The Puffer Forum

Search the brackish forums here for information about salt (salinity levels and Specific Gravity - SG), and what constitutes a brackish tank.

In short, a low-end brackish tank (up to 1.008 SG) is not much different than a freshwater tank (which is 1.000 SG). The only differences you'll notice are that most plants don't survive as well in brackish water (java moss and java fern seem to do fine), and that it's a little more work to do water changes on a brackish tank (as you have to premix the water and salt before putting it in the tank). Brackish tanks also use Marine salt (not aquarium salt) in order to raise the salinity (or amount of salt in the water). Marine salt provides a lot more trace elements and minerals than aquarium salt, so you have to use marine salt (the best for its cost seems to be Instant Ocean salt mix - not the reef crystals one).

Don't just jump right into brackish, though. Make sure you read up on it, as raising your salt level too quickly will kill the bacteria in your tank. It's easy to avoid that happening, as you just need to make sure you don't raise the salinity by more than 0.002 SG per week. You can use a hydrometer (one that reads from 1.000 SG to 1.030 SG) or a refractometer (more expensive) to measure the amount of salt in the water.

Be sure to read the F8 article in our Library.

Help us out a bit with tank specs: size, tankmates & the other Qs above, in red.

Sorry guys, I do know all about brackish but I was under the impression that freshwater was fine. I looked into it when I first got him and decided to leave him because I was under the impression he was fine in freshwater and I didn't wanna mess with mixing. I thought you meant switching him to brackish now would help him recover. It's a 15 gallon with with small red tail shark. Parameters are good, 7.2 ph, 0 0 0 for the rest. Obviously no salinity, temp. is 80 degrees. Aquarium has been up for a while. Actinic lighting.

They do tend to do a lot better and lead happier lives in brackish, so it will help him to recover in brackish water.

I know everybody read in the internet that tetraodon biocellatus can live in freshwater, but I found some pictures proving that they were found in brackish water.


Caught in a tributary of the Saigon River in brackish water (depending on seasons max 1-2 gr/l in freshwater).

font: http://www.aquabase.org/fish/view.php3?id=110

That's why everybody here say to keep him in low-end brackish water.

You're reading 0 for your Nitrate test? That can't be correct. Switching him into brackish will help, but it's not a possibility when there are other tank mates, so there's no point in worrying about it right now.

Just keep up with the frequent water changes until things clear up.

Your F8's immune system will be much stronger in low-end BW. This means now, while it's healing & also for future longevity in your fish. The shark will have to be rehomed.

He seems to be doing better swimming and all now, but i haven't seen him eat, how long before I should start worrying?

You should worry when he starts to look emaciated or if it's been more than 6-7 days.

I really appreciate all the help.
Thanks, folks i'll keep you posted.