Brown Cloudy Water - Aquarium Advice

packagerat · 12-18-2005, 01:08 PM

I have a new 72 gallon freshwater tank, it's had 4 neon tetras and 3 cory catfish in it for 1 week now. I have 2 pieces of natural driftwood in it. THe water is very cloudy and brown looking. Is this the normal nitrogen process, or could something be wrong? If it's normal, how long before it clears, and do you recommend chemicals? The ammonia content is low according to our AP solution test kit.

**Devilishturtles** · 12-18-2005, 01:22 PM

How long since you added the driftwood? Could be tannins that the driftwood is realeasing into your water.

packagerat · 12-18-2005, 01:31 PM

We soaked the small piece of driftwood for 1 week before adding to the tank. We added a larger piece of wood the day we filled the tank--should we take it out and soak it?

rich311k · 12-18-2005, 02:01 PM

If you have a pot big enough boil it for a while. [acronym:b5ae1eb12f="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:b5ae1eb12f] will help take the brown out of the water.

Lonewolfblue · 12-18-2005, 02:23 PM

Sounds like Tannins, won't hurt the fish any. You will also have to do lots of [acronym:887844cf40="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:887844cf40]'s til the tank cycles as well. As for the driftwood, you could boil it or pour boiling water over it in the sink. That will help some. Could also run some [acronym:887844cf40="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:887844cf40] in the filter til it clears up some. But you'll have to change out the [acronym:887844cf40="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:887844cf40] every few days as it will become used up, and will need new. But that will help clear the water up a bit. Another thing is like I did, kept the driftwood in a large bucket of water for 3-4 weeks, changing the water every 2-3 days. Then add to the tank. Those are just some ideas you can go over.

packagerat · 12-18-2005, 10:16 PM

Thanks for the information. I removed the driftwood and have them soaking in a bucket. The water is already tinting brown. Did a [acronym:3a78b4f6ae="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:3a78b4f6ae] that cleared things up quite a bit, and have added [acronym:3a78b4f6ae="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:3a78b4f6ae] to my filter. Once again Thanks !

12-18-2005, 01:08 PM	#1
packagerat Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 84 Images: 12	Brown Cloudy Water I have a new 72 gallon freshwater tank, it's had 4 neon tetras and 3 cory catfish in it for 1 week now. I have 2 pieces of natural driftwood in it. THe water is very cloudy and brown looking. Is this the normal nitrogen process, or could something be wrong? If it's normal, how long before it clears, and do you recommend chemicals? The ammonia content is low according to our AP solution test kit.

12-18-2005, 02:23 PM	#5
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	Sounds like Tannins, won't hurt the fish any. You will also have to do lots of [acronym:887844cf40="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:887844cf40]'s til the tank cycles as well. As for the driftwood, you could boil it or pour boiling water over it in the sink. That will help some. Could also run some [acronym:887844cf40="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:887844cf40] in the filter til it clears up some. But you'll have to change out the [acronym:887844cf40="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:887844cf40] every few days as it will become used up, and will need new. But that will help clear the water up a bit. Another thing is like I did, kept the driftwood in a large bucket of water for 3-4 weeks, changing the water every 2-3 days. Then add to the tank. Those are just some ideas you can go over. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

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12-18-2005, 01:31 PM	#3
packagerat Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 84 Images: 12	We soaked the small piece of driftwood for 1 week before adding to the tank. We added a larger piece of wood the day we filled the tank--should we take it out and soak it?

12-18-2005, 02:01 PM	#4
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	If you have a pot big enough boil it for a while. [acronym:b5ae1eb12f="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:b5ae1eb12f] will help take the brown out of the water.

12-18-2005, 10:16 PM	#6
packagerat Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 84 Images: 12	Thanks for the information. I removed the driftwood and have them soaking in a bucket. The water is already tinting brown. Did a [acronym:3a78b4f6ae="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:3a78b4f6ae] that cleared things up quite a bit, and have added [acronym:3a78b4f6ae="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:3a78b4f6ae] to my filter. Once again Thanks !