In this article, we will learn about tannin and the reasons why the aquarium water turns yellow or brown and also how to correct it.
You set up an fish tank, added some trunk or roots and noticed that the water turned a brownish color, similar to the tea color. Why did the aquarium water turn that color? How to fix this?
The aquarium water can turn this color when we add trunks that release tannin. Other causes include materials from waste left by decaying fish and plants. Nobody likes to see the dirty aquarium. The fish that live inside most likely also don’t like it. It is essential to get to the root of the problem and change the appearance of the aquarium.
Adding trunks
Trunks are very popular decorations in fishkeeping. They add liveliness to an aquarium and give fish a place to swim and shelter. These same trunks are important in the process of making the aquarium water look like tea.
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Why do the trunks cause this colorful aspect of tea?
Because they release a chemical called tannin. When the tannin is released, they turn the water into that brownish color. Tannins can also stain other parts of the aquarium besides water. Did you notice the stones or gravel looking yellow or brown? It may be due to the tannin.
There is another problem with the tannin that is a little more serious. Tannin can lower the pH levels of the water. The pH level is very important in the overall health of the aquarium. Sudden changes at these levels can be deadly for the inhabitants who live there.
How to fix it?
Some corrections are easy to make. First, you can remove the wood from your aquarium and perform a Partial Water Change. This is important, as much of the material from the trunk will still be present in the aquarium.
What if I want to keep the trunk in the aquarium?
A widely used method is to place the trunk in a water bucket before placing it in the aquarium. It may take some time, but this method seems to really work. Leave the trunk in a water bucket and wait until it changes color. Change the water and continue repeating the process until the water is clear. Another option is to boil the trunk. Place it in a pan where it is completely submerged and boil it. This process also removes the tannin and helps to eliminate other residues that can be harmful to fish.
Decaying plants
Plants are another source for the aquarium water to turn yellow or brown. The excess of vegetation in the aquarium, at a certain moment, makes it impossible for us to see the plants that are decomposing. This decomposition process not only makes the water look yellowish, but also increases the levels of nitrate in the aquarium.
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How to adjust tannin level in the fish tank?
The easiest solution is to remove the plants as soon as they start to turn yellow. It will be easy to remove fallen leaves or if a piece of the plant is at the bottom of the aquarium. There are some creatures, like snails, that like to feed on decaying plants, so they are an excellent addition to aquariums.
General tips to avoid “tea-colored” water in the aquarium
The items listed above are the main culprits when it comes to leaving the water with this aspect. But there are some things you can do to prevent the aquarium from looking like a swamp.
Make sure to clean it regularly. This does not just mean performing Partial Water Change, you must also clean the gravel and glass. The gravel (substrate) can store a lot of waste and cleaning this area is essential for the removal of this waste. Use a siphon during the process and try not to move the substrate too much, just position the siphon above the substrate so that it can suck up all the accumulated dirt.
Is “tea-colored” water harmful to fish?
No, it is not! Tannin is not harmful to fish. The only caveat is the appearance of the aquarium, and mainly, depending on the quantity, it can lower the pH levels of the water.
If the color is a result of decomposing materials and waste, then it can be harmful to fish, because depending on the amount of this waste, the levels of Ammonia in the aquarium will rise dramatically, causing problems for the health of the animals.
It is essential to regularly monitor the Ammonia / Nitrite / Nitrate levels in your aquarium to ensure that everything is fine.
What are your experiences with tannin in the aquarium? Tell us! Share this article with your friends!
