brackish planted salt marsh tank

[mr. bojangsjang]

I have much experience with brackish water tanks, and after becoming very interested in planted marine tanks, I want to do a high-end brackish (1.010 and up) planted tank. I want spartina grass on one end, and widgeon grass and some other stuff on another end. I do NOT want mangroves. The tank will be 75 gallons, just some freshwater stonefish and some olive nerite snails probably.

What species of macroalgaes will live in a SG of around 1.010 and higher? What species of seagrass are brackish? Any other fully aquatic brackish plants that you know of?

 

[Samala]

Vallisneria americana, Ruppia maritima, Potamogeton sp., some java fern cultivars are all going to be fine at that salinity. Stargrass and shoal grass will make it in there I'm pretty sure.

Spartina doesnt want to be fully submerged, just keep that in mind. I havent grown it successfully yet myself but it forms extensive meadows over unbelievably rich organic soils in salt marsh areas with the roots in soggy water and the leaves in the air.

For macroalgae: Caulerpa prolifera, Ulva lactuca, Chaetomorpha aerea, Cladophora sp, and some Gracilaria sp.

>Sarah

 

[mr. bojangsjang]

Thanks Sarah!

Keep in mind the SG will be lowest at 1.010, and probably will stay at around 1.014 or so, and higher at times.

Do you still think the vallis and java fern will live at over 1.014? I read that 1.012 seems to be tops for the fern and much lower for the vallis.

I really like spartina grass, so I am going to make a high end on one side of the tank to allow it to grow. When it gains some height the water level will be higher. How hard is it to keep? I dont think I can keep it alive if you couldnt lol. Also will it live year round in tropical temps?

Are those MA's that you listed naturally in habitants of brackish water or do they just tolerate it? Too bad none of the brackish macros are commonly traded.

 

[Samala]

The algae's are all year round inhabitants in bay and estuary systems in the east coast. Both in Florida and in the northern areas. Val's would go up to 18/20ppt before they would melt away on me.

I didnt make a good attempt on Spartina really, so dont take many pointers from me on that one. I just played around with the plants and wondered how I could get them to work, never did find a good system.

>Sarah

 

[mr. bojangsjang]

Thanks!