Setup ?'s on Brackish Tank

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rotten_stars

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May 7, 2003
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We just moved our fish from a 15 gallon tank to a 45 gallon tank. I'm thinking I want to make the old tank into a brackish water tank. Can anyone give me some setup tips? Like what kind of gravel to use, what the water conditions should be, etc..

Can you mix Puffers with Cichlids? I've heard you can, but I remember my friend had two little Puffers with like 10 cichlids and they tore them up. If not, what are the best fish to put with Puffers - Puffers are the main reason I want a brackish tank.

Also, we have just added 2 Kribs and 1 Golden Ram to the 45 gallon tank with regular community fish, we are a little wary as we just learned these are Cichlids. Can we put these in the Brackish tank or would they be better off in the tropical tank. Any suggestions would be helpful.
 
Brackish water means half marine half freshwater, so having any cichlids are out of the question. Unless they're green or orange chromides, which are also out of the question because having even one puffer in a 15g is pushing it unless you go the FW route and get dwarf puffers. You could have one Green spotted puffer or one figure eight puffer in a 15. However, I don't recommend puffers to someone who isn't very experienced in the hobby. They require alot of extra care and good water quality all the time. You'll also need to get marine salt, and a hydrometer for brackish water.
 
There are a few other cichlids that can go brackish.
Nandopsis haitiensis Haitian cichlid
Vieja synspila Redhead cichlid
Heros severus Banded cichlid
Pelvicachromis pulcher Kribensis
Pelvicachromis subocellatus Eye-spot Kribensis
Pelvicachromis taeniatus Striped Dwarf Kribensis
 
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Agree that a 15 is small for BW puffers, okay for a single Figure 8 (which will be fine in light BW), but to me much too small for a GSP (which will do better in high specific gravity BW).

Many, many folk on the boards and lists talk about mixing puffers and other fish. It very rarely works on a long-term basis.

Also agree with OG on the referenced article.
 
I have had my puffer with other fish for over 3 years. No problem.


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150 Gal Tank
5 Argentine Monos 4"
5 Sebae Monos 4" (6" head-tail)
2 Red Scats 2.75"
1 Green Scat 4.5"
1 Silver Scat 4.5"
1 Green Spotted Puffer 3.25"
1 Figure 8 Puffer 2.75"
1 Orange Chromide 3.5"
2 Green Chromides 4"
1 Archer 4.25"
1 Tiger Fish Coius microlepis "Dat" 4"
1 Silver Tiger Fish Coius quadrifasciatus "Silver Dat" 3.25"
2 Leaf goblinfish Vespicula depressifrons 2.75"
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