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Goldie
Pro200 L

Blackwater biotope (200 L)

Difficult water, wild fish, no CO₂ — a biotope for perfectionists.

Blackwater biotope (200 L) — aquarium setup with fish, plants and equipment (200 L)

A SE Asian forest-stream biotope: pH 4.5–6.0, gH 0–2, dark tannin water, minimal plants (epiphytes on driftwood only).

Sparkling gourami — tiny labyrinth fish that cannot tolerate hard water. A wild-type ember tetra is the right colour partner.

Dimensions
100×50×50 cm
Temperature
24–28°C
pH
4.5–6
gH
0–2 °dGH
Setup time
10 wks
Budget
≈ $450
Total fish
26

Fish (26)

Plants (7)

Invertebrates (5)

  • Amano Shrimp× 5

Equipment

  • External canister filter

    ≥ 900 L/h, peat in media

    ≈ $160

  • Heater

    200 W

    ≈ $40

  • Thermometer

    ≈ $8

  • Basic 6500K LED light

    Very dim, 5–6 h

    ≈ $80

  • White quartz sand

    ≈ $60

  • Reverse osmosis (RO) system

    ≈ $280

  • Dark film background

    ≈ $18

Decor

  • Natural driftwood (mangrove or mopani)× 4
  • Catappa (Indian almond) leaves× 20
  • Dry leaf litter bed× 1

Tips & gotchas

  • pH 4.5–5.5 — the biofilter runs slower with less biomass.
  • RO water is mandatory. Remineralize only with Salty Shrimp Bee Mineral GH+ or equivalent.
  • Water change every 2 weeks, 10–15 %. More often is unnecessary, less is risky.
  • Feed: small frozen fauna (cyclops, daphnia). Dry foods raise pH.