UV Sterilizers And blackwater Tanks

[souzie]

Hey Souzie!
Man you got that going fast!! My uv came 2 months ago and I still ain't hooked it up :/
I guess it makes sense a lower wattage bulb may not be as effective in a blackwater set up.
Speaking of lower wattage bulb, I guess that's actually my method of trying to mimic that environment, little to no light on the tank + driftwood

LOL...I've always had it. Thought my FH could use it since he was genetically weak...lot of good that did.

The other day, I was putting away his things...can't bare to part with anything that's his...especially his $300 driftwood!! Came across the UV and thought I would use it for the p's.

What blackwater fish do you keep anyway?

 

[souzie]

UV will not effect the color of your water. In uv you want a slow pass through the longer the water stays in the unit the more effect it has. If your water is very dark you will need a higher wattage bulb than you would need for the same amount of clear water but if it's just stained it will work just fine.

Just the answer I was looking for!!

My water might be a tad dark when I replace the alder cones and almond leaves. But after a few days, it becomes lighter and looks stained.

 

[FMA4ME]

$300 driftwood!! Dang you have more in your driftwood than I have in my entire DISCUS tank! I only got them about a month ago, 3 weeks is more like it. I also have a Severum.
Lol, you were like uuuuh no, I don't have any algae in my tank!
Sooooorry!! Lol I was just wondering if tannins and stuff encouraged algae.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

I was just wondering if tannins and stuff encouraged algae.

Most folks setup black water tank with very low light almost to no light (mostly using light from nearby windows) so most likely there is no issue about algae, I was assuming she got algae cause she said the UV clear up her tank (I still wonder what's remove the black water color when she turn on the UV)

 

[FMA4ME]

So Blackwater effects are mostly for aesthetics?

 

[souzie]

Dude...I'm OCD when it comes to tank maintenance...LOL...as for the tannin/algae theory, it's plausible.

And the driftwood, yeah...long story. I found it on ebay...nice, big pieces are pretty hard to come by around here. Well the seller doesn't ship to Canada so I signed up with a re-shipping site. ANYHOO...I paid $78 for the driftwood, $40 to ship it to my address in Oregon and then $125 to have it shipped here. The damn thing weighed like 20 pounds!!

$78+$40+$125 US = $303 Canadian dollars...my reasoning is that it was a really nice piece and I liked it immensely.

Discus, they are so peaceful to watch...they just float around in their little group.

 

[FMA4ME]

Yea, borderline pansies :/
Lots more work, but I'm getting it down. They may be perfect for you
if you enjoy maintenance like that.

 

[souzie]

So Blackwater effects are mostly for aesthetics?

For the most part, it is.

Those of us who have hard water, it's pretty hard to get the parameters to budge (pun intended)

I'm using peat, indian almond leaves, alder cones and blackwater extract and the numbers have only come down a little.

My p's seem to like it though since they're scared sh**less of bright light.

 

[souzie]

Most folks setup black water tank with very low light almost to no light (mostly using light from nearby windows) so most likely there is no issue about algae, I was assuming she got algae cause she said the UV clear up her tank (I still wonder what's remove the black water color when she turn on the UV)

I hadn't installed the UV yet.

I started the thread to see if anyone knew if it would remove the blackwater color and make the water clear instead of stained.

 

[FMA4ME]

Yeah, same with my Discus, HATE the light!! Makes me wonder how well discus do in planted tanks over time.