Help, rust coloured water...

Try getting some cheap fast growing stem plants like water sprite. They may help suck up a lot of that extra iron. Then begin to add more exciting plants later after the water starts to clear.
 
Interesting point, Tkos. An iron test might determine what type of water problem you have.
 
Yes. I don't own one, but I have seen the test kits available at better fish shops. Could someone else comment on what to get?
 
Maybe someone mentioned this already, but what about the driftwood in there?? That could cause the water coloration..

If nothing else, it looks like a time to start over... :(
 
Hmmm...soaking the driftwood for that long should have taken care of that I would think... What kind of wood is it? Looked like the regular mopani?
 
Just another thought here but if you want to grow plants in that tank I don't think you have enough light. Judging from the pictures those 2 desk lamps will not create enough light for most plants.
 
I guess you can't really see it from the angle of the pictures, but I have a "48" Deluxe Fluorescent Aquarium Reflector" 40 watt and "those desk lamps" I rewired and each hold 150 watt incandescent bulls and there are 3 of them, not two. :D

Which just shows how dark the water is:mad:
 
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