caroldaisy3 Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Hi, I am new and this is my first question. Can someone tell me please why the water in my fresh water aquarium goes brown? I clean it once a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 I bet you have wood in your tank? Many fish keepers like black or brown water as is simulates some fishes natural habitat and can even stimulate them to breed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 welcome! im pretty sure its a bit of driftwood leaching tannins into the water. some like that look, and few like me don't :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroldaisy3 Posted September 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Hi there, no wood is in the tank. I have changed the food I give them but that should not make the water go brown after about 4-5 days should it? I have one cat fish also that keeps the water cleaner but it still goes brown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 oookkkk.... there goes that theory. :lol: no food should make the water go brown. arre you sure the water is brown and not the glass and the plants/rocks etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroldaisy3 Posted September 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 No, definitely the water is brown. I wonder if there is not enough light...the light goes on automatically from 2pm and off at 9pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discusguru Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 how long have the tank been set up, how big is the tank and how many and what types of fish is in there? could be caused by the following: overfeeding, under filtration, algea cells floating in water try doing more waterchange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 perhaps you have too much light and it's an algae bloom of some kind. Try no lights for a week and see what happens. The fish won't mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroldaisy3 Posted September 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Hi, tank has been set up for a few months now, at least 40gals, filter, and heater. 3 swords, 3 tiger balms, 5 neons, 3 golden barbs and 1 catfish. no live plants in tank. Change water every 5-6 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New_to_fish_world Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Hi, tank has been set up for a few months now, at least 40gals, filter, and heater. 3 swords, 3 tiger balms, 5 neons, 3 golden barbs and 1 catfish. no live plants in tank. Change water every 5-6 days. Hi AND WELCOME I had a tank setup with no plants and no fish in it. I found it goes brown but I put some plants in it the other day and it is clear now :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroldaisy3 Posted September 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Hi, perhaps I should put a real plant in. How big is your tank and how many plants did you put in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New_to_fish_world Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Hi, perhaps I should put a real plant in. How big is your tank and how many plants did you put in it. Mine is 120LT I put about 10 in them. Also have a underground filter going, Must read up more about them and how they work before I put fish in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 If you're running an undergravel filter then the brown water may be from ferts going through the filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New_to_fish_world Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 If you're running an undergravel filter then the brown water may be from ferts going through the filter. Wouldn't you have to have something in the tank tho.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Substrate ferts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New_to_fish_world Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Substrate ferts? Subtrate what.?? Ok going to go look that up now. You guys need to stop doing this to me. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Hi, tank has been set up for a few months now, at least 40gals, filter, and heater. 3 swords, 3 tiger balms, 5 neons, 3 golden barbs and 1 catfish. no live plants in tank. Change water every 5-6 days. Hi there and welcome! When you say you change the water every 5 - 6 days, how much of the water do you change and how do you change it? Most people tend to change between 20% and 50% of their water, once a week (although there are plenty of variations on that). Depending on your water supply, there might be something in the tap water that could start off an algea or bacterial bloom, or you might be stirring up something from the bottom of your tank that causes a bloom to start. The more info you can give us about the tank, the more likely someone is to be able to pick out the likely cause of the problem, so here are some more questions for you: What size is your tank? (I know you have said it's at least 40 gals but I'm not clear if you're talking UK or US gallons, also it might be useful to know how wide it is in relation to its height)Where do you live? (You can add this to your profile by going to the User Control Panel at the top of the page)Do you use any water treatment products when you add new water?What kind of filter do you have?What else is in the tank apart from fish? Do you have gravel in the bottom? Any decorations like shells or ornaments? Well I think that's enough questions for now! I'm sure we will be able to help you when we know more about your setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroldaisy3 Posted September 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 hi, my tank is a Jebo R338, guess that menas it is 38L. To clean it I take out two buckets each time and use water ager when I put fresh water in. I live in Wellington I have pebbles on the bottom, two plastic plants and a log. No wood is in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 whats the difference between a water ager and a water conditioner? As i know water conditioner clears it of nasty stuff like chrlorine, Im not sure what they agers do, perhaps its that what makes it brown. Maybe try a water conditioner instead of an ager. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroldaisy3 Posted September 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 The water ager is to take chlorine out of the water. I would not have thought that would make it brown though as it goes brown after about 4 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 aah ok then, sorry im not much help very new to aquariums. I was using logic lol, aged water to me would be brownish or greenish, but I guess thats where I need some more google study Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroldaisy3 Posted September 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 That's okay Nymox...I am learning too believe me. I love looking at the fish in my tank. My son in law has a very big tank with lots of different fish and he suggested one day i should get a little one and the rest is history as they say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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