20 long blackwater biotope

My current setup is a 20 long blackwater Peruvian biotope, I am stocking 1 male apistogramma bitaeniata and 9 serpae tetras. I am working on getting the aquascape completed, I will be adding more stones or wood to the right side of the tank. Also will be adding botanicals like leaves and pods to the sand bed, and growing floating plants to make the light dimmer. Follow this thread for more updates and photos of the scape and fish as i will be logging the tanks progress here.

 

My current setup is a 20 long blackwater Peruvian biotope, I am stocking 1 male apistogramma bitaeniata and 9 serpae tetras. I am working on getting the aquascape completed, I will be adding more stones or wood to the right side of the tank. Also will be adding botanicals like leaves and pods to the sand bed, and growing floating plants to make the light dimmer. Follow this thread for more updates and photos of the scape and fish as i will be logging the tanks progress here.

Wow looks so cool! A Amazon sword in the far right would look awsome too! I’m also setting up a new tank, I’m following this

 

Ah, saw your tank on another site

So you decided to exchange the female you have for a male?

A Amazon sword in the far right would look awsome too!

I think a plant like that would rather destroy the blackwater look or at least seem like it doesn't belong. In a blackwater biotope plants are not getting that big roles. Maybe 2-3 dwarf swords sprinkled about and some floaters, that's the max you can get out of plants in BW usually.

There's also the question of true or faux blackwater, which determines what and how many plants can even survive in it.

 

Ah, saw your tank on another site

So you decided to exchange the female you have for a male?


I think a plant like that would rather destroy the blackwater look or at least seem like it doesn't belong. In a blackwater biotope plants are not getting that big roles. Maybe 2-3 dwarf swords sprinkled about and some floaters, that's the max you can get out of plants in BW usually.

There's also the question of true or faux blackwater, which determines what and how many plants can even survive in it.

Yes I have a Male apsito now I did exchange the female since I thought adding a male without removing it would cause them stress from the serpaes if they bred. I will be adding floaters, and micro swords is a good idea as well.

 

Went to LFS today and picked up some fish, I got 3 panda corys. I also got a good amount of red root floaters, and a piece of driftwood to fill the back corner. All of the fish are getting along great, zero aggression towards the corys. Ill be adding 2 more in a few weeks time. I'm working on a video of the tank to share as well.

Heres a link to a short video of the aquarium.

 

Great looking tank!

 

The apisto Is weary of the camera, I managed to get a decent photo

 

Update - Unfortunately I lost 1 panda corys.

 

Found out what happened to the cory, he swam into the powerhead. Not sure if I should remove the powerhead, im wondering if this was an unlikely occurrence.

The aquarium build is pretty much complete The olny thing I can think to add is some brazilian pennywort, and possibly a dwarf aquarium lily.

 

Found out what happened to the cory, he swam into the powerhead. Not sure if I should remove the powerhead, im wondering if this was an unlikely occurrence.

Well there is no need for it. Your fish do not come from high current habitats.

 

unfortunately lost the apisto and only have 1 panda cory left. I removed all the wood that wasnt from an LFS and upped my water changes. debating wether to add more panda corys or take the 1 i have left back to lfs. I would like to add a trio of german blue rams if thats prlausable where as i still have 9 serpae tetras.

 

I removed all the wood that wasnt from an LFS and upped my water changes.

Why? I would rather expect other reasons for the fishes demise.

I would like to add a trio of german blue rams if thats prlausable

Rams are not blackwater fish and with that kind of structure a trio is begging for trouble.

 

Question about stocking for my 20 gallon long, I currently have 9 serapes, 1 apistogramma. Would the tank be to overstocked if I added a small group of neon tetras? (5 or 6)