Clear Water?

[connor_09]

Hi everyone, my 54L tank has been running since around Christmas time now so only a few months, I have two corydoras, 6 ember tetras, a bristlenose plec and around 15 or so shrimp, driftwood, sand for substrate and 5 plants filtering this is an EHEIM 2010 pick up filter. I do one water change a week of around 10%. Now my water isn't exactly murky and it isn't hard to see my fish but it's just not perfect, it has a slight yellow tinge to it, I thought it may have been the light but I have recently changed that and its does make a little bit of a difference but not as much as id have liked. is there any techniques to getting my water crystal clear? Am I changing enough water? Is there anything I can buy (other than another filter) to help? Appreciate any help. Once again thank you!

 

[jacko32]

its most probably the wood leaching out tannins making the water that colour over time and with water changes it should clear up a bit but thats all part of having wood in your tank

 

[stoneagedinosaur]

Did you soak the driftwood prior to it going in, it could be leaking tannins that would give the water a yellow hue. Wash the sand thoroughly? My guess would be the driftwood but others may be able to shed more light on it.

Good luck

 

[connor_09]

OK thanks guys, yeh I thought that but I boiled the driftwood for ages before I put it in, several times. hmmm

 

[waterdrop]

I've been boiling and soaking a piece for months now and its still turning the water yellow in its plastic box out on the patio. I think its the wood. As an extra though I'd suggest your water changes of only 10% may be too wimpy, I'd not hesitate to 25 or 30% on your weekly changes, with plenty of deep gravel cleaning when getting the water out.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[jacko32]

I've been boiling and soaking a piece for months now and its still turning the water yellow in its plastic box out on the patio. I think its the wood. As an extra though I'd suggest your water changes of only 10% may be too wimpy, I'd not hesitate to 25 or 30% on your weekly changes, with plenty of deep gravel cleaning when getting the water out.

~~waterdrop~~

i stopped trying to get them out now its a soak in boiling water over night then in the tank it goes the apistos love the tannins anyway

 

[connor_09]

cheers guys, larger water changes it is then!

 

[thedc5]

a bit of this in a bag in your filter will make your water cleaner than you have ever seen!!

I have a 6ft tank full of bog wood and dropped a sachet of this in my filter and in 2 days it was so clear, its amazing stuff!!

But that said tannins wont harm the fish.

http/www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Purigen.html

 

[Deleted member 55926]

I soaked and boiled my lump of bogwood for about a month in a bucket and it was still turning the water very brown.

In my tank it doesn't affect anything now though.