20g South American Blackwater Biotope

CinnamonPearl

CinnamonPearl

Professional Whovian
May 19, 2013
232
2
18
Long Island, NY
I've decided to tear down my 20 gallon planted aquarium and replace it with a South American blackwater biotope. I would like to make it as realistic as possible. My plan is to use subdued lighting, no plants (I need a break from them), lots of driftwood, and leaf litter. Does that sound correct for the biotope I'm aiming for? If the biotope needs to include plants, then I'll use them.

Will this stock work for a 20 gallon long?

6-8 rummy nose tetras
6-8 hatchetfish
6-8 panda cories

And what invertebrates can I have? I don't know what snails or shrimp come from this biotope.

Thank you!
 
If I were doing a bio type with the fish you want, I would add plants. It's not necessary. But, the fish you are wanting to keep all come from areas that have plants. The fish you want all sound fine to me. And the numbers will work as well. As far as inverts, there are not many. I have heard that some species of ghost shrimp come from South America, but I would have no idea where to start to find them. South American inverts are not nearly as popular as the Asian inverts.
 
With the soft acid waters of the "Black Water" area, I do not think there was too many inverts.

Your stock sounds OK except if you keep 8 of each, then a little on the high side. I would get marble hatchets---they are a little smaller. For a 20gal, there is really not that much room.
 
I've been looking at marble hatchets. They're really nice looking, so I'll get some of those. Should I do six of each fish? Or can I have eight tetras and six of everything else?

What plants should I get for this biotope? I've heard Amazon swords, but those would get too big for a 20 long.
 
So would six of each be a good stock? Or could I do six cories, six hatchetfish, and eight rummynose tetras?

I looked up marble hatchetfish, and I really like how they look. I've decided to go with those.

What sort of plants would I use? I've been researching, and I've come up with stargrass, swords, camboba, and tropical hornwort. I'd prefer not to have any plants at all, but I'd be okay with floating plants to help subdue the lighting.

And I found out that black mystery snails come from South America and can handle low pH. I'll probably get some of those as well. I haven't had any for almost a year now.
 
Are rams hard to care for? I have experience but I'm not a very advanced fishkeeper yet. If they're not too hard, I'd definitely consider getting a ram instead.
 
I've been looking up Bolivian rams and I really like them. I wanna give them a shot and see if it works out. GBRs look too difficult for me.

I've been looking up plants. I've come up with swords, stargrass, tropical hornwort, and a few different echinodorus. Does that sound accurate?

And sorry for the practically duplicate posts I made. My computer is really bad so I thought the first one didn't go through.


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It's not that GBRs are difficult to keep, it's difficult to find quality stock; at least around here. Bolivians are considered easier to keep and it's been my experience. As long as the proper conditions are met, one should be just as easy to keep as the other. If you like GBRs, they will do well in your set up. Bolivians are my preference only because I managed to keep them alive.


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