Many betta fish owners prefer a natural Amazonian environment for their betta fishes to live in. To do so, they need to add tannins to their tank water. Now the question arises how to add tannins for betta fishes?
Tannin is an abbreviation for tannic acid, introduced into the tank through decors like leaves and driftwood. Tannins come out of these decors and give a rich brown or yellow color to your tank water. Tannins also provide a host of other advantages to your betta fishes, and it is fairly easy to add tannins to your tank.
What Are Tannins?
Tannins are derived from tannic acid, which is a byproduct of keeping decors like leaves and wood in your tank. These leaves and woods leach out tannins which give your aquarium water a yellowish color. Tannins for betta fish help in providing them with a natural environment.
Many fish owners purposely add such decors to give rise to such tannins, thereby producing the blackwater effect. Many tropical fishes originate in these blackwater conditions, and adding tannins to the tank water can provide your fish with a natural environment to swim in.
Benefits Of Tannins For Betta Fish
Besides providing a natural color to your tank water, tannins also have a host of other benefits. As mentioned earlier, tannins are derived from tannic acid. Therefore, it is safe to say that tannins are acidic in nature.
Being acidic in nature, tannins can also reduce the pH of your tank water. In cases where the pH level of your tank water is higher than usual, you can add decors like leaves and driftwood to increase the level of tannins in the water. This will ensure that the pH level is neutralized.
Tannins have also been seen to soften the water. It may come as a shock, but tank water, too, can be hard or soft. Adding tannins to your tank will soften your tank water, reducing stress in your betta fish.
Betta fish prefers swimming in soft water, and tannins ensure that your betta fish has a comfortable environment to live in. The natural sense which tannins provide to your fish ensures that your betta fish thrives in the tank environment.
Side Effects Of Tannins For Betta Fish
Tannins have no side effects as such asides from decoloration of water and low pH. Even these are not considered as side effects as the decoloration of water has no downside. However, tannins can reduce the pH level in the tank over time.
If your fish requires a high pH level, you should not add tannins to your tank water. Adding tannins causes the pH level in the tank water to decrease, which may sometimes startle the fish.
However, these side effects are totally subjective in nature. One may prefer leaves and woods in the aquarium but not want the brownish color of the water. There are ways in which you can remove tannins from your tank.
How To Remove Tannins From The Tank?
It may so happen that you add leaves and woods to your tank, and after a while, you see the tank water changing its color. Many people do not like the brownish color of the tank water. So how to get rid of the color?
The reason behind the change in the watercolor is tannins. So if you want to get rid of the color, you will have to get rid of the tannins. Activated carbon can be used to absorb these tannins and preventing them from changing the color of the water.
You can also set up a filter containing activated carbon in your tank. This can clear up the tannins in your water over time and ensure that the color of the water remains the same.
How To Add Tannins For Betta Fish?
Adding tannins to your tank is very easy. As stated earlier, decors like driftwood and leaves are good sources of tannins. Thus, if you want tannins in your tank, add these decors, and after a few days, you will see your watercolor changing to a rich brown color.
There are many products available over Amazon that can increase the number of tannins in your tank. The SunGrow Betta Leaves is one of them. This is an excellent product that not only adds tannins and provides a natural habitat for your betta fish but also boosts immunity and prevents harmful bacterial growth in your tank.
It is to be noted that adding tannins to your tank will decrease the pH level in your tank water. So keep in mind that the pH level remains between 6 and 8, which is the required pH level for the betta fish.
FAQs Related to Tannins For Betta
Is too much tannin bad for a betta?
YES. If there is too much tannin in your tank water, it will reduce the pH level in your tank considerably low. This reduction will happen during a short period of time. This may irritate or stress your betta fish.
Are driftwood tannins good for bettas?
YES. Adding driftwood has two advantages for your betta fish. Firstly, it will give rise to tannins that smoothen the water and provide your betta fish with natural habitat. Secondly, it promotes bacterial growth, which can decompose ammonia and nitrates, thereby preventing ammonia poisoning.
Do betta fishes need blackwater?
Betta fishes thrive in soft water with low pH. Adding tannins to your tank smoothens the water and reduces the pH level. Thus, blackwater is completely suitable for your betta fish.
Will hard water kill a betta fish?
Hard water is characterized by a high concentration of minerals like chlorine, chloramine, ammonia, etc. High levels of such minerals can be fatal for your betta fish. For example, anything higher than 0.5 ppm of chlorine will lead to the death of the betta fish.
Final Thoughts
Overall, tannins can be a great fit for your tank. Providing your aquarium with rich natural color and softening the water really helps your betta fish. Thus, there are various upsides to adding tannins for betta fish, and you should definitely go for it.
