My water has been on the "stained" side. It is clear but not crystal clear like it use to be. Would me removing the carbon have this affect? I have an aquaclear 110 with a sponge and a half, filter floss and biomax. The tank itself is 46-50g. It is a corner tank. I have a 7 glowlight tetra, 5 baby cory cats, 2 small kuhli loaches, 1 Golden Wonder, 1 Dwarf Gourami, 3 dwarf rainbow fish and one ram. All are very small, right now. Should I add the carbon back to the water?
Stained water?
- Thread starter Sal329
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do you have driftwood in the tank? this will impart a tea color due to the tannins in the wood. carbon will remove 'color' from the water if that's what you mean by 'stained'. if it's small particles and not actual color, check your ammonia and nitrite. removing the carbon may cause an ammonia spike due to the removal of the carbon since this is a site for bacteria to colonize. replacing it will not help in this case.
I have this same problem with my terrarium, though I have ghost wood in it as well as a tree fern panel on the back. The thing is, I was having that problem with stained water before I put the wood in. Around the time my frogs died and I've been rather worried about it being bacterial. Anyone know of any precautions to take or something that could help clear the water despite the wood?
Nope no wood. Well if I add the carbon now there is no room with 1 and a half sponges and the biomax. What would recommend? The one sponge,filter floss and carbon? The color has kinda brownish tint but there is no wood. The tank has fish mentioned, plastic & silk plants and one ornament.
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Hmmm... Brownish tint is usually tannins from wood in the tank, or peat in the filter.
Out on a limb and reaching a bit... How about:
Well water with a high dissolved rust content maybe?
Old house with steel (galvanized) plumbing?
Old city water system, meter to house line is galvanized?
Well water with high tannins?
What's the ornament? It could be leeching dye...
The substrate? Was it ever used with wood or peat?
I don't think this limb I'm out on will support me much longer... LOL
Oh, do you have rust stains in sinks or anything like that? It could be the tap water... You wouldn't normally see the staining because you aren't looking through as much of the water.
Out on a limb and reaching a bit... How about:
Well water with a high dissolved rust content maybe?
Old house with steel (galvanized) plumbing?
Old city water system, meter to house line is galvanized?
Well water with high tannins?
What's the ornament? It could be leeching dye...
The substrate? Was it ever used with wood or peat?
I don't think this limb I'm out on will support me much longer... LOL
Oh, do you have rust stains in sinks or anything like that? It could be the tap water... You wouldn't normally see the staining because you aren't looking through as much of the water.
The tank has been up for a year. The sponge in the the AC is pretty new. The half sponge is 8 months old. The ornament is one that I used when I first set teh tank up. I put it away for about 9 months. It is a broken vase looking thing with plants. I did just move and the water is new. But the substrate and media are not. Thanks everyone. I have carbon at home still I just need to get a bag for it.