20T with BB gobies?

[SubluxT7]

Hi,

I have a new 20T that I am thinking of making a BW tank. I would like to put in some BB gobies, and would like to know how many, and what sex ratio? I like a species only tank, but am curious if you think anything else would go well or fit in my tank.

Another question I have is regarding the water. I will buy Instant ocean, but since I notice most LFS sell them has freshwater, I dont think i should put my fish directly into BW, as it might shock them? What would be the method of bringing up the salinity slowley into the tank?

Third question, i would like to do a planted tank with sand substrate. What plants will readily grow in BW (lighting is no issue and i will make whatever adjustments are necessary). I also want to make some oranments for the tank (slate caves, etc. with aquarium silicon to hold them together).

Right now my tank is cycling as a FW tank (fishless cycle). I have awhile to get everything ready but wanted some info from the experts about everything. Thanks.

Sandy

(P.S. This is the same thing i posted over in AC but apparently no one wants to look at the post ) I dont hink im asking anything to hard, just some basic questions.

[reiverix]

I'd go for around eight or so in a 20g with two or three females per male. People have kept mollies and figure 8 puffers successfully with these gobies but in a 20g, I'd just stick with species only with maybe some olive nerite snails.

Since your fish are in FW, you want to slowly acclimate them to brackish. You can do this over the course of a few weeks by gradually bringing the SG to around 1.005. Frequent water changes are the perfect opportunity to bring up the salinity, no more than 1.002 at a time, and slowly. You will need a hydrometer (or even better, a refractometer) to keep track of the salt content.

Bumblebees do like their little hidouts so provide plenty rockwork with caves. For plants it always quite tough for brackish. A few that have worked quite well for me are java fern, java moss, bacopa and vals. Water sprite is also suppossed to be brackish tolerant. I keep my SG at 1.004 - 1.005 but the plants don't like it higher.

[SubluxT7]

Thanks Reiverix! I just wanted to get a general idea from anyone that had good info about them. I'm working on next weekend changing out this ugly white gravel to a nice sand and then ill start thinking about plants for it (I may just go with fakies and try to do a planted 55g when i get it in October)..thanks again!

Sandy

[reiverix]

If you're getting sand, go for aragonite. It looks nice and will help keep your water buffered.

[SubluxT7]

Argonite eh? I'm assuming I can get that at either a LFS or something like home depot or lowes? I was just planning to use play sand, but if Argonite is better, ill will by all means try to find it Let me know where I can find it at.

Sandy

[reiverix]

It will be in the marine section of your LFS. A bit pricey compared to play sand but it has larger grains and is less prone to compacting. Looks a lot better too. It also keeps your KH and pH brackish friendly.

Don't go for the live sand. It is really for pure marine.

[SubluxT7]

Thanks!

How thick of a argonite substrate should I use? I was thinking like 1/1/2 inches in front and about 3 in back?

Sandy

[reiverix]

I think it comes in 20 pound bags. One might be just enough. Give it a good rinse first because this stuff gets pretty cloudy.

[SubluxT7]

Ok, thanks again!

Sandy

[Emg]

Sounds like a nice setup your working on Sandy....I have a small bw bumblebee goby tank myself. It's only a 5gallon though.

I have 5 gobies in it..3 female and 2 males. Not sure if that's too many or not, but they've been doing very well in there for about 4 months now. I also keep the SG at about 1.004..seems to work out well for them. They spawn every few weeks..but..I have yet to get a batch. The one time I removed the shell with the eggs in it I only saw 3 small fry and then they disappeared...but, it was after a water change that I noticed the fry..hehe...not sure how many I tossed down the drain that day....

For caves how about looking at some barnacle shells ? I use whaleye shells myself, but only because I happen to have some on hand. I plan on picking up a cluster or two of the barnacles, just because I think they would suit them better. The only thing with using the whaleye shells though, is that it's much easier to remove a shell full of eggs to a growout tank if you want to.

Java fern and crypts do well in my tank with the bw. I'd like to try some dwarf hairgrass if I can find any, I've read that that is also bw tolerant.

Also, when I first brought the gobies home, I kept them in fw for a time. I slowly moved the SG up by just adding an extra teaspoon of salt to the change water when I did a wc...until I had the SG up where I wanted it.

Have fun setting up your tank...and post some pics if you can...once you get it all put together...love to see it !