- Messages
- 138
- Location
- Belle River Ontario
First, I can't find a place to "journal" our (my Girlfriend and I) Blackwater Biotope tank, if there is a better place, can one of the Mods please put this there? Now, on with the journal.
We (my Girlfriend and I) like trying different things. We have between the two of us; 1 X 75GAL (soon to be Loach Tank), 1 X 70GAL (High Tech Planted), 1 X 55GAL (current Loach Tank), 1 X 53GAL Custom (empty, soon to be Paludarium), 1 X 40GAL (this Journal, Blackwater Biotope), 2 X 20GAL (1 housing a Tiger Salamander, 1 housing a quasi-South American Tank), 1 X 15GAL Tall (empty), 1 X 10GAL (Guppy Tank) and.... 1 X 5GAL Tank (Quarantine Tank). Bringing us to a whopping total of 10 tanks (whom needs MTS when you have a Girlfriend into Aquariums as well)!!!
With the sheer amount of different things, we decided that a Predatory, Blackwater Biotope would be a good idea. Having no plants in it (minus floating), we figured this would add some variety to our ever growing collection of different Aquariums.
We recently purchased the 40GAL (Orient140 from AA-Aquariums) which comes with built in 2 X 13W T5 Lighting, Hermetically sealed Tray Filtration, Built in Canopy and Stand. It's obvious this is a European model and we are finding it far superior to some of the kits we have found here in Canada or the US.
The dimensions of the tank are 29.5" long X 17.75" wide X 17.50" tall. Its a perfect aquarium for our latest project.
The tank empty with just a sample piece of wood in it.
Our first and foremost idea was what fish? This is why I've been asking about Crenicichla regani. We find this a pleasing size and habits to what we want. Looking at a backup plan we have discussed;
> Dicrossus filamentosus
> Taeniacara candidi
> Apistogramma (not sure which ones)
These fish, of course are if the C.regani fall through, but we are going to be searching high and low for these fish. I expect to put them into the tank closer to the fall (where we live, would be around August).
We searched the Internet and did tons of research on Blackwater Biotopes. Combined with my travels to South America, the pieces fit together rather quickly. Sand, Wood, Leaf Litter, a few rocks and floating plants. Tannin stained waters can be achieved with Peat in the filter, and the decaying leaves in the tank.
We also plan to use RO Water for the tank to help soften things a bit, but use about 20% treated tap water to keep some buffer and minerals in the water.
Over the weekend, Soul Hugger (my Girlfriend), Cassie (my 9yr old Daughter) and myself went for a walk along the South Saskatchewan River looking for interesting pieces of wood. We found tons. Also, stashed, is a nice big piece that will be used in the Loach Tank Project (75GAL) in the later part of the year.
Soul-Hugger collecting some wood along the shores of the South Saskatchewan
My Daughter Cassie hamming it up for the Camera (as usual)
Cycled with the wood just haphazardly thrown in. We managed to purchase two nice pieces of Java Wood (Bird Perches) for the Aquarium. The larger piece we have it setup as a "root" coming down from the top left back corner.
A clearer pic of the Java Wood. This stuff is really nice and browns up quick in the aquarium. Though I have a feeling it will take a while for it to get water logged.
Two larger pieces of "darker" wood we purchased at local Pet Stores to help with adding tannins to the tank. So far, they have worked out fine and done a great job on starting with the water staining process.
The game plan was that I was supposed to get my order of Apistogramma velifera today and we were going to use the 40GAL (which has been matured from bio from all of our other tanks) as a holding tank until I get my 70GAL back up and running (moving takes its toll on a Planted Tank).... but the order arrived totally DOA so no Apistos.
Discouraged, we decided, what the heck, lets start up the 40GAL today. We purchased a 50lb bag of Silica Sand (Sil#8) for $10 Canadian. Its a lovely Brown colour and nice sized granules that feel like the stuff I have encounted in the Rainforest Rivers.
Silica #8
What the granules look like. Its turns a nice brown colour (with small red and white flecks in it) underwater! Woo-hoo!
After dumping about 1/2 a bag (25lb) we decided we didn't need a deep sandy substrate. Heck, we never even bothered with smoothing it out, in nature, sand rarely comes smoothed out nicely. We then repositioned some wood and started to figure out a final Aquascape...
The collection of wood that has a destiny in the tank.
No matter how much you rinse, you always get a sand cloud
A good start to Aquascaping with no plants. This is gonna be weird.
Definitely room for improvement, but not much.
Starting to fill up and of course, 3/4 of the wood will not sink. I guess we are going to have to let it happen over the course of time. We have the time and patience for it. No point rushing when you'll regret something later.
Everything floats! Well almost everything. The small twig I pushed in the substrate has stayed put. Weird.
What it currently looks like. Still settling, wood still floating, but showing some promise.
As I look over at the tank, I can see it has cleared up to the point I can almost see the other side. Whew. This is our plans for the tank for future reference (and see if we can stick to it, though between the two of us being purists, I can't foresee a problem)...
Fauna;
Silver Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla) or Spotted Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus maculatus) - Unknown numbers at this time
1 X High-Fin Pleco (AKA "King") (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps), which currently resides in our 55GAL Loach Tank
Flora;
Floating Water Sprite (Ceratopteris)
As you can see the setup is going to be quite simple. We are going to add one my submersible heaters to the tank and rid ourselves of those horrible suction cup monsters that seem to plague my world.
We have some other pieces of nice wood in our 20GAL Quasi-South American tank which might find their way to this tank. Since we plan to rehome all the fish (and plants) to my 70GAL High-Tech, this will "free up" the 20GAL.
