Need help ASAP

Nutrients, fertilization, substrates etc
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Bgssamson
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Need help ASAP

Post by Bgssamson »

I need to set-up a blackish tank for the wild tigers that is about to be here by noon today (08/24/05). My hydrometer is still on calibration for 24hrs. (did not know it has to ba calibrated; 1st time im using it). Does someone know what range should I be shooting for? I am using Instant Ocean & it says in the label that making SALTWATER TANK should range 1.020 to 1.023ppm (1.5 cup of salt to 1 gallon water). How about BLACKISH water? any suggestion?instructions on how to make?

Thank you!


-Brian
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Ghazanfar Ghori
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Post by Ghazanfar Ghori »

Google:

The density of water required varies depending on the fishes kept. Fishes from the fresher end of the range (like rainbowfish and kribensis) enjoy a density of less than 1.005, as do most freshwater plants. Fishes which live mostly in from the sea, like dog face puffers and batfishes, prefer a salinity of over 1.010. But most brackishwater fishes can tolerate the entire range: from 1.000 to 1.025. These include such fish as sailfin and black mollies, sleeper gobies, monos, scats, archerfish, and shark catfishes.

I'd say - keep your salinity at about 1.015 and aclimate the fish over a period of
hours.

Also - keep in mind that some of the el-cheapo hydrometers are less than
accurate and could be off by as much as .005

Make sure there are no bubbles, even tiny ones on the hydrometer needle
when measuring the salinity. In the long run, you're better off getting a
refractometer (currently on sale on drs foster smith.)
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SCMurphy
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Post by SCMurphy »

brackish

Shoot for a specific gravity of around 1.020 in a tank no more than half full. When you new inhabitants arrive, check the salinity they are in. Because you are starting high you can add aged aquarium water to the tank to bring the specific gravity down to match the shipping water. This is much easier than trying to raise it up to match.
"したくさ" Sean

Aquascape? I'm a crypt farmer.

If you've got bait, I've got wasabi!

I wish I could be like Mr. Sarcastic when I grow up! ;)
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Bgssamson
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Post by Bgssamson »

Thanks Sean & Ghazanfar Ghori! The guy who sold me the shrimps mentioned that he keep the shrimps at 1.07 ppm blackish! Don't you think its too high? My hydromiter (deep six coralife) only measures from 1.012 - 1.032. He even recommend using the water they come in WITH the prepared tank waterbecause because the natural organisms they normally live with will be in the water they come in. Is this true?

-brian
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SCMurphy
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Post by SCMurphy »

I hope you mean 1.007. If they are coming in that low start at a lower level than the 1.020 I mention. After acclimating something I don't put any of the water into the tanks with the critter, they get netted out and the water is dumped.
"したくさ" Sean

Aquascape? I'm a crypt farmer.

If you've got bait, I've got wasabi!

I wish I could be like Mr. Sarcastic when I grow up! ;)
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Bgssamson
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Post by Bgssamson »

Sean,

No, that's what he said 1.07 I know it sound so high but I will email him to confirm that!

Thanks!
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Bgssamson
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Post by Bgssamson »

:( The guy is a fraud! The shrimps are Ghost Shrimps there's not even a speck of black mark anywhere. I thought I hit the jackpot, but I learned my lesson! If there's no picture don't buy it.

-Brian
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron »

Aqua Boy wrote::( The guy is a fraud! The shrimps are Ghost Shrimps there's not even a speck of black mark anywhere. I thought I hit the jackpot, but I learned my lesson! If there's no picture don't buy it.

-Brian
I hadn't realized that was you on plantedtank or I would've warned you against dealing with that guy.
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Bgssamson
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Post by Bgssamson »

I learned my lesson! Thanks guys.

-Brian
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Post by gnatster »

I would not always go as so far as to say do not buy with out a picture, but research the person. I've bouught shimp from a seller that had a picture of them. To bad it was the worst packing I had ever seen and I found the picture someplace else a few days later. Seems the seller had "borrowed" the image.

Then again I've made purchases from others with no pictures or discriptions. However I knew the seller or in other cases the seller was refered to me be by a known reputable person.

Personally I have sold 100's of shrimp solely based on my reputation. I value that reputation enough to protect it by striving to do what is right, not always the most profitable.
Nathan
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