After keeping cichlids for years I thought i'd get rid of them and try a marine set-up. Had the tank set up just with water and sand in it for a week or two before i got impatient and just had to put something in it. Got two damsel from LFS and put them in. Couple of weeks later added a Foxface Rabbitfish which broke out in spots the very next day. Asked LFS who gave me some tablets to crush up and put in tank. About 3-4 days later water started to turn red and just got darker and darker. I don't know if its the tablets, the rocks i have in there or the sand. Its now been red for about 3 weeks and isnt showing any signs of improvement??? Has anyone had any similar problems?
My water has turned red???
- Thread starter earache666
- Start date
that would worry me. what was the tablets for? I would not add anything to the tank, Massive water change. Dont put anything in the aquarium that you dont know what is. it could do alot more harm then good, not limiting to you not being able to have shrimp or other inverts..
hi and welcome to AC!
Yes, those tablets sounds questionable. I'd follow Ghost Knife's suggestion and do several water changes to get that stuff out of there.
Yes, those tablets sounds questionable. I'd follow Ghost Knife's suggestion and do several water changes to get that stuff out of there.
yep! massive PWCs 'till it clears. and sounds like your rabbitfish got marine ich. does it still have it?
What sort of rocks do you have and what kind of substrate? Tell us a bit more about your tank.
thanks
Max
thanks
Max
-The tablets i used were a broad spectrum anti bacteria sort of thing which i was told by LFS were perfectly safe for a tank with inverts. I was looking at a liquid solution for whitespot but it was copper sulphate based so I didn't want to use that.
-The spots on the foxface were quite small and actually looked like tiny white dots with black edges but they have cleared up but now my two damsels fins are all looking frayed and spotty. I have been checking my ammonia levels which appear OK.
-My substrate is beach sand which I collected myself locally as I was told this was the best way to do it. I have since read a few books which shun this practice. So I wasn't sure if it was something in the sand that was colouring the water.
-The rocks I have in there were also collected from my local beach, they are the same rocks that i had in all of my cichlid tanks. They are a very dark brown colour so I thought maybe the salt was reacting with them and leaching the colour out of them. But they never discoloured my freshwater tanks.
-The spots on the foxface were quite small and actually looked like tiny white dots with black edges but they have cleared up but now my two damsels fins are all looking frayed and spotty. I have been checking my ammonia levels which appear OK.
-My substrate is beach sand which I collected myself locally as I was told this was the best way to do it. I have since read a few books which shun this practice. So I wasn't sure if it was something in the sand that was colouring the water.
-The rocks I have in there were also collected from my local beach, they are the same rocks that i had in all of my cichlid tanks. They are a very dark brown colour so I thought maybe the salt was reacting with them and leaching the colour out of them. But they never discoloured my freshwater tanks.
hmm, good job keeping an eye on the ammonia readings. I would assume that it's some sort of leachate from the sand. There is no telling what was spilled on the beach anything from sunscreen to who knows what. It could also be an algae bloom it's hard to say. I hope that you haven't had red tides in your area because it could also be dianoflagelets ,"I hope not."
Without knowing what the rocks are it's hard to say if they could also leach or if some of the minerals in them could form bonds with minerals in the s.w. Sorry, that I don't really know I hope that someone else will see this and reply. I can't say that I've ever heard it before. I'd also encourage you to do some major water changes and see if it corrects the situation. If not I'd take other steps to make sure my fish had continued good health.
hth
Max
Without knowing what the rocks are it's hard to say if they could also leach or if some of the minerals in them could form bonds with minerals in the s.w. Sorry, that I don't really know I hope that someone else will see this and reply. I can't say that I've ever heard it before. I'd also encourage you to do some major water changes and see if it corrects the situation. If not I'd take other steps to make sure my fish had continued good health.
hth
Max
Thanks for everyones help and in regards to the spots on my foxface, what is "marine ich" ?? Can anyone post a picture(s) of it?
Also just to let you all know I have a canister filtaration unit as well as a secondary air pump going for extra oxygenation and water movement. I think the only thing I really need to get is a protein skimmer. But my LFS is a bit lacking in marine equipment (and knowledge).
Also just to let you all know I have a canister filtaration unit as well as a secondary air pump going for extra oxygenation and water movement. I think the only thing I really need to get is a protein skimmer. But my LFS is a bit lacking in marine equipment (and knowledge).
Last edited:
Hi there. Sounds like it could be the possiblity of two things both of which you have mentioned. Either the medication that was given to you by your LFS is for freshwater fish possiblity of getting mixed up. Or the rocks you used when you had your cichlids (which i dont think was a wise choice), it must be having some sort of a reaction to the saltwater. I would prob go with the medication you have put it, it might just be a way of showing you that your tank is being medicated for what sounds like 'white spot', ask the clerk at the LFS or read the instructions if you havent done so already. Water changes are most prob your best bet to get rid of the red Urine in your tank.
Take care and let me know what the verdict is.
xxx
Take care and let me know what the verdict is.
xxx
Last edited: