Colour Of Tank Water...

[Athena]

Hope I'm not going to make myself sound stupid now - but last night after I had turned off the lights to all my tanks I sat there staring at the water, wondering how it is that when the light is on the water looks so clear and clean and yet when the light goes off it looks a greenish colour?

Just wondering if that's a normal thing, or whether it's because I have real plants in there or what?

Thought it was a bit strange because looking back to when I was a child and we kept two little goldfish in a 1ft tank, no filter, no plants and doing full weekly water changes (ok, don't preach cos it's what most of us did back then) their little tank, with no lighting in it, always looked crystal clear.

So, why doesn't my tropical tank water look crystal clear with the light off? Stats are fine - and I do weekly, sometimes twice weekly water changes - all fish are well btw, I have no sickness issues at all.

Just curious!


Thanks - Athena

 

[Honeythorn]

Most likely light in the room reflecting off the green plants. Most aquarium glass also has a bluish green tinge if you look at the edges so that might also contribute .

 

[Athena]

Thanks for the reply - so does your tank water look darker with the light off? I mean, my tank water is actually a light greenish blue when I do a water change - I can see it when I pour it down the loo that it's not clear water. But it doesn't look that colour when the tank light is on, it looks clear - only discoloured when it's turned off. Gosh I am sounding a bit crazy here LOL

I was wondering if it's anything to do with the water conditioner (I use Aquasafe which is bright blue).

Anyone got any further thoughts on this? Or should I just stop worrying about it, seeing as my fish are ok?

Athena

 

[VespertineStar]

Hi

I use Aquasafe too (anyone else think it smells like a cross between popcorn and sewege? esp. the old type/mix) and I haven't noticed it changing my water colour but all my tank water in both my tanks and in my dads old tank looked clear in the tank but with a very light greenish tinge to it when it was going down the plug hole. It probably has the tint to it in the aquarium too but you just don't notice because it's not up against a white background.

 

[lilfishie]

i find that is i overdose with watersafe my water goes blue, but it clears within a few days

 

[Honeythorn]

My water does look faintly greenish with the lights off . But as for the water conditioner, I use Nutrafin now which is clear ( I think ) I have used aquasafe though and it did turn the water a bit blue. But as Lilfishie say's, it cleared up soon enough.

 

[matchstickman47]

Hi

I use Aquasafe too (anyone else think it smells like a cross between popcorn and sewege? esp. the old type/mix)
i completely agree lol

 

[saz326]

If you have wood in your tank, the darker water colour will be coming from Tannins released from the wood. Even soaked wood will release these. It is perfectly normal and will reduce over time - but with fish like Bristlenoses chewing on the wood occasionally - the tannins will continue to be released.

 

[Bigbadbaz]

My water has a green tinge to it, caused by the Chlorophyll leeching out of the plants and the tannins from my bogwood.

 

[Athena]

Thanks guys - looks like I'm not the only one with this greenish tinged water then.

I don't have bogwood - but I do have plants - so that could be adding to the problem. And I might try to see if I can find some of the Nutrafin conditioner rather than Aquasafe and see if that makes any difference.

I suppose if it is the water conditioner making the water that blueish green colour, then where I am doing frequent water changes it might not be getting a chance to go clear.

Oh well - it's obviously not a major problem. Just annoying for perfectionists who want really clear water LOL

Cheers - Athena

 

[PipsterC]

Thanks guys - looks like I'm not the only one with this greenish tinged water then.

I don't have bogwood - but I do have plants - so that could be adding to the problem. And I might try to see if I can find some of the Nutrafin conditioner rather than Aquasafe and see if that makes any difference.

I suppose if it is the water conditioner making the water that blueish green colour, then where I am doing frequent water changes it might not be getting a chance to go clear.

Oh well - it's obviously not a major problem. Just annoying for perfectionists who want really clear water LOL

Cheers - Athena

Thank God for this forum! I've been having the same trouble and its been driving me nuts! My Dad and Father in law both have crystal clear water but that's because they have immitation plants where I on the other hand have real plants. Now I know why I'm getting a green tinge! Thank you!