also you could be a little bit more detailed especially with Monos and Scats in their little profiles but adding the different names of the species. I.E. under Monos have Mono Sebae and Mono Argentenus, and under Scats have the Green, Ruby, Silver, and African. Also there is a FW/BW Snowflake Moray Eel that can be added to the list too!

[howlincody]

I actually do have something about the Monos and Scats requiring full saltwater as adults. It's in the "Salt" area underneath their recommended set-ups. I also recommend how to adjust them slowly to these conditions.

I've added in Sebae Monos as a seperate option. Aren't Green and Ruby scats both Scatophagus argus?

As for the Moray eel, I feel that this may be a little too hard for the beginner to keep. Don't you? I've never kept them but I've heard that they are quite hard to feed and keep healthy.

BTW, do you have any pics of Mono Sebaes? Heh, your s/n seems to indicate that you might ;-).

Oh, and good news. I'm working with my friend Pat, the webmaster of Badman's Tropical Fish (http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com) , to make a subsection of his site with this article in it. This article has surpassed my expectations already! Thank you all ;-).

[howlincody]

Great news!

Check this out (http://fishprofiles.com/articles/general/brackish/)

[Pufferpunk]

Congrats!!! Will you be able to slip in fish photos later?

[howlincody]

Well, the main article will be a little tough to edit but I still have control of the individual profiles and their pictures.

So, if anyone has pics, don't be shy!
howlincody@netscape.net

[howlincody]

Check this out, too! (http://badmanstropicalfish.com/brackish/brackish.html)

[tyler]

i can snap a shot of a fiddler for you too, if you like. i'll be updating that photo album sometime this week. i'll keep you posted.