Black water/African Cichlids.

Lady G

Lady G

It's a mafia thing, nothing personl
Oct 6, 2005
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gingersassatelli.bodybyvi.com
So I love the look of a black water tank, does anyone know if a Lake Malawi tank could work as Black water? I can't remember who, but someone posted up pics of their black water set up and it looked so awesome with the floaty plants and the roots hanging from them and everything, I just loved it. I was thinking it was a Cichlid tank but I could be wrong.
 
YAY!! Now my problem is I am soooo confused about which I want to go with. I know I want a all male tank, so I can have one of several species...but trying to decide the species is sooooo very hard.
I figure by the time I have the tank set up, the cycle finished and all that stuff I should be able to decide. I am just so bad at this kinda think...I want em ALL!
 
jpappy789 said:
The term "blackwater" automatically means softer water, which will not work well with africans. The look could work, just not the water chemistry.
Click to expand...

Yeah? I was thinking it was from the rift lakes?
 
Ya know what...I think it was when I had my SA cichlids and they could be blackwater..IDK, I'll have to do some more looking I spose.
 
Yeah, it's the New World species that can live in blackwater. Blackwater is black due to the presence of large amounts of tannic and humic acids from decaying plants; hard water (such as that found in the rift lakes) will neutralize tannic acid and prevent the water from staining. You could always just use a black background with your Africans.
 
Thanks eveyone!! I "re" found a site I use to look at about biotope tanks and am looking over the Lake Malawi tank set up. It says basically the only plants on the market for a "true" Lake Malawi set up would be Vals...but that anubias and java fern can be used if you are willing to "bend" the rules (I am a rule bender LMAO)...do you know if either of those could do the "floating with roots hanging" look?
Then I have the concern of drift wood...I love the look of it and want to use a piece I have, but I read I shouldn't?
 
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