Blackwater setup

[TaxBaby16]

I decided to go black water but the water is nowhere near as dark as I want it. I started with amazon black water solution then alder cones, then I boiled oak/maple leaves still not dark enough. Now Im boiling and steeping peat. It just dosent get dark enough. Ive dropped my ph to 6.6 from mid 7's
My EBA's seem to be doing much better in this water. The snails didn't make it (all I have in there is white clouds and neons but have plans for glass catfish)
Is there a way to get the water darker? How much farther can I take this without hurting the EBA"s?
The thought crossed my mind to put roibos teabags in the filter (Obv not gonna do that but it would certainly get it to where id like it )
I should also mention im running 2 aquaclear 50's on it (45 Gallon tank) . I took out all the media except the biofilter cubes

 

[twentyleagues]

Roibos tea is actually used to achieve this goal, but not in the manner you suggest. Steep the tea as normal cool it and add to the tank. I would think the peat would work well also. You can also get peat pellets to add to your filter.

 

[tlindsey]

Are you using carbon in the filters?

 

[Scruffy4]

You can boil almond cattapa leaves (put the leaves in a filter bag). It will lower PH and get you the look you’re after. Pretty much the same process as mentioned above. Maybe start with 2 leaves with about 4 cups of water. Do it slowly as adjusting ph suddenly can be harmful.

 

[duanes]

EBAs are not really black water species, though their ancestors (non-line bred Acaras) sometimes experience a seasonal tannin surge.
I have wild caught Andinoacara coerleopunctatus (close cousin to blue acaras (A pulcher)), and because my tank is outside and influenced by surrounding vegetation during heavy rains, gets quite dark, and due to the rain pH drops from a dry season pH of above 8, down to 7, and they seem unphased by the seasonal changes.

Tannin stained water above, below, the other part of the year.

In the states I would collect and soak, Magnolia, oak, and maple leaves from my yard.