Stay tuned for updates. Thanks for reading and keep watching...
Gary
We (my Girlfriend and I) like trying different things. We have between the two of us; 1 X 75GAL (soon to be Loach Tank), 1 X 70GAL (High Tech Planted), 1 X 55GAL (current Loach Tank), 1 X 53GAL Custom (empty, soon to be Paludarium), 1 X 40GAL (this Journal, Blackwater Biotope), 2 X 20GAL (1 housing a Tiger Salamander, 1 housing a quasi-South American Tank), 1 X 15GAL Tall (empty), 1 X 10GAL (Guppy Tank) and.... 1 X 5GAL Tank (Quarantine Tank). Bringing us to a whopping total of 10 tanks (whom needs MTS when you have a Girlfriend into Aquariums as well)!!!
With the sheer amount of different things, we decided that a Predatory, Blackwater Biotope would be a good idea. Having no plants in it (minus floating), we figured this would add some variety to our ever growing collection of different Aquariums.
We recently purchased the 40GAL (Orient140 from AA-Aquariums) which comes with built in 2 X 13W T5 Lighting, Hermetically sealed Tray Filtration, Built in Canopy and Stand. It's obvious this is a European model and we are finding it far superior to some of the kits we have found here in Canada or the US.
The dimensions of the tank are 29.5" long X 17.75" wide X 17.50" tall. Its a perfect aquarium for our latest project.
The tank empty with just a sample piece of wood in it.
Our first and foremost idea was what fish? This is why I've been asking about Crenicichla regani. We find this a pleasing size and habits to what we want. Looking at a backup plan we have discussed;
> Dicrossus filamentosus
> Taeniacara candidi
> Apistogramma (not sure which ones)
These fish, of course are if the C.regani fall through, but we are going to be searching high and low for these fish. I expect to put them into the tank closer to the fall (where we live, would be around August).
We searched the Internet and did tons of research on Blackwater Biotopes. Combined with my travels to South America, the pieces fit together rather quickly. Sand, Wood, Leaf Litter, a few rocks and floating plants. Tannin stained waters can be achieved with Peat in the filter, and the decaying leaves in the tank.
We also plan to use RO Water for the tank to help soften things a bit, but use about 20% treated tap water to keep some buffer and minerals in the water.
Over the weekend, Soul Hugger (my Girlfriend), Cassie (my 9yr old Daughter) and myself went for a walk along the South Saskatchewan River looking for interesting pieces of wood. We found tons. Also, stashed, is a nice big piece that will be used in the Loach Tank Project (75GAL) in the later part of the year.
Soul-Hugger collecting some wood along the shores of the South Saskatchewan
My Daughter Cassie hamming it up for the Camera (as usual)
Cycled with the wood just haphazardly thrown in. We managed to purchase two nice pieces of Java Wood (Bird Perches) for the Aquarium. The larger piece we have it setup as a "root" coming down from the top left back corner.
A clearer pic of the Java Wood. This stuff is really nice and browns up quick in the aquarium. Though I have a feeling it will take a while for it to get water logged.
Two larger pieces of "darker" wood we purchased at local Pet Stores to help with adding tannins to the tank. So far, they have worked out fine and done a great job on starting with the water staining process.
The game plan was that I was supposed to get my order of Apistogramma velifera today and we were going to use the 40GAL (which has been matured from bio from all of our other tanks) as a holding tank until I get my 70GAL back up and running (moving takes its toll on a Planted Tank).... but the order arrived totally DOA so no Apistos.
Discouraged, we decided, what the heck, lets start up the 40GAL today. We purchased a 50lb bag of Silica Sand (Sil#8) for $10 Canadian. Its a lovely Brown colour and nice sized granules that feel like the stuff I have encounted in the Rainforest Rivers.
Silica #8
What the granules look like. Its turns a nice brown colour (with small red and white flecks in it) underwater! Woo-hoo!
After dumping about 1/2 a bag (25lb) we decided we didn't need a deep sandy substrate. Heck, we never even bothered with smoothing it out, in nature, sand rarely comes smoothed out nicely. We then repositioned some wood and started to figure out a final Aquascape...
The collection of wood that has a destiny in the tank.
No matter how much you rinse, you always get a sand cloud
A good start to Aquascaping with no plants. This is gonna be weird.
Definitely room for improvement, but not much.
Starting to fill up and of course, 3/4 of the wood will not sink. I guess we are going to have to let it happen over the course of time. We have the time and patience for it. No point rushing when you'll regret something later.
Everything floats! Well almost everything. The small twig I pushed in the substrate has stayed put. Weird.
What it currently looks like. Still settling, wood still floating, but showing some promise.
As I look over at the tank, I can see it has cleared up to the point I can almost see the other side. Whew. This is our plans for the tank for future reference (and see if we can stick to it, though between the two of us being purists, I can't foresee a problem)...
Fauna;
Silver Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla) or Spotted Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus maculatus) - Unknown numbers at this time
1 X High-Fin Pleco (AKA "King") (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps), which currently resides in our 55GAL Loach Tank
Flora;
Floating Water Sprite (Ceratopteris)
As you can see the setup is going to be quite simple. We are going to add one my submersible heaters to the tank and rid ourselves of those horrible suction cup monsters that seem to plague my world.
We have some other pieces of nice wood in our 20GAL Quasi-South American tank which might find their way to this tank. Since we plan to rehome all the fish (and plants) to my 70GAL High-Tech, this will "free up" the 20GAL.
Stay tuned for updates. Thanks for reading and keep watching...
Gary
