"FRESHWATER FISHES" in a SALTWATER REEF TANK??

[@AnthonyGustafson-w7z]

That's an amazing and inspirational aquarium you've built. Love hearing the thought process behind all your decisions, too. Well done!

[@australianaquarist]

Thanks Anthony!

[@owencasey6444]

Great educational video mate, already looking forward to the next one!

[@falcolf]

I looove how Palau Reef has turned out so far! 🎉❤ You are so inspiring, sir!

[@australianaquarist]

Many thanks! My whole approach to aquarium keeping is to try new things and share concepts with others. That’s how I hope, especially the marine hobby, will mature past viral collectoritis.

[@SaltWaterSteve1]

Totally agree with ya mate

[@devachapman6315]

great job Adam. also good to see what's going in your man cave.

[@dougieGTRVspec]

Great video Adam 👍👍

[@australianaquarist]

Cheers Dougie

[@AusHerps1]

Speechless on this man’s setups

[@australianaquarist]

Mate I hope that’s a good thing?! Looks like we also have reptiles in common? I was always a varanid guy

[@AusHerps1]

@@australianaquarist it’s a good thing mate, incredible work! Yeah I have a few varanids at home

[@australianaquarist]

@AusHerps1 nice. Mertens , Spencer’s and Rosenberg were my favourites

[@BeardedReefer]

Very interesting big Ad, have you seen barred flags schooling in a reef tank ?

[@australianaquarist]

Only in Polo Reef I think? Though not schooling! I was only just looking at them on the gogglebox this afternoon!

[@glub9075]

Had a dream that you posted for some reason and then woke up to a video, great! 😂 I love euryhaline fish, they are super cool

[@australianaquarist]

There you go! I’m in your dreams now Glub!? Our relationship has reached the next level!

[@Gilsfishroom]

I never knew about Archer fish being brackish, very interesting. I am loving the ocean side/lagoon side.

[@australianaquarist]

There’s only one species of actual freshwater archerfish here in Australia- the Primitive Archerfish. The others are euryhaline.

[@johnmaude5065]

I must admit I was very surprised to you adding archer fish 😮

[@australianaquarist]

Yep, a bit of an experiment, though I had a viewer send me some footage they took in Raja Ampat Indonesia, of archerfish swimming over large branching Acropora colonies. Obviously they do venture out across the reefs, at least so in Indonesia

[@graphite2786]

Remember tho there is a purely freshwater archer - Toxotes kimberleyensis. Of the other 2 species T. chatareus is the most versatile and can be found occasionally in oceans but most often in rivers - from river mouth to upper reaches. They have been recorded above impoundments meaning they can spawn in freshwater. The last species is T. jaculatrix the most marine of the Australian species. Rarely found in rivers, it's main habitats are mangroves in estuaries, bays and river mouths. It's a wide ranging species found all over the Indo-Pacific and has been recorded migrating in shoals over coral reefs, moving from island to island.

[@australianaquarist]

Definitely a bummer that the true freshwater archer is also the least attractive. I hear what you’re saying about about the chatareus being found in man made dams/ city water supplies. And breeding. I personally don’t know if they migrated there, or have been introduced by people. I recall Australian Biotopes did a video on Lake Eachem ( I think) and how the archers were in there - introduced. Similarly, I believe Mangrove Jacks have been introduced into permanent freshwater impoundments also. These fish breeding is a true testament to their amazing biology- the ability to do so in a range of salinities. What I guess is uncertain, is whether there is an effect ( if any) on that fishes physiology, immunity, growth rate, final size and lifespan, of life in the freshwater over a saline one

[@graphite2786]

@australianaquarist You're not getting kimberleyensis mixed up with Toxotes lorentzi? Lorentzi are just a plain silver, kimberleyensis are very similar to the common archers, just with a different fin ray count and broarder bar patterns on the side. Some guys from NT wildlife park collected some a while back and honestly, they looked just like the other 2 banded species ( they also had nursery fish - Kurtus, which I was rapt to see!) Toxotes chatareus really are a versatile fish! They were definitely introduced by people into Eacham, I'm not sure if they are a viable population tho. There are definite accounts of fry found up river in dams, Lake Tinnaroo for example. You can net teeny little ones, fishers use them for bait. Who knows, in 200 years time there could be purely freshwater variants . If ever you go to Townsville, there is a resident population of archers in the Marina just outside the Museum. Some are HUGE, around 45cm. Apparently there were even bigger ones but some bugger caught them to eat.

