Cichla: Blackwater DIY Pics, Part 1 **LOAD WARNING**

[Scatocephalus]

Last night I satyed up until midnight making a batch of blackwater extract and snapping pics. Here are the results...

3 cups of peatmoss poured into a large sauce pan

Add 6 quarts of RO or DI water, bring to a boil and let simmer for 30 minutes

Place an old towel over a 5 gallon bucket

Pour contents of sauce pan through towel

Remove towel and trapped "goop". You are left with approx a gallon and half of rich, dark extract.

Pour extract into tank and enjoy!!

Check out part 2 for results...

 

[jcardona1]

nice! this will come in handy for lots of folks, including myself. im doing this when i run out of indian almond leaves

 

[Peter B]

Its a great idea, but 3 cups is enough for how many gallons?
With the water changes do you just redo the same amount or partial Blackwater extract?

Peter

 

[Scatocephalus]

Its a great idea, but 3 cups is enough for how many gallons?
With the water changes do you just redo the same amount or partial Blackwater extract?

Peter

I was simply showing you how to make the extract. The strength of the extract, how much you want in the tank, how often to add, when to add and how to add all depends on you and what you are trying to accomplish.

In my case, 3 cups of peat seems to be the best ratio of peat to water for the size pan I'm using. More than 3 cups leaves me with very little water/extract and too much left over peat. If you have a bigger pan or want to make more extract, go for it.

Looking at my before and after pics you can see what 3 cups does to a 125 gallon tank.

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

Very informative read! nice stuff

 

[MadRussian79]

Hey I'm going to try that with a lobster pot I have at home. I also brew my water change water with a bag of peat. How long have you been using this method?

 

[Peter B]

Ok thanks again, dont forgot to tell the married guys to use a old pan, no point in the wife getting all worked up
Im going to use this method next week, proberly friday, wifes at work then and what she dont see cant hurt me

Peter

 

[crenipterus svenagalus]

Ok thanks again, dont forgot to tell the married guys to use a old pan, no point in the wife getting all worked up
Im going to use this method next week, proberly friday, wifes at work then and what she dont see cant hurt me

Peter

Nice... Hahaha.

 

[neoprodigy]

why RO/DI water? tap is no good?

 

[Scatocephalus]

why RO/DI water? tap is no good?

Technically, you could use tap water and you'd probably be fine but RO/DI will simply let you control the process better.

Depending on where you live, tap water can be full of carbonates, calcium and magnesium as well as have a high pH. Not to mention other impurities. Staring off with pure water just gives you a better quality extract. It also will mean that the extract has a very low pH which is beneficial in adjusting the pH down in your tank. Boiling the peat in water that has a high alkalinity and high pH would pretty much negate the pH adjusting capabilities of the peat.

I like to equate it to using RO/DI water when making water for your salt water reef tank. If you start with pure water, you know exactly what is in the water when you add your salt and minerals so that when you add it to the tank you know exactly what you are putting in. No suprises!