Thinking of a dark water biotope

**yampeck** · 19th Sep 2009, 16:41

Hi all,

Thinking of rescaping my tank into a dark water biotope, with drift wood, bogwood, ketapang leaves... no plants. Does this fit what would be a SE Asia Biotope?

I was thinking of having rasbora harleqiun, but what other fishes that is SE Asian can I consider? and do they originate in dark water biotope as i mentioned above?

For such setup, can i forsee algae issues? since i do not have plants.
What other challenges will there be for such a setup?

Thanks!

**urban.pleco** · 19th Sep 2009, 20:11

This will probably help.

http://fish.mongabay.com/biotope_se_asia_pool.htm

I'm keeping a pleco tank with wood & sand only & there is no algae issue. Do show us pictures once you have it up, would love to see your setup

**doppelbanddwarf** · 19th Sep 2009, 20:37

I think you can use plants like crypts and barclaya species. As for fishes there are quite a lot to choose from too like the chocolate gouramies and bettas.

**yampeck** · 1st Oct 2009, 23:53

Hi,

Thanks for the resources.

for a tank that is without plants, how do you keep it algae free? Do you need a big filter that ensures there is no excess nutrient for algae to grow? Or does black water have an effect on algae growth?
These are some questions i have.

Hasn't got time to work on this project yet. Anyway, I intended for this tank to be low maintenance, so do not intend to have plants in it. And I have a rough idea of how it's going to look like. (with plenty of wood) Currently, i have lapis sand as gravel, but would fine light colored aquarium sand be more ideal for a SE asia biotope?

Thanks!

**bryan** · 2nd Oct 2009, 10:03

Alot of the blackwater streams do contain crypts which hardly need any maintainance except base fert. There are sometimes moss growing along the stream edges too. These plants allow lower wattage lights so you shouldn't have algae issues.

I still remember this scape, its one of my favourite. Simple material with no fancy fish.

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.or...&vol=-1&id=164

White sand will brighten the tank abit if you find it too gloomy but any kind will do.

**|squee|** · 7th Oct 2009, 22:19

I believe I've read about blackwater limiting algae growth before.

Just put a ton of ketapang leaves at the bottom weighed down by the driftwood/stones/sand. Get the branchy kind of driftwood and stand it in the tank by their branches probably.

**doppelbanddwarf** · 7th Oct 2009, 22:27

When the ketapang leaves break down it may get really messy.

**yampeck** · 10th Oct 2009, 08:32

Hi

Bryan, thanks for the info and the picture in the url. Gives me more ideas to think about.

As for the ketapang leaves breaking down, do I need to clear them off or can I leave it on its own in the tank? Or does any fauna helps in getting rid of it? (i'm thinking of malayan shrimps or snails)

By the way, for an SE Asia biotope, what are the bottom dwellers to consider?

Anyone has any pics/url to dark water tanks, can pls share with me? Need to see more to have more ideas.

**gene** · 17th Oct 2009, 23:42

I am thinking of doing one too, but I would want to leave y crypts and anubias, do you think it will work. I will probably use sakura shrimps, malayan and dwarf gouramis