I recently bought a dragon fish (violet gobby), right now he is in FW. I had planned on doing a cichlid tank with my 30g that is being upgraded to a 55g because the fish in there need a bigger tank. Was dead set on getting cichlids but.....the dragon fish were the "fish of the month" at Wal-Mart, now I don't normally buy from Wal-Mart I know they are not great there but the poor guy's were all dieing because no one was buying them and it was so sad to see them in there 1/2 of them dead while the others were swimming around them knowing they were going to die too, so I HAD to buy one I just felt so bad for them I couldn't take it. So now instead of the cichlids I so desprately wanted I am now venturing into the world of brackish fish!
Now first I do realize that the dragon fish (Mombo), will need a bigger tank eventually but for now he is only about 4 1/2", I do have sand I can put as a substrate (bought a 60lb bag at ace hardware) for my 55 and will only be using a little of it since I am using both small gravel and sand, so I will have plenty for the 30g. Is there anything else I should add for substrate or should I use just sand?
Second: What type of plants should I get? My lighting for the 30 is low about 1watt/gallon so cypts, java fern, and java moss is what I was thinking.
Third: What other fish could I put with him? He spends most all his time at the bottom of the tank. I really LOVE the little puffers they are sooooo adorable, but I know they can be rather aggressive so I wasn't sure about them, I did read though given proper planting they are less aggressive but I don't want something that is going to hurt my Mombo (he's not a fighter). Then I seen the scats (I think they were called that) I really liked them too. And I found a BW cichlid so maybe I can still get a pair they were orange chromide (something like that) but it said they could live in a 30g. I really know absolutly nothing about brackish at this time so please ANY suggestions on fish would be soooo helpful :thm:
Fourth: How do I make the brackish water for him? I know I add salt..but I've read in several different sites that you can use aquarium salt, from what I've read here that is NOT true I should us Marine salt right? How much do I add is it 1tsp/5g? He is in FW right now so I have to do it slowly right, how do I do this I need ALL ADVICE possible right now since I am just starting out, I want to do it right (I'm giving up my cichlids for this so I want to make sure it's worth the work )!
Thanks in advance :clap:
Gin
Now first I do realize that the dragon fish (Mombo), will need a bigger tank eventually but for now he is only about 4 1/2", I do have sand I can put as a substrate (bought a 60lb bag at ace hardware) for my 55 and will only be using a little of it since I am using both small gravel and sand, so I will have plenty for the 30g. Is there anything else I should add for substrate or should I use just sand?
Second: What type of plants should I get? My lighting for the 30 is low about 1watt/gallon so cypts, java fern, and java moss is what I was thinking.
Third: What other fish could I put with him? He spends most all his time at the bottom of the tank. I really LOVE the little puffers they are sooooo adorable, but I know they can be rather aggressive so I wasn't sure about them, I did read though given proper planting they are less aggressive but I don't want something that is going to hurt my Mombo (he's not a fighter). Then I seen the scats (I think they were called that) I really liked them too. And I found a BW cichlid so maybe I can still get a pair they were orange chromide (something like that) but it said they could live in a 30g. I really know absolutly nothing about brackish at this time so please ANY suggestions on fish would be soooo helpful :thm:
Fourth: How do I make the brackish water for him? I know I add salt..but I've read in several different sites that you can use aquarium salt, from what I've read here that is NOT true I should us Marine salt right? How much do I add is it 1tsp/5g? He is in FW right now so I have to do it slowly right, how do I do this I need ALL ADVICE possible right now since I am just starting out, I want to do it right (I'm giving up my cichlids for this so I want to make sure it's worth the work )!
Thanks in advance :clap:
Gin