Black Water Aquarium

[Cichlid Dad]

This question is for reefers who also run fresh water. Who has good experience with black Water aquariums?

 

[Sharkbait19]

I don’t have too much experience (just from how wood has stained the water), but know a bit about it.
What questions do you have?

 

[AScientificReefer]

Awesome I was at one point planning a black water tank so I could keep some samurai gourami, but went with a cold water river setup, Had to for the rainbow shiners and hillstream loach :D

 

[vetteguy53081]

This question is for reefers who also run fresh water. Who has good experience with black Water aquariums?

With my LFS, I often kept angels and discus in this environment as it entices mating and is part of their amazon environment. Same applies to some bettas and I sold lots of Tetra blackwater tonic. banana leaves also help induce this

 

[Cichlid Dad]

With my LFS, I often kept angels and discus in this environment as it entices mating and is part of their amazon environment. Same applies to some bettas and I sold lots of Tetra blackwater tonic. banana leaves also help induce this

So question, as the leaves break down is it best practice to remove them or just add to them?

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I don’t have too much experience (just from how wood has stained the water), but know a bit about it.
What questions do you have?

Please see below about whether you remove leaves as they decay

 

[MikeCRK]

So question, as the leaves break down is it best practice to remove them or just add to them?

hi, leave those leaves to decompose, if you do not like the looks replace them and thats it. Those still release tannins making the color of the water. You can also use some peat and put it in the filter, it will keep the coloration.

If you can, gather on the walk some alder cones and make a strong potion from it (like a strong tea), you can add it over for coloration and to put pH down to help plants and fishes. You cannot overdose it. The same but slower effect you will get with no potion but throwing in some.

edit: and you should have sand for cichlids ;)

 

[vetteguy53081]

So question, as the leaves break down is it best practice to remove them or just add to them?

Leave them-you want the acidity

 

[Cichlid Dad]

hi, leave those leaves to decompose, if you do not like the looks replace them and thats it. Those still release tannins making the color of the water. You can also use some peat and put it in the filter, it will keep the coloration.

If you can, gather on the walk some alder cones and make a strong potion from it (like a strong tea), you can add it over for coloration and to put pH down to help plants and fishes. You cannot overdose it. The same but slower effect you will get with no potion but throwing in some.

edit: and you should have sand for cichlids ;)

Thank you and @vetteguy53081. PH is @ 6.8. what I have noticed is the fish are much happier, using the leaf litter to play in and hide. After convert to dark water, when you stick your nose in The tank there is no smell at all. Tank has a female green Texas and two yoyo loaches. It has turned into one of my favorite tanks.

 

[MikeCRK]

Thank you and @vetteguy53081. PH is @ 6.8. what I have noticed is the fish are much happier, using the leaf litter to play in and hide. After convert to dark water, when you stick your nose in The tank there is no smell at all. Tank has a female green Texas and two yoyo loaches. It has turned into one of my favorite tanks.

No probs! I had some BW tanks but rather like CWSA* setups. Was into aquascaping a lot and BW is much harder for the competitions - so let others play with it :)

Check the method with alder cones, you will keep the pH at 6.5 when you are using RO water in the tank. Just make sure your kH is below 7.5. Higher kH will create a cloudy water a bit (below that will make it crystal clear but blackish). Practically most of the pH down treatments are based on it ;) The peat insert in the filter compartment will also do the trick to keep pH low and the coloring but it will take longer. Alder cones will not go below 6.5, so it is safe to use. Cichlids in those conditions will spawn like crazy (but they need sand in your case). You can also check if you have some access to Vallisneria gigantea it will make nice hideouts and can survive in those conditions:

this one not the small type :)

and another trick would be using oak leaves (the ones from past year, dried), you will cut the costs ;)

*Clear Water South America, I specialized in Rio Negro and Orinoco basin :) but clear water

 

[Sharkbait19]

The breakdown of leaves and wood is what releases tannins - nothing wrong with having them in there (as said).
One thing about Texas is that they are a fish found in basic, hard water with little tannin staining. They can still do fine in there though. It may eT the loaches as it grows.