How often do you clean a blackwater aquarium?

[Nicki Gaga]

I've added bogwood and almond leaves into my 24 gallons tank, hoping that the water would go brown. I clean the tank once a week and change 15% of the water each time. So why isn't the water turning brown yet. It's been a few months now. I don't have carbon in the filter either.

 

[Mebbid]

You can try Blackwater Extract from Tetra for Amazon Aquariums

You clean a black water tank just at much as a regular tank (roughly 50% change a week is optimal). You just don't have enough tannins being produced.

 

[Nicki Gaga]

Do you think it's best if I clean 10% once every 2 weeks?
And then when I think my fish will breed, I'll change 50%?

 

[Mebbid]

Do you think it's best if I clean 10% once every 2 weeks?
And then when I think my fish will breed, I'll change 50%?

Well... What do the nitrates usually run in the tank?

 

[Nicki Gaga]

Quite low...I think. Well that's what the pet store staff said.

 

[Mebbid]

Quite low...I think. Well that's what the pet store staff said.

If you're even considering breeding I would highly recommend getting an API master test kit. They are very affordable and last a long long time. In 3 years I haven't even gone through 2 of them.

Pet Supplies : Aquarium Test Kits : API Freshwater Master Test Kit : Amazon.com


Once you get that do water changes to keep your nitrate around 20ppm or lower. Preferrably around 10ppm or lower with fry. Relying on a pet store to do it generally doesn't end well.

So if you have a 40ppm nitrate then do a 50% water change. If it's 80ppm then do 2 50% water changes.

 

[ImACoolguy]

If you're even considering breeding I would highly recommend getting an API master test kit. They are very affordable and last a long long time. In 3 years I haven't even gone through 2 of them.



Pet Supplies : Aquarium Test Kits : API Freshwater Master Test Kit : Amazon.com





Once you get that do water changes to keep your nitrate around 20ppm or lower. Preferrably around 10ppm or lower with fry. Relying on a pet store to do it generally doesn't end well.



So if you have a 40ppm nitrate then do a 50% water change. If it's 80ppm then do 2 50% water changes.

Even if you're not breeding it's good to have one. First thing I do if my fish are acting strange or a death is test my water. 99% of fish problems are water chemistry related IMO.


Caleb

Sent via TARDIS

 

[Nicki Gaga]

Well, they said my nitrates were about that much. But back to the question. I've used blackwater extract before but it wasn't really that effective (the water was still clear). That's why I switched to bogwood almond leaves (peat moss was too much of a hassle and I didn't know how to use it). So how many almond leaves would you recommend and how often would you recommend changing the water, but keeping the brown colour?

 

[Nicki Gaga]

But none of my fish have been dying of disease lately. They've only died due to old age.

 

[Mebbid]

But none of my fish have been dying of disease lately. They've only died due to old age.

Are you sure? Almost all aquarium fish live 3+ years while many live to be 10 or more. The only fish I can think of in the trade that don't live much more than a year are killifish.

 

[Nicki Gaga]

I've had my fish for years so of course they were due to die anyway.

 

[Mebbid]

I've had my fish for years so of course they were due to die anyway.

Sorry about that then, im not familiar with peoples tanks so i have began to assume people are relative amateurs

 

[IllusionX]

I put 6 almond leaves in my 5g and it started tanning. Not much, but if I compare to the 5g next to it, it shows. BUT, the medication we add to it (it's a medicated tank for sick fishes) has something to do with the colouring of the water too.

Also watch out for your pH, these things lower your pH

 

[Brookster123]

I use about 3 new leaves every 2 weeks in my 20 long.. weekly wc usually around 30%,50% once a month. Only a pair of apistos in there and lots of plants so nitrates are actually pretty low. I dump to big caps of Tetra blackwater in there while I'm filling back up.. 2 days later it's nice and dark again. The extract will keep it stained enough not freak the fish out and the almond leaves start leaching nicely after a day or two.

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[Nicki Gaga]

Well, I prefer to use something that will gradually leach out tannins, so how many almond leaves would you recommend putting in a 24 gallon?

 

[Brookster123]

Up to 15 I suppose..

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[Gillie]

Up to 15 I suppose..

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Or more they don't produce near the tannins as mopani or malaysian woods.

What fish are you keeping in there?
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[Nicki Gaga]

Mainly tetras.