Blackwater Lido 120

[Jay1983]

I love the look of this so far and cant wait to see it progress, the wood looks spot on with some swords and cardinals would be very nice

Cheers. I need to work on the placement of the wood but it dosen't look half bad the way its been chucked in. I'm only having floating plants in this tank with leaf litter on the bottom ,so sorry no swords.

Unless it looks a shambles then ill have to revisit your comment.

Floating plants...wood and leaf litter perfect for Cardinals they will love it.

Jay

 

[Xraymark]

My cycle took 3 weeks. One large water change later. Time to get fishes.


Went with 12 cardinals and a pair of apisto ponduro to start off. So rio negro theme out the window. Had the option of agassiz or biteanita's but the ponduro's won out.

My frogbbit fell apart in the other tank which I had read could happen but my salvinia was fine, apart from a few chunks taken from the leaves due my apple snails.

A few hours after setup. Pictures from a phone.

Obligitary angled shots

Male apisto

Female

The water is too clear as there are only a few tannins at the moment from the wood and leaves. I have some JBL Tropol, a blackwater conditioner which I have yet to add.


I have to think about further stocking. Maybe otto's or cory habrosus.

 

[Jay1983]

that really is impressive, do you know the ph?? really brilliant tank, you should be proud!

Jay

 

[Xraymark]

Cheers Jay
Ph at moment 6.4. I have coral chips in the filter to help buffer it dropping too low.

 

[Flubberlump]

Very nice love the apistos!

 

[minnnt]

Why do you want to stop it dropping too low? The fish you have would love a PH around 5.5-6.0.

Great work by the way, it looks really realistic. Peat is also great for adding a nice colouration to your water. Maybe remove the coral chips from the filter and add a peat ball instead.

Apistogramma Panduro's are some of my favourites, the female when in full breeding atire is simply stunning.

 

[Jay1983]

Why do you want to stop it dropping too low? The fish you have would love a PH around 5.5-6.0.

Great work by the way, it looks really realistic. Peat is also great for adding a nice colouration to your water. Maybe remove the coral chips from the filter and add a peat ball instead.

Apistogramma Panduro's are some of my favourites, the female when in full breeding atire is simply stunning.

I think there is a point where the bacteria stop processing the nitrite? think it maybe below 6.2? could be wrong though. If this is incorrect then yeah I'd let it drop lower. Hopefully someone with far greater knowledge will hop in and correct me

 

[Xraymark]

Yeah. Purely a concern for my filter bacteria. Otherwise I would let it drop below 6. My tap water is 6.4.
Very happy with the apisto's. Now I want to do something different with my other tank. It never stops

 

[minnnt]

Members on this forum have achieved a ph of around 3-4 with no adverse effect on filtration...

 

[Jay1983]

Members on this forum have achieved a ph of around 3-4 with no adverse effect on filtration...

In a planted tank or just normal? Like I say I am probably wrong althought i'm sure I've read it somewhere....

 

[minnnt]

I believe Rorie was one who kept Discus, unsure if it was planted though or not. Pretty sure someone created a tank with a ph of around 5 who kept wild caught Angels.

And i could definately be wrong...

 

[Jay1983]

I believe Rorie was one who kept Discus, unsure if it was planted though or not. Pretty sure someone created a tank with a ph of around 5 who kept wild caught Angels.

And i could definately be wrong...

lol hopefully someone will give us the answer then. I'd imagine you must be correct due to how delicate Discuss are. My planted tank has a PH of around 6 but the plants would really be my filter.

 

[minnnt]

Yeah you lucky git! lol.

I'm sure Ian or TwoTankAmin could assist us...

 

[Jay1983]

Yeah you lucky git! lol.

I'm sure Ian or TwoTankAmin could assist us...

Yes I'm sure they'd know, It was only that I'm sure I've read it. I'd always tried to achieve a really low PH even before I moved Hi-tech and never experienced any problems.

 

[Xraymark]

Well now that you mention TwoTank I had brought this up in the scientific section. Incase I paraphrase him wrong Here is a link. I thought its just easier keeping the ph above 6.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/394767-ph-and-filter/