[Peter Finke]

I suggest, that herewith we bring the discussion in this thread to an end. Not to stop it, o no, but to stop it here. Why?
Because it is (1) too general and fundamental, and (2) there is a misleding and a regional component in it. I explain that:
Jacob’s questions and his ideas are (1) definitely worthwhile to be discussed. The problem how a tank for blackwater fish is to be set up and cared for so that it will constitute a healthy and stable environment for fish like chocolate or licorice gouramis, is not easy to be answered. It is rewarding to discuss that in depth and we should do so. But for that purpose the category “undetermined” is not the right place. It’s not the right place (2) because the title with focus an chocolate gouramis is misleading. The discussion is much more general and fundamental, even with licorice gouramis in mind, too.
And it contains a regional component. Jacob writes from an American point of view. His experience is the aquaristic practice in the U.S., he considers the products on the U.S.-market that might help him, and he tries to develop a contrast (or supplement) program of aquaristic practice to the predominant methods.
For me, as the moderator of the “Global”-forum having a European perspective myself but trying to learn from other perspectives, too, this valuable discussion (which is not finished at this point) has a very clear message: In our regional forums (Asian, American, European) there was an important category missing which we included in this Global-Forum from the beginning: Methods. Indeed, it is reasonable and necessary to speak about methods not only globally, but also regionally. There are typical methods of fishkeeping and -breeding (and that includes the licorice gouramis) in the home countries of our fish: water, temperature, food etc. which are to be seen differently than in Europe or America. Just so are the typical European methods that have been developed for general aquaristics (the “Holland aquarium”, for instance) and others for breeding blackwater fish as Parosphromenus specifically. And just so are there typical methods that have been developed by American aquarists for meeting their special purposes in this respect. Therefore we can learn more by finishing the thread here and open it newly at different places.
For this end I have just created and installed the three “methods-categories” mentioned above newly: Asian methods, American methods, and European methods. You will find them at once in the three sections.
And Jacob (and the others) are invited to continue the discussion at the right places. But certainly: the Global methods category remains at its place, of course! So, dear users, decide, where you want to continue that and other discussions!