Cloudy Water

[brillo1902]

Right, Tank has been cycled. It is a Jewel Trigon 190 with plant growing substrate and fine gravel on top. Started of with 5 small plants and a large piece of Bogwood. Added 4 male Red Wagtail Platys yesterday as my first fish as they are supposedly quite hardy. All water measurements fall within limits and water temp is 26.4C. My water has however turned to a hint of red thus when i turn the lights of in the tank it is very dark in there. I have been told that carbon will clear it but may damage the plants. Also how often should i water change and by how much since adding my first fish yesterday?

Thanks for any help and advice you maybe able to offer.

Robert

 

[voo]

Did you soak the bogwood first? The red stuff could be tannins coming out of it. It's harmless and carbon will remove it. Water changes will also remove it over time. Usually bogwood needs to be soaked in a bucket of water for some time until it stopped leaching out the tannins.

Carbon won't damage the plants as such, it'll just remove the nutrients from the water and any fertilizer you are using.

Do weekly water changes, of between 10-25%

 

[brillo1902]

Yeah, i soaked the bogwood for approx 5 days in a water butt but guess that wasnt long enough. What is the best way of adding carbon to the tank/water?

Sorry for my ignorance.

Cheers

 

[xoedusk]

What is the best way of adding carbon to the tank/water?

I think it's usually done through your filter. Our filter has a layer of bagged carbon. Yours should have something similar, or at least space for it.