Does anyone know what this is
- Thread starter Sanman
- Start date
Most Heros come from waters with a pH between 4-6, and have "seasonal" periods where black water is common.
This temporary black (tannin) infused water provides an anti-bacteria period for these fish, and especially if your pH is above 7, may be a factor in preventing chronic bacterial diseases.
This seems to occur in many S American species kept in aquaria, Heros, oscars, many other large long lived cichlids.
You may find doing large water changes with tannin infused water might help.
You can infuse water with tannins by soaking leaves, wood, peat, or even old tea bags.
I keep rain barrels, with logs, bags of leaves, and soak leaves in buckets, mixing the rain water with tap for water changes, for those type species.
I put lots of wood, and even certain leaves in some tanks to supply constant leaching of tannins, to simulate their natural environment, because my tap water was a constant 7.8 or higher pH.
This temporary black (tannin) infused water provides an anti-bacteria period for these fish, and especially if your pH is above 7, may be a factor in preventing chronic bacterial diseases.
This seems to occur in many S American species kept in aquaria, Heros, oscars, many other large long lived cichlids.
You may find doing large water changes with tannin infused water might help.
You can infuse water with tannins by soaking leaves, wood, peat, or even old tea bags.
I keep rain barrels, with logs, bags of leaves, and soak leaves in buckets, mixing the rain water with tap for water changes, for those type species.
I put lots of wood, and even certain leaves in some tanks to supply constant leaching of tannins, to simulate their natural environment, because my tap water was a constant 7.8 or higher pH.
I have liquid rock dutchess County ny well water ph is 7.8 to 8.2 nitrates are 20 to 40 with twice a week water changes . Tank is 120 gal with java fern and Anubius all over 3 large pieces of driftwood .. tank mates are 5 giant danio 3 electric blue acara 2 rose line sharks just lost one to a jump out over night. 2 guianacara and 1 heckelli and a pair of bristlenose
