SE Asian Biotope Progress

Here are some before shots. However, please keep in mind this was a TEMPORARY tank that was just holding some frogs I was fostering. So, pardon the barren scape. I was combating some algae issues from the previous owner’s setup.

The plan is to replicate a southeast Asian blackwater pool as    much as possible.

Plants & Fish will all be Asian natives, though they may not necessarily live in the same habitat (that would be a lot harder to achieve).

Decor: Live plants & Driftwood…the habitat is vegetation heavy, but has few if any rocks.

Water Coloration: Eventually, we hope to have nice tea-colored water that mimics blackwater coloration. We will achieve this by removing the carbon from the filtration system (which will not harm the fish), and adding peat to the filter. This will have the added benefit of lowering our pH which is a bit on the high side.

Substrate: Gravel (reddish stones), flourite and laterite mix. We are shooting for an ir0n-rich look, as appropriate for the habitat.

On Saturday, we arranged our substrate and driftwood, and on Sunday night, we began adding the plants. In a few days, we will begin adding our fish. We already have cycled media, and the plants will act as a buffer, so we can put in fish quicker than normal. Still, we will add them only 2 at a time, and watch the water parameters as we do so.

Tank Equipment:

200w Stealth Heater * 2

Eheim Classic 2213 Cannister Filter

96w Power Compact Lighting; 6700k

DIY CO2 setup

Background: Black

Current Status: