Joined
·
2,117 Posts
Just a few from today. Enjoy!



Maybe someone can help me understand this one:
Tap GH: 8
Blackwater Tank GH:12 (tested twice)
There is BDBS mixed with I believe black moon sand (from when I initially started the tank), mopani, oak, Japanese maple, and mini catapa leaves, and a single small apisto hut. Where does this massive GH swing come from?
Water chances are ~20% every 2-3 weeks (things are going quite well in this tank so I have been taking the approach of minimal disruption, which seems to be yielding results...)
Other parameters:
KH- 8 (tap is 6)
TDS- 290ppm
NO3- 0
PO4- 0
pH- 7.3
Temp 26C (~79F)
Wow, blinding flash of the obvious... yes that is exactly what it is. Evaporation with top offs. Thanks you!If it’s been a rapid change I can’t explain it. If it’s been steadily rising then it could be due to evaporation.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Wow, blinding flash of the obvious... yes that is exactly what it is. Evaporation with top offs. Thanks you!
Guess I better think about my water changes and how I can balance them with keeping the water stained a bit.
I have seen some of the RO setups on this forum.... and if I know myself well enough I'll goo all out and swap to RO for my high tech tank too! Haha. Na, I won't do that now.You can always make sure you top off with R/O, a lid definitely helps reduce evaporation. A larger water change can also help then of course you’ll have a harder time keeping your water “stained.” Next waterchange instead of full tap you can add some RO or distilled water in with the new water.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
magnificent color on that little beauty :wink2:Testing some photo transfer from my phone to Imgur to see if there is better quality. Stuff in the water is frozen BBS feeding.
![]()
+1.magnificent color on that little beauty :wink2:
Thank you both! This tank has been so much more enjoyable than I initially thought!
Now it makes me want to try a different apisto species one day- not yet though, still have a lot of time with these guys!
Yikes... I think two tanks is plenty for me at this time.... though it would be fun!Just means you need biotope another tank.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Oh yeah... There is no way I can go full on RO, just not possible right now. I prefer the decent tap water we have here because it is quite easy to do water changes. Hook to hose up to the downstairs bathroom faucet and drain the old water out the window into the garden.Don't go down the rabbit hole with RO like I did! LOL I started getting 5g at a time from the grocery store and it was like $1 or $1.25 for that. I tested their RO water and it was a nice 0-2TDS. However wouldn't be too bad as a possibility for top offs and to drop your GH a bit.
Just sharing some love for the blackwater today. Added some Rooibos tea this water change, like the look!
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()