[@australianaquarist]

Yes My mistake. The primitive archers are the boring ones! We do t often see large archers in aquariums, outside of croc exhibits. Maybe mine will get up there

[@graphite2786]

@@australianaquarist I reckon they will in a marine environment. The ones in tinnaroo rarely get over 24cm. As you point out, true Euralhine fish just don't achieve their full potential in freshwater and sometimes not even in brackis.

[@Cgraseck]

Is that a Red Tailed Black Cockatoo? Beautiful bird. Cheers, Chris I keep a Mono in my reef tank as well.

[@australianaquarist]

Yes, Reggie is my 3 year old RTBC. Loud, obnoxious and destroyer of all things plastic, timber and toes!

[@Cgraseck]

@@australianaquarist A friend has a Sulfur Crested who removed a window from its frame😱

[@australianaquarist]

@Cgraseck I believe it! Those guys are crazy intelligent and even more destructive. I couldn’t live with a sulphur crested!

[@scottallan6770]

Love it. Always super interesting. 👊

[@australianbiotopes4563]

Another great video Adam and very informative, I think you are correct with most of the fish you talked about other then the Archers, we have them in some of the lakes far from the ocean, not naturally of coarse but they are living happily as adults and I think they must also be breeding as there are always lots of young fish to be seen, for example the crater lakes on Atherton and Mondarra Lake in Mount Isa are full of them young and old to name a few just in QLD. it's pretty true with the rest though, even our famous Barra needs salt to breed so they never will in fresh unlike the Nile Perch they tried to introduce, almost identical to our Barra but can breed in fresh.

[@australianaquarist]

I remember now seeing your video on the introduced archers in Lake Eachem, was it? I guess nature finds a way where at all possible.

[@australianbiotopes4563]

@@australianaquarist Like you said though it doesn't work with all fish.

[@Ravan_Caw]

Another fantastic interesting video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@DJDDstrich]

Mate the tank it coming along so quickly! Every video it looks completely different. I got excited at the mention of shore crabs, and it made me curious - Could we get a video or update on your plans for the island? Do you think it could self-sustain a colony of crabs or similar?

[@australianaquarist]

No I don’t think it will self sustain the crabs alone. I see them mainly grazing algae on the intertidal rocks around here. The tank hasn’t started growing any turf algae’s yet, only diatoms, so the crabs will wait a little while. I think they will need supplementary feeding with pellets though.

[@jasonpeacock9735]

I remember when I was younger being told that archers and scats were freshwater/brackish only. Then when the USN decided it was time for me to go to Australia, what’s the first saltwater fish I see.. archers and scats swimming beside the boat in Darwin.

[@australianaquarist]

Same with my stint in north Queensland. I’d been keeping monos and silver scats in a Lake Tanganikan tank ( which with the high pH actually suited them well). I quite liked the fish, so had a fish store owner airfreight them up to me on settled in the new home. Next trip to the local boat ramp what do I see everywhere, but monos and scats. Felt like an idiot for paying all the money to have them freighted up…..

[@markfranklin8831]

Awesome video Thanks for sharing

[@australianaquarist]

You are quite welcome!

[@jeffdortch4190]

Beautiful

[@Cgraseck]

Another thought is that reef fish are very varied and not all super colorful. I was diving on Miyakojima last summer and half of the fish were not brightly colored. As for Archer fish, the only Archers that I have ever seen were in an estuary in north western Singapore. I don't know the salinity of the water that they were in but we were close to the ocean with Salt Water Crocks and Mangroves. Cheers, Chris

[@australianaquarist]

Absolutely. The mixing of open water species, and benthic reef fishes is something not often seen in the marine hobby. Schools of bullseyes, fusiliers, sweeps, and heck, if the tank is big enough , trevalley , bumping shoulders with surgeons and butterflies. Beautiful.

[@BeardedReefer]

Yeah I have 5 of them in my 6 footer and my blue chromis schools with them. He thinks he’s their leader but now they’ve all outgrown him 😆

[@logan.vanderbeck]

Was that a new peninsula tank peaking out in the background of palau?!

[@australianaquarist]

Peninsula yes, new no. Though it is getting ready for life. Currently I’m planning to once again, attempt to grow golden kelp.

[@fryaduck]

@australianaquarist What about Flathead, Tailor, Leatherjackets or Blackfish?

[@australianaquarist]

These are only my experiences around Coffs- The most estuarine leatherjackets are the fan bellies, but I don’t ever see them up where the salinity drops. Always full sea water around the river mouths. Same with flatheads. I guess the flathead probably experience more freshwater during floods etc. I’ve also only ever seen the luderick in seawater estuaries, and never toward the fresh. Possible but I don’t know. I’ve got absolutely zero experience with tailor!

