Bacteria stuff for brackish water?

[Amazon]

I am getting ready to set up my new 55g brackish tank, and i dont know if I should USE the freshwater bacteria or the saltwater bacteria to start out the nitrifying bacteria growing. My tank is going to be between 1.010 sg. and 1.012 sg. What should i use?

[Wild Turkey]

Most of the bacteria cultures state "for fw and sw applications" so I would just make sure you select a brand that includes that little claim.

[Amazon]

ok thanks:22:

[smaug]

I started my cycle out with used media from a fw tank with good results.Start the salinity out on the low end of 1.005 and work your way up after your cycle has completed,I was informed later that this is the best way to do it.What type fish are you stocking?

[Amazon]

Natives- striped blennys, naked gobys, sheepshead minnows, sailfin mollys, etc. i can also get silt from brackish Lake pontchartrain if that works as a starter cycle.

[smaug]

I think the silt might be more dangerous for patogens then for its benefits.Mollys are very hardy ,you could cycle with them.They would be a good fish to start off your salinity at a lower level as well.I know everyone here recomends a fishless cycle but for experianced keepers doing it with fish has never caused any problems for me.How big of a tank?

[Wild Turkey]

I think whether you use seeded media, culture, fish OR fishless cycle using the mollies is an excellent suggestion for the reasons smaug listed.

[smaug]

Is this the 10gal brack tank in your sig?If so you will be very limited to amounts of fish.For sailfin mollys alone you would be stuck with just 5 or six of them and nothing else,they can be bullys ,I know because the ones I got single handedly killed off one of my fig 8 puffer before they even made it to there permanent tank.They reside in a pond now.A bw tank cannot be stocked as heavily as a fw so choose your fis carefully.

[Amazon]

Nope a 55g. The ones in the 10g are being upgraded to the new tank:shappy: .
Heres the design
55g
1.010sg-1.012 sg
crushed oyster shell bottom.
driftwood
open oyster shells as some cover for the blennys.

[smaug]

That sound awesome.I can ardly wait for some pics of the critters.That is very muc wat I was going to do wit my 58 gal if I made it brack.I decided on the goofy decor 20 Im sporting at the moment.

[Amazon]

Its pretty much an oyster reef without live oysters. Dont worry im gonna post pics!thumbs2: