TetraAqua Blackwater Extract.... Any good?

[Kyle_91]

No one can tell you if this product will alter your water chemisty based on the info from this thread. If you water is hard (I'm talking kH not pH) than you can add the entire bottle and it will only be cosmetic. If you water is soft, than even adding small amount can alter your water. This is a concentrated formula of tannin and humic acids, that is acidity (soft water) very few fish need these to thrive. If your water is soft to begin with, this product is not needed at all. Most will tell you to leave your water alone and remain consistant. If you looking to mimic blackwater conditions and are serious about it (I do), I suggest you invenst in a decent RO filter. WHat are you hardness readings and what kind of fish are you keeping?

ps - my tap is 7.6 pH but very hard and high in calcium. I could add that entire bottle to a 10 gallon tank and it would be purely cosmetic.

I live outside of a small country town so we have well water. (which is hard water...)
I guess i'll just see if 5 bucks worth a shot...

 

[Kyle_91]

Do you have access to unlimited supply of oak leaves? How about Indian almond leaves?

unfortunately i do not...

 

[JK47]

I live outside of a small country town so we have well water. (which is hard water...)
I guess i'll just see if 5 bucks worth a shot...

Go for it. If nothing else, it looks cool! I love the look of dark water!!!

 

[Kyle_91]

Go for it. If nothing else, it looks cool! I love the look of dark water!!!

i'll keep you updated. Hopefully i'll get a bottle tomorrow.

 

[JK47]

i'll keep you updated. Hopefully i'll get a bottle tomorrow.

Well since your water is hard you can go on the heavy side of how much you add don't forget full tank shots (before and after) when you do, I wanna see!

 

[Kyle_91]

Will do

 

[KyleStone]

That depends on what species your trying to keep. "blackwater" can vary in softness depending on locale. True blackwater species like Satanoperca daemon, Uaru fernandezyepezi and Pterophyllum altum are found in pH below 5.0. In order to trigger some of these species to spawn, you practically have to keep them in battery acid. In fact some of these species can thrive in water so soft benificail bacterial colonies cannot even survive.

I have a black arowana and my tap water is not so good the ph is 8.0 gh is 20 and kh is 3

 

[knifegill]

I use alder cones and maple leaves. Safe, free, and nicely tannic. My bettas got all spunky and beautiful after I added the alder cones.

 

[JK47]

I have a black arowana and my tap water is not so good the ph is 8.0 gh is 20 and kh is 3

Well that's on the oposite side of blackwater, that's for sure. I would leave it alone if your aro is healthy and already adjusted. How long has it been in those water perams? If your dead set on going blackwater, I would get an RO filter. That is the only way you would be able to truely soften your water. It is a ton of work though so make sure your commited before investing in one. The RO filters aren't cheap.

 

[KyleStone]

Well that's on the oposite side of blackwater, that's for sure. I would leave it alone if your aro is healthy and already adjusted. How long has it been in those water perams? If your dead set on going blackwater, I would get an RO filter. That is the only way you would be able to truely soften your water. It is a ton of work though so make sure your commited before investing in one. The RO filters aren't cheap.

I got the arowana two months ago, so far he seems to be doing fine. The water condition at the moment in the tank is ph 7.0, gh 18, and kh is 2. I was thinking to put some more bogwood in the tank to help the ph drop