South East Asian Black Water Pool

[chickennuggets]

so I have decided on starting a black water pool aquarium in my 125 litre tank and I am going to be stocking it with gouramis, rasboras and loaches. what would be the best type of gouramis and rasboras and it what numbers should I keep them in. Also what plants and substrate should I use and how should they be arranged ? Also if you have any suggestions for any other species of fish for this type of aquarium it would be really appreciated, Thank you.

 

[StandbySetting]

As far as fish go I'd be tempted to go for Trigonostigma espei about 20 of them, and a small group of Croaking Gourami's say 6, as for the loaches I'm unsure.

Substrate wise you could go for aquatic compost, or dried leaves, I know a lot of people have used dried oak leaves, and then obviously lots of wood.

Plant wise Cryptocoryne's would be a good choice, as would Microsorum pteropus, Rotala spp., Hygrophila spp.

 

[chickennuggets]

thanks very informative, ive heard of people putting oak leaves in with their filter to colour the tank, is this recommendable as i would of thought it would make the filter slightly unreliable ?

 

[StandbySetting]

If you use them as substrate then there is no need to put them in the filter, some people use special tea bags to stain their water, wood and leaves will do that for you anyway.

 

[chickennuggets]

okay