Blackwater aquarium questions

Yes it's much better than the earlier picture.

The amount of tannins in an aquarium is up to the individual keeping the tank. I personally don't like tannins in water because I like to be able to see the fish. Some people like black water (coffee coloured) and others prefer something in between.

If you personally don't like the tannins or think it's too dark, either remove the wood and let it soak in a bucket of water until it stops releasing tannins, or do more water changes to dilute it.

I personally love tannins, darker preferred for me to lightly tannin stained.
Its personal what you prefer.

As I mentioned if you like the tannin look but want to avoid the pH swings of leaf litter tannin, go for rooibos tea.

NCaquatics said:

go for rooibos tea.

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The thing with Thailand is that they like to add those “expiracy prevention chemical” and sugar in the tea, that’s why I don’t like tea.

Barry Tetra said:

The thing with Thailand is that they like to add those “expiracy prevention chemical” and sugar in the tea, that’s why I don’t like tea.

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Do you have a thing like Amazon or such there?

NCaquatics said:

Do you have a thing like Amazon or such there?

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Yea but it takes about 2-3 months to ship to here.

What was the brand you're using?

Barry Tetra said:

Yea but it takes about 2-3 months to ship to here.

What was the brand you're using?

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I am currently using "Celebration Herbals"

@Colin_T Can you Id these discus varient in my tank?

The fish on the right could be a red dragon but the breeders keep making new colour forms and they all look the same to me.

There is a second discus in the picture on the right, and it is covered in excess mucous and looks a bit skinny around the head. Make sure it is eating well and not being picked on.

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In the middle picture there are 2 fish on the right (one above the other) and one fish on the left. The fish on the left looks a bit skinny too so monitor that one as well.

Colin_T said:

The fish on the right could be a red dragon but the breeders keep making new colour forms and they all look the same to me.

There is a second discus in the picture on the right, and it is covered in excess mucous and looks a bit skinny around the head. Make sure it is eating well and not being picked on.

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In the middle picture there are 2 fish on the right (one above the other) and one fish on the left. The fish on the left looks a bit skinny too so monitor that one as well.

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How much should I feed them? I normally feed them every other day.

Also Colin, Is there any recommended bucket for water changes?
I normally had 5 buckets but it all leaked in a months and my grandpa and the customer in the store slipped, he’s still mad at me for that...

Discus should be fed every day and several times a day if they are skinny.

Instead of using buckets to carry the tank water in and out of the building, use a gravel cleaner and hose. Get a long piece of hose and run it out the door onto the lawn/ garden. Put a gravel clean on the other end of the hose and gravel clean and drain the water straight out the door onto the lawn.

After you have drained the tank, connect one end of the hose to a garden tap and turn it on and let it run for a minute or two, then use that to fill up a large bucket/s next to the tank. Get a helper for that so one person can hold the hose in the bucket and another person can turn the tap on and off.

When the buckets are full, add dechlorinator (if you need to), aerate the water for a few minutes, and then use a small water pump and length of hose to pump the water into the tank. Then mop up any water on the floor and pack everything up.

If you have enough room around the tank, you can fill the bucket/s up before draining the tank, and they can aerate while you are cleaning the tank. Then just pump the water into the tank after it has been drained.

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If you can't use hoses to drain and fill the tank, use 20 litre plastic buckets with lids. You can find these in any shop that sells fishing gear. They are usually white and have a metal handle and plastic lid. Then you can half fill the buckets (or fill them most of the way if you are feeling strong, put the lid on them and carry them in or out and they won't spill.

@Colin_T Why do we have to “save water” if almost everyone in Thailand have well water to use?

Is it necessary to do it?

Colin_T said:

Instead of using buckets to carry the tank water

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I already use the Python hose but I feel like it’s to slow

Barry Tetra said:

I already use the Python hose but I feel like it’s to slow

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get a bigger diameter hose

Colin_T said:

get a bigger diameter hose

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Nope! Doesn’t get any faster, It seems like well pump is burned out again

@Colin_T @NCaquatics Just went to the park and saw the pile of Indian almond leaves so.....

I took it all! Everyone at the park seems to look at me like I’m crazy tho

Barry Tetra said:

@Colin_T @NCaquatics Just went to the park and saw the pile of Indian almond leaves so.....

I took it all! Everyone at the park seems to look at me like I’m crazy tho

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Do you know for certain that they don't use weed killer or any insecticides in the park? That is the biggest risk of collecting leaves in a public place.