[@fryaduck]

@@australianaquarist My experience with those fish (as well as yellow fin bream) is mostly at Sussex Inlet, which is not tropical. Of course Sussex is a salt water estuary, though all the young fish grow up in the estuary before heading out to the coast. Additionally, there is regular freshwater inundations during winter there even to the point of flooding (fresh water tends to stay on the top). If you ever get the chance to do a tank without heating might be something different. Alternately, you might like Nannygai, but they are nocturnal predators.

[@waterlover]

Show more of your red tail black Cackatoo

[@rossdingle6236]

I saw you mullet swim past, how many do you have in there?

[@australianaquarist]

Just two. They aren’t really part of the stocking plan, and will probably end up in the estuary. They survived me feeding tiny bait fish to the tank, and ended up in the sump. Figured I should give them a better life , than the sump.

[@oneofwethepeople1161]

I have a 125 with 5 mono's 2 red and 2 green scatt. I'm bringing up the salt level slowly to marine level. The scatts and mono's sholl together. The are so beautiful. I've been looking for a small eurhaline bait type fish to keep with them. Any suggestions?

[@australianaquarist]

Once you reach seawater concentrations you could catch whitebait, as I do. They get eaten ( which is my plan) but school nicely, and look good for a while. You could also think about mullet, herring, garfish, but they grow to about 30cm , albeit very slender. To be honest, if the monos and scats aren’t adult yet, and are well fed, I’d be scooping whitebait. Get a big group, feed the monos up well, introduce the whitebait at night. They will need seawater though.

[@australianaquarist]

The only other small fish I’m familiar with here, that will live through the entire salinity range are Pacific Blue eyes. Pseudomugil signifer . 3-4cm, school, nice coloured fins. At risk of being eaten though. Neon blue eyes from the Northern Territory of Australia are more tropical alternatives. Pseudomugil cyanodorsalis. Again, may just get eaten

[@audiomanmik]

Do you medicate your wild caugh fish, asking from the Caribbean. I want to have some wild fish in my aquarium.

[@australianaquarist]

I don’t quarantine or medicate with copper etc, new fish I’ve collected or bought. I do have what I believe is velvet in the system, and has been that way for a few years now. I’ve linked a video to what I do do with new fish. Toward the end I discuss my rationale for not quarantining or prophylactically medicating. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIGriZp5fdSLmNUsi=Iutzo9aPkGj1t6sm

[@audiomanmik]

@@australianaquarist You just put them in the tank? Is it hard to get them to eat.... Thanks for the respond.

[@australianaquarist]

It depends on which fish you’re thinking of, and what fish you currently keep, which may intimidate new comers. Sensitive fish such as butterflies, gobies , would benefit from being kept separate for a while, to get feeding properly. Yes, the stress and subsequent malnutrition and lowered immunity from the stress of boisterous tank mates, can be a big cause of death. What species are you looking to collect?

[@audiomanmik]

@australianaquarist it depends on what I catch, lol. Being serious; the reefs I go have a wide variety of angels, royal grammas are everywhere, some butterflies, tangs and lyretails.

[@DJDDstrich]

@@australianaquarist Wait isn't velvet basically an assured death sentence for the whole tank if not medicated? Or does it require a big stress event to cause fish to outbreak?

[@SaltWaterSteve1]

😍

[@australianaquarist]

Loving the Silver Scats in Palau Reef

[@Crakencorals]

Agreed monos get huge in a reef tank vs freshwater lol

[@australianaquarist]

Yep, I’ve never seen the big hand sized monos develop in freshwater. Actually, that’s when they shine… quite literally, and develop that great schooling behaviour

[@petesfishroom1580]

Hi Adam. Another fantastic & informative vid m8. Your Cockatoo lmfao Pete 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@australianaquarist]

Please don’t encourage Reggie! He’s an arrogant a- hole,

[@petesfishroom1580]

Reggie is an awesome bird he makes me laugh. Can’t wait for the next vid. Take care Adam & Reggie Pete 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@Richard-z9d]

Did everyone forget bass?

[@scottowldn8239]

Beautiful Tank but I cringe every time he say’s “Fishes” 🫣😖🙈

[@australianaquarist]

I could be mistaken, but I understand “ fish” to be plural for one species of fish, and “ fishes” to be plural for a number of fish species in a group.

[@scottowldn8239]

@@australianaquarist You have educated me today brother. Thank you I never knew that. 👍

[@australianaquarist]

@scottowldn8239 it’s the delicate, yet painful beauty of the English language