Tread50 Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Hi all, I was looking at doing a blackwater aquarium. I was wondering if anyone on here has done one and could help out with any advice/tips on the best way to do it. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tread50 Posted September 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 The tank is 1200x630x610mm around 400l, I am looking at stocking with South American fish. So it will be 4-5 larger cichlids or lots of smaller fish like tetras, corydoras, and a couple of smaller fancy plecos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovmoller Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 This is my favorite biotope. Typical setup would include sand substrate, lots of branches and a lot of leaf litter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 What were you thinking for the cichlids? IMO that size tank would be perfect for angels (or wild discus.....) instead of the 4-5 large cichlids plus the others you mentioned. You could probably do a group of Satanoperca leucosticta (aka "jurupari") plus the tetras, cories etc, or perhaps Geophagus altifrons, but the tank may be a little on the small size for a good group of them. Could also consider festivum, but for my money angels + dwarf cichlids, corydoras, tetras, pencilfish, hatchets possibly, and smaller plecs would be great in a tank of that size and shape. What are you going to use to put tannins in the water? I recently stumbled across something that suggested rooibos tea (not regular black tea!) for all sorts of health benefits and also because it doesn't acidify the water like other blackwater sources (which may or may not be of benefit, depending on your tap water). I agree with what Hovmoller said, I use Cemix Builders Sand from Bunnings for a fine and natural looking substrate. You should also consider adding oak leaves if you really want a nice natural look, though I found they were a right hassle with digging Geophagus. Here's a couple of pics of an old experimental set up of mine, IIRC I used Alder cones to provide the colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tread50 Posted September 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Thanks David, I was thinking cichlids would be of the smaller variety like Convict, Firemouth, Blue Acara, T bar, Salvini. All would be one sex to avoid breeding and therefore some of the aggression. I don't think the tank is quite big enough for Geo or Juru. The more I think about it the more I would like to go for smaller fish Dwarf Cichlids, tetras, cory, and small pleco. That was one of the main questions I had was how to add tannins, but the tea idea sounds like an easy alternative. I am Auckland and my tap water is normally 7-8ph I will definitely be using dried leaves in the tank, are oak the best option? Michael. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 None of those species are really blackwater fish, most come from Central American cenotes, which are clear lakes with fairly hard water. You could probably keep them in tea-coloured water with no ill effects but it certainly isn't their natural environment. I found the oak leaves worked quite well if dry. I boiled them to help them sink, and used the boiled water (which was pretty dark) to add to the tank to give it colour. I've also boiled alder cones to make my own "blackwater concentrate" that I added to the tank gradually until I achieved the desired colour, and did the same to new water coming in after water changes. The rooibos tea method would certainly be easier, but I've never tried it. From my experiences with Auckland tap water, despite the pH it is usually pretty soft, so you'll have to keep an eye on it to make sure all the tanins etc don't crash the pH too low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Thanks David, I was thinking cichlids would be of the smaller variety like Convict, Firemouth, Blue Acara, T bar, Salvini. All would be one sex to avoid breeding and therefore some of the aggression. I don't think the tank is quite big enough for Geo or Juru. The more I think about it the more I would like to go for smaller fish Dwarf Cichlids, tetras, cory, and small pleco. That was one of the main questions I had was how to add tannins, but the tea idea sounds like an easy alternative. I am Auckland and my tap water is normally 7-8ph I will definitely be using dried leaves in the tank, are oak the best option? Michael. The tank's a good size for the various Geos. I had some nice big ones in mine of the same size before they all died due to a clogged filter while I was on vacation. :tears: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tread50 Posted September 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Sorry to hear that Ira, how many did you have in the tank? I am quickly realizing that those cichlids are wrong for what I want to do. I have seen some blackwater extract products on the web, though I'm not sure if they are available in NZ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovmoller Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Those products are quite expensive and you can achieve the same result with leaves, wood, alder cones, indian almond leaves, etc.. You can also put some spagnum moss in a net and place them in your filter. Cheap and makes your water as black as you want. If you ever go past snowplanet, the carpark there is jam packed with alder trees (where alder cones comes from) that you can pick at certain times during the year. On the Geos my experiences is that a tank your size would be too small for a group of G. altifrons (surinamensis) and if you only had 2-3 aggression could become a problem. With S. leucosticta (jurupari) however (like david suggested) you could easily house 4-5 in that tank. They are smaller and more peaceful and get along well with all other fish, even the small ones. Having said all that I think your idea of smaller fish only is really good. Have you considered hatchet fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tread50 Posted September 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 I googled hatchet fish and thought WTF! Of course the first pic was the marine type. I'm starting to like the idea of angels, Hatchet fish not so much. Angels would make a good feature fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tread50 Posted September 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 I have been looking into the rooibos tea idea and it seems to be really popular on a lot of forums. It has a lot of good things in it which help keep your fish healthy, will darken your tank to a nice tea colour, doesn't seem to affect ph too much, and will also help combat algae! I wonder if this is because the water doesn't allow as much light through so the algae can't grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tread50 Posted September 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 I am thinking this for stock 4 Angelfish 10 lemon tetra 10 black widow Tetra 10 Rummynose Tetra 6 Sterbai Cory 2 Bristlenose pleco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovmoller Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 What kind of filtration & light will you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tread50 Posted September 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 I have an Eheim professional 2028 and with lighting I was thinking something simple, because I won't be growing any plants under the surface. I quite like the idea of spot light type of thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tread50 Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 I was out at Kawakawa Bay today for work and I stopped at the beach and found some feature pieces of driftwood. Pretty happy with both but can't decide which one to use :dno: First photo is two pieces. http://s48.photobucket.com/user/Michael ... d.jpg.html http://s48.photobucket.com/user/Michael ... 6.jpg.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovmoller Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Good score! I would use them all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
land_lubber Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 That's some nice shaped diftwood. I need to make a trip to the beach and find some more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 I would use them all Yep, the more wood the better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tread50 Posted September 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 I will have to try it with all pieces :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tread50 Posted September 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2014 All the driftwood :bggrn: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovmoller Posted September 26, 2014 Report Share Posted September 26, 2014 Looks good! Now imagine it with a bed of leaf litter on the bottom and tea coloured water... :love: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tread50 Posted October 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 Called in at snow planet today on my way passed and grabbed a box full of alder cones :bggrn: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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