Brackish Tank Cleaners?

[fryeguy82]

i've looked for a good post on the topic, but maybe i didn't look closer. has what i've been told about plecos and loaches true, that they can't be in brackish water? if this is the case water are some other good tank cleaners? i have some hoplo catfish but they're just good for tossing the gravel around, don't do much about algae. any fish that can help control algae? i have about "five inches" of full grown fish left in my tank(at 1" of fish per gallon) with basic filtration, but i suppose i could get more if i added a canister.

thanks,
chris

 

[nmonks]

At a low end salinity (SG 1.005 or less) you could certainly try some of the brackish water Hypostomus but obtaining them is difficult. There are several species known to tolerate brackish water in the wild, including H. plecostomus, but this is not true for the "common plecs" commonly sold, which are different genera altogether, often Liposarcus or Pterygoblichthys.

Likewise, there are some brackish water loaches (supposedly including clown loaches but I have yet to read this in the scientific literature) but none that I can confirm as such from experience. At the low SG your hoplo wants, you'd be best to use mollies, florida flagfish, and perhaps snails such as the Colombian ramshorn as your algae eaters (though puffers will eat snails of course).

Cheers, Neale

 

[fryeguy82]

i used to have some bristlenose plecos, would they tolerate it?

thanks, chris

 

[nmonks]

In a word, no.

Cheers, Neale

i used to have some bristlenose plecos, would they tolerate it?

 

[mlawson]

Most nerite snails do well in brackish water and are efficient algae cleaners.

 

[Fella]

Can hoplos withstand brackish water to 1.005? If that were the case, it'd make life a bit easier for me right now (i just recently bought a pair)

As for brackish cleaners, my best brackish cleaner is a mag float, and I think it might stay that way.

 

[fryeguy82]

Most nerite snails do well in brackish water and are efficient algae cleaners.

a full grown snail won't last a day in my tank with my puffers. so theoretically, to even have a snail last a week in my tank i'd have to put 7 in

 

[nmonks]

Yes. In the wild they apparently prefer hard or brackish water and are absent from soft water. Tolerance up to 16 ppt, which is about 40% normal marine (35 ppt). I'd keep them at less than that, but 1.005 should be fine.

http/nis.gsmfc.org/nis_factsheet2.php?toc_id=188

Cheers, Neale

Can hoplos withstand brackish water to 1.005? If that were the case, it'd make life a bit easier for me right now (i just recently bought a pair)

 

[mlawson]

Most nerite snails do well in brackish water and are efficient algae cleaners.

a full grown snail won't last a day in my tank with my puffers. so theoretically, to even have a snail last a week in my tank i'd have to put 7 in

What puffers have you got? Most small puffers will not touch Nerites.

 

[fryeguy82]

Most nerite snails do well in brackish water and are efficient algae cleaners.

a full grown snail won't last a day in my tank with my puffers. so theoretically, to even have a snail last a week in my tank i'd have to put 7 in

What puffers have you got? Most small puffers will not touch Nerites.

they were sold as green spotted puffers, can anyone ID them for sure. (don't worry, the water isn't foggy the pic was took with my phone, i'll have to take some with my camera.) i didn't know puffers were picky about snails. i thought they ate them all. if i can i'd love to have some snails in my tank (for more than a day)

 

[fryeguy82]

here are some better pictures. are they green spotted puffers? is their max size really about 6 inches?

 

[nmonks]

That puffer is one of small species group sold as "green spotted puffers" and are of the type normally called Tetraodon nigroviridis by hobbyists (as I understand it, there's actually some discussion among scientists whether colour patters are reliable within the species group).

Regardless, it will grow to about 12-15 cm in length and is very adaptable as far as water chemistry goes. Some aquarists keep them in marine aquaria, but around SG 1.010 is just as good. At lower specific gravities (e.g., 1.005, as you'll need with your selection of fish) water quality and hardness become more critical. Nitrates are more toxic in low salinity water, so regular water changes and good tank hygiene are important. The water hardness should be buffered with some calcareous stuff in the filter, such as crushed coral or crushed oyster shells. Keep the pH above 7.5.

That pufferfish species is among the more nippy species, so watch its behaviour towards other fish.

Cheers, Neale