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does anyone happen to know if there are any brackish algae eaters out there? i have a 10-gal soon-to-be brackish tank with three bumble-bee gobies (eventually i want to have 6 or so)and some anubias, java ferns, and dwarf sag in it. the temperature ranges between 75 and 80 degrees w/out a heater (isn't summer fun?) with a ph of 8 and a gh of 14-15. i was thinking something along the lines of a dwarf suckermouth catfish, but i have heard that there aren't really any suitable algae eaters. right now i have some supposed plant friendly snails and i think they will do the job until i add some salt. please let me know of any catfish that might fit the bill, thanks.

Unfortunately, there aren't any.

You may find some brackish snails will do the job. Ghost shrimp will also live in brackish water, and may eat the other types of algea.

Your tank will be void of plantlife as well, save algae: no way Java fern, Sagittaria or Anbubias will be able to tolerate brackish water......

The only plant that seems to be able to tolerate brackish water (apart from impossible to keep Sea-grass and the like) is Cryptocoryne ciliata, but that one isn't easily available either.

The two best algae eaters commonly available to brackish water aquarists are Malaysian Tower Snails http://mikes-machine.mine.nu/specimens/ ... CN8220.jpg (will also eat leftovers & breed like rabbits, but wont touch plants - not that you'll have plants in a brackish tank - and are not really that effective against algae either) and Zebra snails (Neritina natalensis). The zebras are amazing, easily the best algae eaters you'll ever find in fresh or brackish water, including fish. They will not eat leftovers or plants, or any replacement food I've found, and will starve unless you have lots of algae. They will also not succeed to reproduce.

Hmm... Somewhere I have a picture of how one of my Neritina have grazed a path through my algae, but now I can't find it.

I've had anubias and java fern tolerate 1 tablespoon of salt per gallon for up to three weeks with no sign of damage.

I don't know the concentration of brackish water, but it can't be much more than that, right?

True that. Java fern and Java moss will tolerate a good deal of salt in the water. If you're going for a tank with a S.G. of 1.010 or higher, most plants will kick off on you, but for most "brackish" fish there is no need to go that high.

thanks for the info, it really helps, now i just gotta find a s.g. tester that goes down to 1.000 instead of 1.012 like the one i have...and it's true, my anubias are dying off, though my java ferns are doing well, except for the newly grown string algae on it, i gotta find some of those zebra snails lol