Any Tricks Of The Trade?

I'm setting up my first ever bracking tank to breed some Red Racer Nerite snails. It's going to be in a spare 5 gallon I have-- it's currently cycling as a freshwater but I figured when it's done cycling, I can add in the salt (I have a small box of Instant Ocean). I plan on ordering a refractometer but I'm not sure how to use it or if there's any tips or lessons learned anyone can share with me before I go down this road.

I plan on only using this for a couple months until I get some babies (unless I get addicted to it, which I have a feeling I might.)

I have Carib Sea Moonsand, three dragon stones, a filter, a light and a heater (that I don't think I'll need to use the heater for this purpose; tank has been staying around 70 degrees).

I'm not super sure how water changes work with this process so I guess that's where I need the most advise.

Thanks!

 

Giving this a bump up for you hope our brackish tank keepers can help you today

 

One thing I will add is to go ahead and add your salt now while it’s cycling. If you add it all in suddenly after you’ve cycled you can shock the bacteria and kill a huge portion of them

 

One thing I will add is to go ahead and add your salt now while it’s cycling. If you add it all in suddenly after you’ve cycled you can shock the bacteria and kill a huge portion of them

I ended up unplugging the filter for a while (ending the cycling) so when I pick this back up I will 100% do that. makes total sense! thanks

 

There's a fine line between brackish and marine. Low brackish have the same bacteria as freshwater. High brackish is marine bacteria.