Yellow Water

[AngelMax]

Hey everyone...

I have a new 128L tank....I am new to all this & need a lil bit of help...or re-assurance.

The tank looks yellowy...what is this? I have only just started stocing my new tank and am worried. It was that colour b4 placing in the fish?

Someone said it could be as I have Mopani wood in there.... what can I do to clear the water? & is it bad for the fish?

Also, when should I do my water change? I have asked several aquatic ctrs and they all say different things...

HELP!

 

[keane]

Hi AngelMax ,

The yellow is probably the tannins from your drift/bog wood. Did you soak it and boil it for any length of time before you put it in your tank?

The tannins shouldn't harm your fish but, having read your newbie post, I don't think you have properly cycled your tank and that may well have some adverse effects on your fish. That said you have only got platies and they are one of the hardiest fish around. Just make sure you don't add any more fish until your tank has fully cycled (see the pinned topics at the top of the beginners section for some good advice).

The general concencus on here is do between a 20% - 30% water change once a week but for the time being I would recommend you do this amount at least twice a week

This will aid in a couple of ways: -

It will help reduce down the ammonia and nitrite levels and hence protect and keep your fish alive until your tank has fully cycled and your benefical bacteria has developed sufficiently enough to cope with the bioload.

It will also help remove the tannisn from your driftwood and eventually your water should remain clear.

hope this helps.

steve

 

[AngelMax]

Thanks Steve....

No, I didn't realise you needed to...although I did rinse it under tap water (as done on 1st day)

I was told by the ppl in the Aquarium shop to run the tank for 1 week with no water change...and add the fish slowly...

So, I ran the tank empty (no fish) for 7 days to let it settle and my tap water readings were PH 8.0 Am 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 10.

Is there more to cycling than that? A lady in a good aquatic shop told me to leave it a month b4 doing the 1st water change!!!!

I am so mixed up with this.......
I hope im not killing these poor fish.

 

[keane]

Thanks Steve....

I knew nothing about cycling the tank!!!
I was told by the ppl in the Aquarium shop to run the tank for 1 week with no water change...and add the fish slowly...

I hope im not killing these poor fish.

No problems.

Like I said, have a good read through the pinned topics in the beginners questions section. They are really helpful.

Your platys should be okay as long as you do frequent water changes (at least 2 - 3 times a week). Just make sure you go out and get a test kit to keep an eye on your water parameters.

I also cycled my first tank with four platys. Luckily I came across this forum within a couple of days of putting them in and so learnt about the nitrogen cycle etc. They probably wouldn't have made it if I hadn't!!

They came through the "cycle with fish" ordeal and are now living contently in my 15 gallon tank with a couple of swordtails.

On another note. You may want to take out your piece of driftwood for the time being and rid it of the tannins by soaking it separate from your tank.

Do a search on here (button at top right of page) for "driftwood" or "bogwood". I am sure I have read a fair few threads about how to prepare driftwood and get rid of the tannins etc.

Let me know how you get on.

steve

 

[Crab Paste]

If the water in the tank is particularly discoloured due to the tannin, try activated carbon in your filter. This should help remove it.

I have a relatively small piece of bogwood in my 30 (uk) gallon tank at the moment which was soaked and scrubbed and soaked again for over a week but there's still quite a bit of tannin in the tank water. I'm not worried about this, it can be beneficial for the fish and when the time comes I'll used the carbon to help remove it.

I also have a larger piece of bogwood in my 35 (uk) gallon tank which was soaked for a couple of days and didn't make a mark on the water at all. So obviously different pieces of wood require different, or more thorough methods of treatment.

 

[silvershark]

i agree with crab paste, carbon in your filter is a good way to remove tannins, often caused by bogwood etc

i have read before though that unless just dumped straight in to the tank, when washed properly tannins will still occur but actually be benificail to your fish

Just remember this is what i've been told and may or may not be correct!

 

[AngelMax]

Thanks All.......