Blackwater?

[Spiritofthesoul]

I brought a bottle of black water which is meant for arowana (well the bottle claimed). I really like the dark swampy effect which this conditioner gives. Is black water good for a bichir tank?

The pH of tap water in this area is high, 8+. With the black water, pH has steadily decrease to 6.6. Read the label and it contains tannic acid and humic acid. Now I know tannic acid comes from tannin which is not dangerous to the fishes since driftwood leach them all the time.

What about humic acid? I never heard of it before. After adding black water, my bichirs seems to be more active and the stripes on my delhezi turns out intense (which i really like). I guess it must be due to the darkening of water which reduces the light penetration. I heard that bichirs prefer dark area so this could be a logical explaination.

Has any of you used black water on a bichir tank and had any ill effects on the fishes? I don't want to see my bichirs belly-up tomorrow. If there is ill effects, I'll do a wc now and add carbon to my filter.

 

[Alexandrian]

 

[Ruxkus]

well i have a black water tank and there is no ill effects to my fish. they happen to love it. they are more active now then before and the same there colors come alive in the dark water but my plants on the otherehand not so much

 

[angryinsect]

humic acid is produced by decaying plant matter shouldn't hurt the fish at all, bichirs like the lower ph and black water efffect, in fact it is nessecary for breeding

 

[NCStateFisher]

you're good my bichirs are in semi-black water from tannin and they love it

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

you're good my bichirs are in semi-black water from tannin and they love it

Thanks, is too much tannin bad?

 

[cjiejian]

Hmmm... black water in a bottle... interesting...
pics after taning??

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Before

After

Picture don't do justice though, Looks much darker than in the pic

 

[Mr Pleco]

Before

After

Picture don't do justice though, Looks much darker than in the pic

Tank looks nice ,for my aro I make my own blackwater .....

I use peat, oak leaves and almond leaves..little less $$ when your dealing with large tanks that house aro's

 

[cjiejian]

nice colour!!! too bad im havin a planted tank... low light=death plants..