Brown Water

[SharkWeek]

I have recently added a huge piece of driftwood that i thought i have left in hot water long enough but i guess not. The water is tea color and im woundering if theres anything i can do to make the water clear.

 

[nurglespuss]

Hi there, the wood will naturally release tannins (and other compounds) into the water throughout its lifetime. In most cases this beneficial for a lot of aquarium fish (as the regions they come from are often tanin stained too). However, this sin't always to the tastes of the owner, who wants clear bright conditions.

You can use activated carbon in your filter to help neutralise the colour, but this isn't always very effective for long periods and can work out to be expensive.

Or, you can try to find wood with lower tanin content (such as mopani) or anything thats been thoroughly sand blasted.

Other than that, there's not a lot to be done sorry!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

The tannin rich brown waters are appreciated by soft water fish, I would not be in a rush to remove them with some fresh carbon or alike unless you have Rift Valley or Central American fish.

 

[SharkWeek]

The tannin rich brown waters are appreciated by soft water fish, I would not be in a rush to remove them with some fresh carbon or alike unless you have Rift Valley or Central American fish.

Yea, that water where i live is hard so keeping it in to make it soft is prob whats best. It just a little to brown because its new maybe, it will become more clear with time i guess. Thanks.

To bad, my planted tank i let get tea colored to add a natural feel. Im thinking about planting this tank but im worried my head stander will eat the plants up, anyone have any experience with headstanders and planted tanks?

 

[RadaR]

The wood wont make your water go from hard to soft. Hard water has a high buffering capacity.