PENEJANE Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 I would like to know why my water goes from crystal clear after a water change to a yellow/brown colour (looking from the side) with in about 3-4 days? I do a water change once every 2 weeks and do the filter at the same time. I have drift wood in there for a while now and never had this problem before. Also if I was to put a little pouch of activated carbon in my filter would this help keep the water clear? Would it remove the salt thats been added? Any help is appreciated. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misnoma Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Sounds like the driftwood to me, how long has it been in there - maybe it's starting to break down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Yep sounds like drift wood to me, tanins leaching out. I had two bits of wood in my tank, one just wouldnt stop turning the water yellow. Carbon might help, i just use the cheap stuff from the LFS, and bought a reusable filter bag... no idea about "salts" sorry.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted August 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 I have had drift wood in there for ages so why would it start now? I will wait for some more suggestions about the salt and the carbon before I go and get some. Cheers tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misnoma Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Driftwood is easy to test, take out of tank, put in bucket of water (so it stays sunk ).. do water change and wait three days, then you know for sure Will save spending money on carbon/salts etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Carbon is used in Saltwater tanks and as far as I know they haven't been unittingly converted to freshwater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monaro1 Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 how offen do you vaccume your tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENEJANE Posted August 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 I vaccum the tank every time I do a water change which is every 2 weeks. My water pH and ammonia are fine and stable (test before and just after water change and no change) Wouldn't the driftwood of been leaking tanins from the beginning and not just now? If it is the drift wood then I am not to worried as I just wanted to make sure that what ever was causing it wasn't going to harm the fish. I might give activated carbon a go (just get a little packet as it only last about 3 months apparently) to see if that will keep the water clearer than what it is at the moment. Its just that the water looks dirty because of the colour (not cloudy at all) and makes me think that the tank is dirty and that anyone else who sees it would think its dirty to lol cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BK Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Product called Bio-chem Zorb from www.aquariumpharm.co. Have to say that it sounds like the wood, I have heaps of peat in my tanks and they are quite brown doesn't worry me. See if the above helps, works better than carbon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Perhaps a bit of the wood has started to rot or break away and that is why it has only started leaching recently. Sounds odd though. I don't think carbon can remove salt. It will dilute over time with water changes and top-ups. Do as misnomer suggests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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