ok so right now i have a 125g african cichlid tank set up, only has like 3 pairs and 2 singles of mainly mbuna cichlids and then 2 pictus cats, so originally was thinking that when i moved it to my new place (its at my parents house at the moment but i am the only one that takes care of it so am going to move it to my new place) that i would just revamp it and put down sand substrate (has gravel right now) and do drift wood and stone deco, however i have been looking at different kinds of setups and different kinds of fish available to freshwater and think a nice blackwater setup would look really good in this tank but have no experience with maintaining special water chemistry (usually just test to make sure no trites, trates or ammonia and fish have done well) was thinking of either doing some kind of predatory tank or maybe a discus tank (they do blackwater as well right?) also i know ill have to get rid of the cichlids but would the pictus be ok with this new water? and how exactly do you maintain the water chemistry? i saw that drift wood would help release chemicals for water but what other additives are needed? sorry this is so long but new to this whole black water amazon thing and any advice would be greatly appreciated, also only filter i have on it right now is a rena xp3 and it keeps water at great levels but would i need to add another filter?
Redoing my 125g tank, Help!
- Thread starter Sarah88
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oh and what do you guys use for water? at my parents house we are on well water so we just put water straight into tank but here i am on city water so do you guys use RO like with saltwater or just use those dechlorinaters from the store but then what do you do about phosphates?
for the blackwater effect, just drop in some huge pieces of driftwood. the wood releases tannic acids to darken your water and buffers your ph naturally. resume as normal check trites, trates, monia and water changes. Initially your water will turn dark brown but in time and regular water changes it will lighten up.
ok kewl thanks and what would you guys suggest fish-wise, if i did discus could i keep a pair of BGKs if i put them in last and at same time and how many discus can be comfortably kept in 125g (i like for fish to have plenty of swimming room)? and if i did predatory what kinds of interesting fish would you guys suggest (dont want to do any type of cichlid would want something different, Bichirs or arrowana or something like that)
yeah i know im excited (have to move it first though
but yeah just wanted to get different opinions on cool fish because iv done alot of researching for saltwater fish but other than the little fishies they have at all the pet stores i dont really know all the different kinds of cool freshwater fish available (just found out about discus a couple weeks ago lol) dont really have a good fishstore near me (one store by my parents house has awesome fish selection but i refuse to go in their because of how they treat the other animals they have for sale its horrible, wish they would just stick with fish) but yeah so i dont really know what all is out there, and yeah i like to keep it natural looking im planning on doing a white sand bottom and then if i can find them some cool branchy pieces of drift wood that will look like roots coming down into the water (do you know good place to find wood?) and will do with looking how everyone else has theirs set up maybe something will give me some ideas 
but yeah just wanted to get different opinions on cool fish because iv done alot of researching for saltwater fish but other than the little fishies they have at all the pet stores i dont really know all the different kinds of cool freshwater fish available (just found out about discus a couple weeks ago lol) dont really have a good fishstore near me (one store by my parents house has awesome fish selection but i refuse to go in their because of how they treat the other animals they have for sale its horrible, wish they would just stick with fish) but yeah so i dont really know what all is out there, and yeah i like to keep it natural looking im planning on doing a white sand bottom and then if i can find them some cool branchy pieces of drift wood that will look like roots coming down into the water (do you know good place to find wood?) and will do with looking how everyone else has theirs set up maybe something will give me some ideas I personally like Geophagus Altfrons or Tapajos. Beautiful fish with long elegant fin and tail trailers. and they are gentle enough for discus, angelfish and even tetras.
Predator fish, I like peacock bass, pike cichlids, doviiand umbees
search around...I wish I had an empty tank
Predator fish, I like peacock bass, pike cichlids, doviiand umbees
search around...I wish I had an empty tank
searching for a cool branchy piece of driftwood at the right size can be frustrating. I checked LFS with no luck, actually there are MFK members that sell alot of cool driftwood. Seeing that you have time, periodically check the classified section and eventually someone will be selling a cool piece. heres a 5' piece I found on MFK
thats a really cool piece ed but yeah its gona be hard for me cus i want something more vertical instead of horizontal, and will be wanting several to put them spanning the tank so fish can swim all inbetween branches and stuff, ok so let me know what you guys think about this stock list:
2 pictus cats i already have (will they be ok in blackwater?)
ornate bichir
black ghost knife (with cats and bichir would it be to much to have a pair?)
and maybe 5-6 discus
2 pictus cats i already have (will they be ok in blackwater?)
ornate bichir
black ghost knife (with cats and bichir would it be to much to have a pair?)
and maybe 5-6 discus