Idea for a brackish tank..

[atomicjade]

Hello there everyone, I am new myself to fishkeeping but I always have different ideas for potential tanks. I am definitely "bitten by the bug"! When I was younger, we had multiple tanks in the house and one of our tanks was a 75 tall and we live on a brackish creek... in this tank we had taken water out of the creek and caught all of the specimens that lived in it, including sand bream, mangrove snapper, flounder, snails, grass shrimp, and at one point even needlefish and a snook. They were all small, obviously! We got rid of this tank because it sprung a leak, but it was definitely a very interesting tank with all "natural" inhabitants. I honestly would love to have another tank like this. My question is, is it a good or even advisable idea to essentially take a piece of our creek and put it in a tank? What kind of precautions should I do, and what size is recommended? I'e tried to research for the species commonly found in the creek but all I've found is fishing information as it doesn't seem many keep them as a hobby. I do know all of them get to be a pretty good size so I'd only be able to keep maybe one centerpiece fish and then it would probably eat any minnows I'd put in. I guess what I'm really asking is just how would I go about planning for this tank?

[sanddigger]

It sounds interesting, and would be quite sight to behold.

You didn't say where you were from, but it seems you have a great "nature to behold" right in your back yard. IMO if you are taking everything from the creek, substrait, rock, etc., maintain the same temps as the creek, test the water perimeters. I would try the snails and shirmp first.

On WC, clean your substrait and add more water from the creek since it seems you have it to your avail. Or slowly try to acclimate your H20 to the creeks. Most of the fish you mentioned get quite large. So you do have the advantage of putting them back where they came from instead of some who buy fish unknowing and give them back to lfs or flush E[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[gourami*girl]

it's a neat idea, I know I have heard of others on here putting together a similar tank, but I can't remember who.

In many areas it is illegal to release tank raised fish back into the wild, and for good reason. Fish in tanks may be subjected to illnesses never found in the wild that could wipe out a fish population. Additionally, I'm sure you know the hazards that any non-indiginous organisms to bring to your area. I'm not sure about the legality of taking wild fish and keeping them in an aquarium. Maybe your local park service could answer that question.

For this reason, I would start by looking up or asking if your plan is legal in your area. Next, I would research the types of fish (and other creatures) indiginous to your area, and look up their maximum size. This way you can plan your tank around NOT having to release your fish back into the wild when they get too big.

Let us know how it goes and good luck! Hopefully the folks who have tanks like this already set up will respond.

[sanddigger]

I apparently did not make myself clear..this is no different than fish caught from Malawi, Lake Tang, Vic, Marine caught.

Those who fish from the lakes and oceans don't care, it's for money. We buy them, never knowing where or how they came to be. F-1 ,who cares just another fish taken from the their habitat the fry are picked and the the rest go into our eco system.

The great accommodation you have is to give back what others have taken away and you have the best of both worlds. thumbs2:

Illegal? I doubt it...seems like you have a good head, plans and already know.

[atomicjade]

Well, here is some information I've found out about the different fishes in the creek. Also I live in southwest Florida, our creek eventually runs out to the Gulf (maybe a 1-2 hour boat trip on our boat which isn't very high powered).

Mangrove snapper juveniles live inshore in tidal creeks, so the fish caught near me are definitely babies. They eventually go offshore and a common size is 8-10 lbs. (I'd say these are out of the question..LOL) with a record of 16 lbs!

I couldn't find any information about sand bream... but they seem like a larger fish (for an aquarium).

I found variable information concerning the needlefish. I'm not entirely certain about what kind the ones are in the creek, ut from what I've found they range anywhere from one foot to three, and most commonly under a pound but up to three. It also appears some people do keep these fish.

Snook obviously grow way too large.

I've found its a bit difficult trying to look up the other species without knowing for sure whats in my backyard... I know flounder are variable, I'm not sure if the teeny ones in the creek are a different variety than the big ones caught offshore or if they're just like the mangrove snappers and move out as they grow.

I'd decorate probably a little differently than whats in my creek (its honestly not very pretty! lol) I'd definitely use driftwood, which I can get at the beach quite easily, and probably some sort of sand also found at the beach. I'd try to incorporate different plants too as from what I've noticed over the years these fish are not herbivores.

There's also a variety of smaller fishes that ahng out with the common minnows that are quite attractive. Some have long fins and fluorescent like colors.. however they are fast buggers and hard to catch. Maybe, atleast at first, startig out a tank with the smaller fish would be best. Any input from those experienced with brackish or doing a tank like this would be invaluable, and of course thanks to those that have said something!

[cer]

You should get a scat and a sole.