New Tank Setup - Red Water/ Tannins

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JackTheCarp

Aquarium Advice Newbie
Joined
Jan 14, 2025
Messages
3
Location
Birmingham, UK
Hi

Complete newcomer to the hobby, apologies if any of my questions have already been covered/ are very basic.

I have set up my first aquarium, the fish sticking I am still unsure about. My initial concern is the tinge to the water, which after researching seems to be from the new wood. I did not prepare the wood part from a swill so will this tinge subside or remain forever?

The aquarium is 100litres, running on an external filtration. I have been enjoying watching the vast amount of content online regarding cycling the filter and attaining the correct water parameters, but there’s not a lot of info about timescales - and if there is the info varies from a few days to a few weeks.

So my main question is how long should I expect the cycling to take.?

Photos attached.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated
 

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Whats the difference between the 2 photos? The first photo (the whiter coloured photo) looks like a bacterial bloom, the second photo looks like tannins. Is one taken in different light or is one taken a few days after the other?

A bacterial bloom is normal. Its bacterial proliferation in a newly established aquarium. The bacteria are consuming nutrients in the water and growing in such numbers that they become visible. Bacterial blooms tend to go away on their own as your cycle establishes and those nutrients are consumed by the nitrogen cycle.

Tannins leaching out of new wood is normal too. They are temporary as well, and will clear up once all the tannins leach out. This could take a week, could take a year.

Tannins are really beneficial for your fish as its a natural antibiotic. But they aren't to everyone's taste. As said they will clear up given time. Water changes will dilute the colouration until more leaches out and colours the water again. Activated carbon in your filtration will absorb the tannins and chemically remove them. Carbon needs replacing periodically, every 2 to 4 weeks.

Cycling a tank typically takes a couple of months.

Are you planning on a fish in cycle or fishless cycle? Do you know how to cycle an aquarium.
 
Appreciate the response.

The photos are 2 days apart.

In terms of cycling the aquarium- I had researched the necessity for ammonia for the beneficial bacteria to consume and multiply. For this after I was advised by a fish store to stock a few zebra danio to increase the ammonia. I just unsure on how long this will take. When cycling when would the first water change be conducted ?

Thanks for the info on the tannins I’ll add some carbon to the filter.
 
I'll post a method to do a fish in cycle. But essentially you change water whenever your testing tells you the water is getting toxic. If you start with just a few fish as your fish store recommends, then it might be 3 or 4 days. If you more fully stock your tank, then it might need changing more than once a day.
 
 
That’s amazing help thank you so much greatly appreciated.

Obviously I’m well aware all plants species would grow differently however when should I be able to expect any signs they have acclimated and start to show growth?

I’ve found it really nervey wondering everything will be OK
 
I would give plants a month or so before you start to judge how well they are doing.

You've got some java fern, some vallisneria at the front left. Anubias at the back?

The java fern and anubias are pretty much bulletproof proof as long as you don't bury the rhyzome. They are all at the low demand end of the spectrum. An all in one fertiliser with your water change. The val would benefit from some root tabs in the substrate, as would any other rooted plants i can't quite make out what they are. You arent really looking for growth of the existing leafs, you are looking for new growth. That might take a few weeks.

The val is a true aquatic plant and shouldn't need to acclimate.
 
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