WATER COLUR GOING YELLOW/ORANGE COLOR

[NEVVBIE]

Hi All

i have noticed this happening 2 times on different tanks.. i have a 4ft tank with about 4 males and 9 females albino/common bristle nose and some fry swimming around... i have 2 filters running in tank(canisters) with fly net over the ends so the fry don't get sucked up... the tank starts to get this yellow/orange color is that normal??
speaking to some people they say the bristle nose tanks should be a touch dirty... my ammonia looks good and i think PH was close to 7 and temperature of tank now is about 23c...
i have a few small pieces of drift wood that i have had for a long time..
Any suggestions what the color is ??

the way tank is set up there is a spray bar on each end of tank that makes all the poo goto middle of tank easy to clean... the bristle nose look happy i always see clusters of eggs...
Please give advise thanks

 

[GrubbyGirl]

The wood will be causing the slight change in colour. It's an effect I like, but if you don't try running charcoal which should remove it.

 

[NEVVBIE]

but there is only small amount of wood in the tank you think that's whats making it that color?

 

[GrubbyGirl]

I can't think of what else it might be, and that is usually the cause. Someone may come along soon who has a better idea.

 

[Doodles]

Thats quite a stocked tank even with two filters.

What are you feeding them?

 

[NEVVBIE]

hikari wafers and sometimes zuchini or cucumber and on rare occasion i have these wafer like sinking sera food that is for clown loachs and stuff

 

[scatz]

hikari wafers and sometimes zuchini or cucumber and on rare occasion i have these wafer like sinking sera food that is for clown loachs and stuff

what else is in the tank?

 

[NEVVBIE]

only bristlenose and there fry

 

[thegeeman]

Dirtylady is correct It will be the tannins released from the bogwood. I have wood in my 183 tank thats years old and if I dont do the water changes on the tank it will be black within a week
A 4ft tank with 13 adult bn,s plus fry is probably pushing the limit of the tank IMO.
I would be doing daily water changes of 10-20% with that sort of stocking.

Cheers

thegeeman

 

[NEVVBIE]

i am scared killing the fry doing water changes so often.... you think i should remove some bristlenose from tank ?

 

[scatz]

the water changes will keep the nitrates down and the water cleaner so will benefit the fry, not hurt them

 

[thegeeman]

If you do 10% water changes with room temp water you shouldnt get any problems with bn fry, In fact they will appreciate you for it.
I used to change a couple of buckets of water and then re fill them for the following day which would bring the temp up on the new water.

Cheers

thegeeman

 

[NEVVBIE]

thanks will try the bucket thing.. do you put a air raider in bucket or you just let bucket sit there?
thanks

 

[thegeeman]

Raider??? not sure what you mean by that. I never put any airstones in the water if thats what you mean

Cheers

thegeeman

 

[2wheelsx2]

If you don't want to do water changes, and you don't like the tannins, run charcoal or Purigen in your filters.

 

[GrubbyGirl]

Dirtylady is correct

That makes me sound posh!

I hadn't spotted the stocking levels, yes that is high you definitely should do more water changes

 

[Lornek8]

air raider = aerator

 

[NEVVBIE]

lol sorry all yes aerator not raider was getting late here in Australia.. was asking the water you let sit overnight do you put a air stone in it??/ but i think you said no..

 

[NEVVBIE]

today i went and got purigen and withing 3-4 hours now tank is going white color... hope by morning its clear or else will it stay cloudy white color?

 

[2wheelsx2]

If your Purigen is new there might be a bit of dust, but it'll clear very soon and you'll see the clearest water you've ever seen in your tank. Did you get "the Bag" with it? The Purigen is so fine grained that any other bags will allow some to escape.