The main difference between a freshwater aquarium and a brackish water aquarium is water chemistry. Brackish water needs to have a high level of general and carbonate hardness, a pH of between 7.5 and 8.5, and a salinity between 20-50% that of normal seawater (SG 1.003-1.012) depending on the species being kept.
The following items are essential:
- A glass or plastic aquarium (metal corrodes quickly in contact with brackish water)
- Marine salt mix (not aquarium “tonic” salt)
- Plastic buckets for mixing up brackish water
- Hydrometer or refractometer for measuring specific gravity
Some useful but optional components include:
- Silica sand substrate for burrowing fish
- Salt-tolerant live plants
- Calcaerous filter media such as crushed oyster for buffering the pH
- Protein skimmer (works from SG 1.010 upwards)
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