Two GSP questions

[HermesGSP]

Which water testing kit do you need for brackish water? How do the experts treat their water prior to water changes? Actually three....do most of you breed your own snails, and if not, where do you buy your feeder snails from?

[Yael]

The liquid test kits for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate work fine for brackish water to track your tank cycle. However, in order to mix up your brackish water you need to get yourself a refractometer that reads in the low saline range. Other useful liquid test kits are for pH and for water hardness.

I bought a batch of snails on ebay, plopped them into a 5 gal tank with some plants and now harvest snails every couple of days to feed my puffer.

[RTR]

My water is aged and aerated and pre-warmed to tank temp along with treatment for chlorine/chloramines.

I only use snails bred and reared in my own tanks. That way I know they are healthy and well nourished and not carrying any diseases or fish parasites.