I love my blackwater aquariums. I do notice people can be put off when they visit and think they are strange but as long as my parameters are healthy and my fish are happy it's totally cool with me. I think well I put these guys in a box of water for my entertainment than I owe it to them to give them a good life getting as close to their natural environment as possible. Also I kinda enjoy foraging for the botanicals so it's a win win lol
Definitely agree. I often just say to people "do you honesty think they come from waters with pink gravel and fake plants?" 😆 Foraging is great fun. I get the kids involved to help me. They love finding things and playing in the woods, the fish get the benefits and it's free too 👍 👍
I just don't like leaves and 'mess' in my aquariums but I do use Catappa leaves. I boil them to make a tea, then I can just add enough to see a nice golden glow in the tank. I'm not scientific but my fish, shrimp and plants seem to love it. Each water change I add the 'tea' to maintain the look and (hopefully) the benefit.
Gents, may I ask - with your teas, do you have a specific dosing target you are aiming to hit (e.g. 1.5 ml of tea/gallon) or am I over thinking this? Make some tea with the stuff and dump in tank?
Thank you I really appreciate it! Yeah absolutely my mission throughout my time on UA-cam and other platforms is to give a more open and realistic view to this hobby. Too often it's shrouded with photoshopped images and videos where only the "good bits" are discussed. It needs to change and we should be helping each other grow and make the hobby the best it can be 👊
Couldn't agree more. I'm primarily a reptile keeper and aquatics and amphibian keepers are so far ahead of us it's scary at times. Still we can learn a lot from similar hobbies and I've found a huge amount is transferable between them.
Hi new here but can you please tell me, if I add a leaf to my tank what PH is best as at the moment it is just tap water which is I think neutral approx. I have found a Catalpa tree down the road from me by the beach and got me thinking about using a leaf in my Aquarium. Thank you
No not at all. If anything it's beneficial to them. Free food source! I've been running these types of aquariums for years now and never seen any issues with snail or any other livestock
I love my blackwater aquariums. I do notice people can be put off when they visit and think they are strange but as long as my parameters are healthy and my fish are happy it's totally cool with me. I think well I put these guys in a box of water for my entertainment than I owe it to them to give them a good life getting as close to their natural environment as possible. Also I kinda enjoy foraging for the botanicals so it's a win win lol
Definitely agree. I often just say to people "do you honesty think they come from waters with pink gravel and fake plants?" 😆 Foraging is great fun. I get the kids involved to help me. They love finding things and playing in the woods, the fish get the benefits and it's free too 👍 👍
I like tannins in my aquariums. Got to think about your fish. Liked
Thanks bro. I agree. They have so many great benefits, it was certainly interesting swinging the view point for this video 👍
I just don't like leaves and 'mess' in my aquariums but I do use Catappa leaves. I boil them to make a tea, then I can just add enough to see a nice golden glow in the tank. I'm not scientific but my fish, shrimp and plants seem to love it. Each water change I add the 'tea' to maintain the look and (hopefully) the benefit.
Gents, may I ask - with your teas, do you have a specific dosing target you are aiming to hit (e.g. 1.5 ml of tea/gallon) or am I over thinking this? Make some tea with the stuff and dump in tank?
Tannins make my aquarium look more natural and may keep the fish in good health.
the negatives to botanicals are you start to collect them lol im always online looking for different ones
😂😂😂😂😂
Do they have to be same specie or does not matter ?
i wanna see a blackwater tank that isnt so worried about algae or mulm. i think it would make a great playground for fishies!!
Very interesting and educational video, thanks😊
No problem. Thanks for watching appreciate it 🙏
@@MrBrightfryed you're welcome
Fantastic video. That last point was my biggest worry as someone brand new to the hobby (I have a small tank with some guppies and amano shrimp)
Thank you I really appreciate it! Yeah absolutely my mission throughout my time on UA-cam and other platforms is to give a more open and realistic view to this hobby. Too often it's shrouded with photoshopped images and videos where only the "good bits" are discussed. It needs to change and we should be helping each other grow and make the hobby the best it can be 👊
Couldn't agree more. I'm primarily a reptile keeper and aquatics and amphibian keepers are so far ahead of us it's scary at times. Still we can learn a lot from similar hobbies and I've found a huge amount is transferable between them.
So basically, no REAL negatives, haha, just aesthetic and possibly slight discomfort for the caretaker, which only matters slightly anyway.
Not in my view haha. I think it's all in the perception of the fish keeper. Thanks for watching, appreciate it.
Hi new here but can you please tell me, if I add a leaf to my tank what PH is best as at the moment it is just tap water which is I think neutral approx. I have found a Catalpa tree down the road from me by the beach and got me thinking about using a leaf in my Aquarium. Thank you
Thank you for this video 👍👍
i have seen what tannins do to my cups and tea pot.so what will they do to my canister filter
the tannins in my tank do my fish tank well
Will tannins help to lower my ph ?
They do indeed. I have a video showing just that. It's in one of my playlists called Beginners Guide to Blackwater 👍🏻
Cool vid!!
Thank you, appreciate you watching 😁👍
Are botanical harmful to assassin snails or snails in general ?
No not at all. If anything it's beneficial to them. Free food source! I've been running these types of aquariums for years now and never seen any issues with snail or any other livestock
@@MrBrightfryed thank you for answering my questions 👍
Anytime, if you ever need any help let me know. Also know some great suppliers of botanicals in the UK if you ever need any 👍