r/BlackwaterAquarium

Smallest of the 8 by far and already my favourite, worry every time I don’t see him during feeding but then he pops up again, chilling near the bottom

I spent ages trying to make this look good 🫪

New to blackwater setups but pretty excited about my new 20 gal tank that’s just about ready for some fish friends! What does everyone think?

Two weeks ago, I added some Java Fern and Java Moss to my tank that I ordered online from Bunnykart.

Today, I was looking closely at the tank and spotted two tiny baby Ember Tetras swimming around...

D. hexazona

T. trichopterus

en busca de alimento vivo traje todo lo que mi pequeña red me permitió pero estos amiguitos me parecieron interesantes, creo que corresponden a la familia de ciclidos aunque no estoy del todo segura y al parecer mi app de reconocimiento no logra decidir que peces son, miden 2,5 cm y son algo territoriales

Tanks been established for 6 months and I’ve still yet to see breeding dress for my pair. Thinking it’s likely I may have two females.

New to the blackwater scene with this 5gal long blackwater setup made in the wrong orientation! Still cycling (1 week in) but the meiofauna are already popping up (probably due to using old substrate and media + introducing mulm from a running filter).

The water's gonna get darker probably, fingers crossed it cycles well 🙏

As a nature lover I wanted to replicate something from the wild. For some reason I gravitated towards an Amazon style eco-system.

So the idea was born and after about 6 months of intermittent research on ecosystems from that area I finally formulated what I wanted in my head in terms of style, plants, stocking etc.

Blackwater amazon style biotope

All native planting

Surface:

• Tropical Frogbit
• Waterlettuce

Main:

• Myriophyllum matogrossense - still coming up at the back
• Hydrocotyle leucocephala - still growing from shoots, hard to see any in pic
• Amazon swords

The plants are all placed specifically to provide a decent central mass focal point, coming up from under and around the main diftwood.

They will continue to grow and provide a much larger backdrop in time.

• Tank is large cubed 155L - pic doesn't really convey how deep it is front to back
• Walstad inspired but am over filtering too with OASE 350
• Pond soil base, sand cap.
• PH 6.5
• Cycle time from zero - 5.5 weeks
  • parameters wise it was becoming ready at about 3.5 weeks but I didn't want to rush it.

School of 15 rosy tetra went in yesterday.

Rosy tetra were out and surveying within hours and setting up hierarchies and zones by day 2. They seem incredibly happy.

I'll probably keep the stocking as that now - adding more fish would, for me, affect the visual balance of the tank - and my goal is to replicate a slice of life in a South American tributary somewhere rather than stocking it with species after species.

My research often led me back to little bits of info gleaned from posts from this sub and others, such as r/plantedtanks - so thank you sub for being a valuable resource.

Whilst this is my first aquarium I learnt a lot along the journey - If you got any questions on something then I'm happy to share my experience with it.

Thanks for stopping by and checking this post out, the Rosy Tetra say hi.

First aquarium in a long time. This is my favorite tank I've made of many and my first blackwater. I have neon tetras and neocaridina in there, but they are taking up precious space that could be used for driftwood

S. osphromenoides

Tank size is 90 x 45 x 45 with the idea of having two “tree logs” on both corners. About a month-ish in on this tank.

Fish includes 2 pairs of Betta Hendras, 6 Parosphromenus Harveyi, 12-15 Boraras. Likely including some kuhli loaches & six banded barbs soon.

Just sharing this and happy to hear thoughts on improving the setup!