Stocking for 65g tank.

[Lowporkwa]

Hello!

Recently had to tear down my old 65g Piranha tank because I was moving. It's been sitting empty for a few months now and i'm all moved into my new place and the itch is coming back to have my aquarium setup!

I've always been interested in puffers and a brackish setup is something i've never endeavored into. I think it would be very interesting to setup some sort of tank with some puffers involved! I'm thinking that I want to stick with a few figure 8 puffers, as these seem to be the most available to me and the also have one of the more unique looks to them.

I want to make this a planted aquarium as well, and have done some research into specific brackish biotopes and etc. and I want to go with the Brackish river type setup. Plants in the back with open swimming space and good current. My question for everyone is what do you think I could get away with stocking for this tank? I don't want to push it too much i was thinking 2 puffers or 3 MAX, but what else could i get away with in that tank? I dont want JUST the puffers, maybe one or two other types of animals.

Also any suggestions as to plant species for the tank would be great.

ANY advice on what to do with the tank would be greatly appreciated actually i'm not sure where i want to go with this tank.

[coldmachineUK]

I don't want to push it too much i was thinking 2 puffers or 3 MAX, but what else could i get away with in that tank? I dont want JUST the puffers, maybe one or two other types of animals.

You could go for a group of three F8s in that setup I would think. I have a pair, which I've had since they were very young so they've perhaps grown up more tolerant than they might otherwise have been, in a 53G so it's not far off your 65G. A trio would probably do well.

In terms of other species though, there are few suitable contenders for two main reasons:
1. The salinity (S.G.) of the water which you'll need to maintain (~1.005);
2. The "Puffer Attitude" phenomenon.

With F8s you're more likely to get away with cohabitants. Some people report success with bumblebee gobies (BBGs) but it's something I've always been unsure of since one BBG looks a nice puffer-sized snack in my mind. Maybe I secretly think like a GSP or something though...!
I have three knight gobies and three desert gobies which are both brackish species, living with my pair of F8s. That works nicely. Something like that is a possibility. Or mollies: people report success with these too (although they may be boisterous at feeding time which your puffers may or may not end up refusing to tolerate down the line).

In terms of plants: there are few if any brackish plants. You can go for acclimatising more sturdy freshwater plants though: I'd recommend java fern as the usual contender.

[Pufferpunk]

Planting a BW tank:
http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=143235

[coldmachineUK]

I have a question re that pinned topic on planting up a brackish aquarium: the article recommends CO2 injection. From utilising this in freshwater tanks I know for a fact that it can cause pH to drop to more acidic levels: since marine salt acts as a pH buffer and the usual mix is 1.005 S.G. <-> 7.8-8.0 pH, will injection of CO2 cause an imbalance? Seems like it would....surely?