My First Blackwater Tank

[mistahoo]

So I jumped the gun and scrapped my 20L blue eye group idea and went for a blackwater setup thanks to Homeless Aquatics bringing in Samurai Gourami (Sphaerichthys Vaillanti). Also thanks to effin Chester for pointing out that he had another pair of Snakehead Bettas (Betta Channoides) that I now own lol.

Fauna consists of 4x L144, 7x Samurai Gourami (now 6 due to female aggression), 2x Betta Channoides (pair).

The goal is breeding, but just having the blackwater setup is badarse. Since I'm still not finished... Here's a sneak peek

[mnemenoi]

Nice look, love the tannin stained waters, looking forward to seeing the parameters and what you can achieve

[armthehomeless]

Can't wait to see this develop!

[mistahoo]

Haven't checked parameters yet, but it was tap before. A bit more info...

Tank is a 20L also supplied by Homeless Aquatics. Substrate is Coconut fiber. Filter is two Eheim 2213. Assorted driftwood. Cholla wood. Light is a temporary 36" coralife t5. Lights will be changed and I still need a few more things to complete it. All of this was thrown together Saturday.

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[mnemenoi]

It looks good, I'd certainly suggest using RO/DI or distilled only. If I had any significant mineral (TDS) it would try and buffer up. With 0TDS the water should naturally be 7.0 and will have no ability to buffer back up once it starts falling. I found using brightwell/aquasoil to help start the process. It might take a few months to work out whatever minerals are in the system thus far and anything that hitched on equipment/wood/ect. (We had an aquaclear that took almost half a year to lose all the minerals encrusted on it) and I imagine any wood that was in another harder water tank basically acted as a sponge, so diluting it out of it might take some time. We never found any rocks that would not add to the TDS, especially when it started becoming more acidic.

[mistahoo]

There's tap in there now. Already planned for further water changes to be done with ro/di. Thanks for the input though! I figure it'll be a few months for the tds to drop.

Edit: I'm buying RO/DI by my house, but I really need to buy a filter. I'll be getting one soon though. Need to get a 50gal drum or something of the like as well.

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[wesleh]

Subscribed!

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[aquabee]

Whee! Can't wait to follow this tank's progression.


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[mistahoo]

Btw those in the pic are all the "females" or man ladies, which ever you prefer.

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[eklikewhoa]

let me get those channoides, got a bigger tank for my pair now so I could use a second pair.

[Chester]

haha your welcome steven! this should be a fun tank to follow.

[mistahoo]

A shot of the male before the tank went Blackwater



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[Zulu]

So I've heard about homeless aquatics and a few members from SELAS has bought fish from there. Is it a retail store, or a by appointment fish room?

[aquabee]

So I've heard about homeless aquatics and a few members from SELAS has bought fish from there. Is it a retail store, or a by appointment fish room?

It's run by armthehomeless, a by appointment business. Contact him. :)


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[Zulu]

Heard the owner is a good guy from my Louisiana folk. I will have to give him a call on my next trip to Houston.