recent tech or equipment changes for brackish?

[goby1kenobi]

I'm about to tear down the 55g and rebuild it. I'm wondering: since I last did major equipment purchases about six years ago, have there been any significant tech advancements or equipment updates that are useful for brackish tanks?

I'm also interested in hearing what y'all use to clean a tank that has notable salt encrustations.

[Agnate]

What equipment do you have for you 55 gallon? From what I've heard, there haven't been a whole lot of "new" products. Sure, there are more efficient models of filters/powerheads/etc., but I don't believe you're missing out on much. As long as you have a python for refilling (or something equivalent), you're probably good to go.

How new are submersible heaters?

As for equipment geared for brackish, there isn't really anything for a SG below 1.015 (or whatever the SG is before you can use a skimmer). For salt encrustations, I use a razorblade (the aquarium-safe one) if its on the glass (there's a special blade for acrylic tanks), and if it's on any plastic, I just try to scrub it off. Generally, though, I find that warm water and a cloth can get most of my salt stains off. The tough ones are hard-water stains, of which I try to soak it in vinegar (if it's removable).

I wouldn't call any of this "new technology" though, haha!

[goby1kenobi]

Current hardware is a double-wheel Penguin, new submersible heater, and new hood. I got them last year after the flood took out the old ones. (We have everything on GFCI, but the damage was still done.)

I've also got an old CPR Bak Pak protein skimmer that probably needs a new pump. The last puffs never tolerated the SG that you need to get significant scum via protein skimming, so I haven't used it in five years (when I had a nano).

The tank is glass, but what do you mean by "the aquarium-safe" razor blade?

thanks!

[pufferfreak]

Yeah. i have never heard of an aquarium safe blade. Do you just mean its clean?

[Agnate]

Whoops, I didn't mean to say razor blade. It's just the scraper used for Coraline algae that grows in SW tanks, but the one made for glass tanks has a bit of a razor attached to it, which is likely why I said razor blade. *blush*