Article Critique

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
 
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.
 
Hello, I caught a little spelling error,

Feeding should be done ATLEAST 2 times daily.
Click to expand...

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

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?
 
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