blackwater

[papwalker]

Pleased to see my regime of 'forrest flooding' has worked again.
Added Aqua Master Blackwater Extract, Indian Almond Leaves (two weeks prior), my orinoco tea (simmered mix of almond leaves, peatmoss and sphagnum moss) cold rainwater, brine shrimp, increased oxygenation and some rainwater tank scum with lots of flora.

The herd of corydoras are having what can only be described as an orgy. The tank has eggs all over.

With the exception of my 'Orinoco tea' this regime worked well for Silver dollars also

[lurch1000]

Never happened without pics ;)

I'm currently considering a project along these lines, would you be able to post any stats for the tank at all?

Cheers!

[papwalker]

I don't remember how to add pics here. LOL
Shameful for a software guy.
Ive added an attachment(s).
Can you add multiple images?

[lurch1000]

You can add more than one, no idea what the limit is though. I've done two before, once you add the first one and placed inline, go down to where you added one before and do the same again.

[papwalker]

Can people see 'my tanks' for stats or do I need to post it all here?

[lurch1000]

Your 60l has some stats, there's no pH or temperature information for the 3' though.

I was wondering if the blackwater had tinkered your pH/hardness/TDS in a different direction to normal.

[papwalker]

The corys are in the 60L
Yes the treatment has lowered ph from 7.2 to 6.6 via tanic / humic acids etc. Add more and down it goes again. My 'Orinoco tea' is pH 4.4

The addition of fresh rainwater for a 10% change will reduce the hardness as might the Almond Leaves etc.

I do the 10% changes daily and keep an eye on the pH as the water softens. The tap water I normally use (in the dry season) around gh3.75. I don't normally test gh/kh of the tank. I plat it by ear.
I give the fish 'treats' that emulate new tasty things washed into the creek.

I increase oxygen with a small AquaEl 500 in-tank filter by using the supplied visor on the outlet and the venturi air feed on outlet. Basically the filter blows fine bubbles and sets up a moderate flow in the tank. The extra oxy to emulate the large surface agitation of rain falling on the creek and the flow increase of the creeks as they fill.
The outlet is 19mm beneath the surface and the visor directs the flow down at around 20 deg.
It's easy, just stick the pump in the tank and it suctions caps to the glass.

The main filter is an Eheim 2213 with no spray bay at water level.

Is that it? I think that's it.

[Bwhiskered]

What is the species of cory that are spawning? Many will spawn with just a cool tap water change and some with adding 50% RO. Some of mine also spawn with just putting in a few Alder Cones.

[lurch1000]

Good stuff! I may make some orinoco tea myself, just where to get the bits from, and see what mix with my tap/diluted tap water wil work for me. How "black" is your blackwater tank at the moment?

Cheers for that.

[papwalker]

@bwiskered
sturbai and brevirostris
These little beggars are stubborn. Cold low ion water is not enough so I hit them with the full treatment. I even wait for a low pressure system and storms. (thunder gods?)
I really hope I get no hybrids.
Also the rotten juvenile Ancistrus has sucked some eggs through the netting. His days may be numbered, however there is enough planting that some un-netted will be around.

[papwalker]

@lurch1000
I use peatmoss from the gardening shop. Looks a bit like potting mix. Sphagnum moss from same.
Indian Almond Leaves from http://www.indianalmondleaves.com.au

Two cups peat and 10 leaves and one cup sphag. I simmer my mix. A lot of guys don't.

The tanks are yellow / weak tea.
Worked a treat for characids only back then I bought the tea from an African breeder of all things.
Anyway, my own regime has worked three out of three now for Corydoras.
Try it on the altums next.

[lurch1000]

Cheers for that, will look in to it. I expect Mrs Lurch will confine such activities to the garage!