Good morning all,
My name is Scott. I just recently became interested in freshwater fish keeping. As with everything I do I have a lot of questions that need to be addressed. First, a little info about my aquarium. I bought an old/used 55 gallon tank that shows it was manufactured in 1988. Being that old it needed some serious rehab. All glass had to be cleaned and polished, totally resealed at all joints and upper and lower frame painted black to cover the worn wood grain finish (no paint became anywhere near the inside of tank). Because the tank is old the glass used at that time has a blue/green color noticable if viewed from the raw edge. Secondly, I want to describe the peripherals. I am using the Glo lighting system containing one T5 HO standard quarium bulb. The filter system is a Marineland 350 Bio Wheel dual filter setup. Additional areation (also being used for visial effects) is two bubblers one at each end. The decor I chosen is a more realistic enviroment (I know there's a proper name for this- I can't remember it). The substrate is small/medium pebbles. Plenty of aquatic plants (mostly green) and a piece of drift wood from an area that all trees were cut down quite a long time ago. Just a note here- the wood was soaked till no tannic color was present in the bath tub water, scrubbed heavly and rinsed thoroghly. Thirdly, the tank is located on the north side of the house where only residual sun light is present. There is also a curtain which can be closed to somewhat darken the room.
Now for the question. I am experiencing what looks like lightly churned up brownish water which impacts the clearity. The deeper you view the tank the water appears clearer. If I take a clear drinking glass and take a sample it appears as clear as tap water. All water readings are where they should be. Is the glass and or decor causing this? I forgot to mention that that backgroung is the standard background aquatic plants and rocks.
Sorry this is so long winded but I hope someone has some answers and can point me in right direction.
Thx,
Scott
My name is Scott. I just recently became interested in freshwater fish keeping. As with everything I do I have a lot of questions that need to be addressed. First, a little info about my aquarium. I bought an old/used 55 gallon tank that shows it was manufactured in 1988. Being that old it needed some serious rehab. All glass had to be cleaned and polished, totally resealed at all joints and upper and lower frame painted black to cover the worn wood grain finish (no paint became anywhere near the inside of tank). Because the tank is old the glass used at that time has a blue/green color noticable if viewed from the raw edge. Secondly, I want to describe the peripherals. I am using the Glo lighting system containing one T5 HO standard quarium bulb. The filter system is a Marineland 350 Bio Wheel dual filter setup. Additional areation (also being used for visial effects) is two bubblers one at each end. The decor I chosen is a more realistic enviroment (I know there's a proper name for this- I can't remember it). The substrate is small/medium pebbles. Plenty of aquatic plants (mostly green) and a piece of drift wood from an area that all trees were cut down quite a long time ago. Just a note here- the wood was soaked till no tannic color was present in the bath tub water, scrubbed heavly and rinsed thoroghly. Thirdly, the tank is located on the north side of the house where only residual sun light is present. There is also a curtain which can be closed to somewhat darken the room.
Now for the question. I am experiencing what looks like lightly churned up brownish water which impacts the clearity. The deeper you view the tank the water appears clearer. If I take a clear drinking glass and take a sample it appears as clear as tap water. All water readings are where they should be. Is the glass and or decor causing this? I forgot to mention that that backgroung is the standard background aquatic plants and rocks.
Sorry this is so long winded but I hope someone has some answers and can point me in right direction.
Thx,
Scott
