I bought an archer fish today and didn't realise it was a brackish fish (should have known pretty obvious now that I think about it) anyway is there anyway I can turn the tank brackish without aquarium salt as it is too late to go to the shops now and I can't get any until tomorrow.

If you have any NON-iodized table salt (available at most grocery stores), that can work temporarily.

Archerfish are they a new craze? I saw a post about a archerfish somewhere else on the boards well anyways, ya are you putting the salt in the tank with your other fish???

You need to make sure that he is alone or with other fish that can take brackish water. I'm not sure of the exact SG but you need to add marine salt to your tank. Check out a few sites and you can find what SG you need for Archer fish.

Why can't I just use aquarium salt? Some sites say that I can. Sorry I am new to this.

Because a Brackish enviroment in the wild is where the ocean is mixing with river water. Marine salt also has buffers which raises pH, GH, and KH to the appropriate levels. I have no personal experience with Brackish water fish but from what I've read the SG should not be raised more quickly than .002 SG a week. You need to add salt to your tank until you reach the desired level. You have to use a hydrometer or refractometer to measure the Specific Gravity and remember no quicker than .002 SG a week.

Here is a great article on Archerfish:

http://www.tropicalresources.net/phpBB2/fi...s_chatareus.php

It says a SG of around 1.010 will be fine.

ok how much does marine salt cost and one of those refractor things?

Refractometers are kinda expensive around $50, but you can use a hydrometer which although isn't as accurate as a refractometer is only around $5-10. I have never used a refractometer on any of my saltwater tanks, as I have used hydrometers.

It depends on what brand and where you buy the salt from but I use Instant Ocean which is $7.99 for 10 gallons worth. What size tank do you have the Archerfish in and are there any tankmates with him?

For now he is in my 5 gallon tank (very small I know) however he is only around an inch at the moment and once my oscars outgrow my 40 he is going into it. He is the only fish in the tank.

I have some table salt that says it is naturally evaporated sea salt. Could I use this? It's ingredients are; salt, anti-caking agent (554).

No you can't use table salt it has to be marine salt which you can purchase at a local fish store.

Yes a 5g is way too small, and although a 40g is better they really need a 55-75 gallon tank and they like to be in groups so you may think about adding a few more.

For now I think I am going to just stick with one. I don't want to go and buy 3 more and have them die. Also do you think he can survive in freshwater for a few days because I can't get to the pet shop right now because my mum's car is being serviced.

You can use that table salt until you have the time to run out to the store to get the right salt. Just make sure your table salt isn't iodized. As long as it's not, then you can go ahead and add 1-2 tbsp to your 5g tank. I wouldn't add too much of the table salt, it's only an emergency thing to get you through until you can get the right stuff.

I'm also concerned about the anti-caking agent, but I think it will be ok. On the other hand, if your archerfish is still doing fine in your freshwater, I wouldn't worry about it, since he's already been in there for like 12 hours, another 8 or so won't kill him if he hasn't shown any signs of stress.

How can I tell if it has been iodized or not?

It should say somewhere on it...

I did some internet research (yes on our table salt) and it is un-iodized.

The majority of salt supply or 60% of the total salt is imported from Surabaya under two brand names: KAPAL and KUDA. There is limited amount of salt imported from Australia (SAXA) which is un-iodized and consumed mostly by foreigners in Dili. http://www.unicef.org/evaldatabase/index_14315.html

I have SAXA salt does this mean I can use it for a short time?

Oh I didn't mean buy three more Archers and add them to your 5g I meant when you upgrade him to a larger tank he would enjoy some company. It would be best to get the marine salt as soon as you can so you can start raising the SG since it will take while to get to 1.010 if your raising it .002 each week.

OK thanks for the help everyone. By the way my archer just shot a cricket off a twig at least 30cm above the tank. His shots are going way higher than that though. At least 150cm above the tank. He actually got me on my knee.

Haha. That is really cool. I also want an archer fish for myself. But Im not a person who could keep fish in 50 fresh and 50 salt. Im usually a full person only. Still I would love to see some pictures of your archer.

Well I am hoping I can get some good new pictures especially with the way I have the tank set up now. I was going to try get a shooting picture however he shoots so quickly that I hardly even catch it with my eyes. We are getting a new digital video camera so maybe I can video it then get a still of him in action.

I have the salt. Should I do a water change to add the water and around how much will get me up 0.002 in specific gravity.