Discoloration

[NCfishmama]

Hi All
New to this saltwater hobby
I’ve had my tank for up and going for almost 3 months I have a reddish brown hue to my tank
My water when I get a sample is clear
My numbers all look good according to lfs
I did treat tank for fin rot a couple weeks ago as I lost a clown due to bullying
I did change filter afterwards bc I forgot to pull it prior to treating tank
I thought maybe it was just a film on the back glass and tried to scrub off but didn’t see anything on brush and tank still appears reddish brown
Please advise water to do

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I've never seen that before... Do you have activated carbon in your filter? That should help.

I would say the tank needs much more rock and more flow,

What are the water parameters? Do you use rodi or tap water? What type of filter do you have? Do you dose anything into the tank? What do you feed the fish? Is the water surface agitated for oxygenation?

 

[kevgib67]

^carbon is good advice and although I’ve never seen it this color it could be a bacterial bloom, if that’s the case a uv sterilizer would clear the water.

 

[NCfishmama]

I've never seen that before... Do you have activated carbon in your filter? That should help.

I would say the tank needs much more rock and more flow,

What are the water parameters? Do you use rodi or tap water? What type of filter do you have? Do you dose anything into the tank? What do you feed the fish? Is the water surface agitated for oxygenation?

I just put an activated carbon filter in when you say needs more flow what do you mean? Do I need more live rock? I have been using Pete made water from the lfs
I have a large marine land canister filter and a small whale canister
I feed them clownfish specific food
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Alkalinity 120
Salinity 10.30
I have 2 fluval units just below surface for oxygenation

 

[NCfishmama]

I just put an activated carbon filter in when you say needs more flow what do you mean? Do I need more live rock? I have been using pre made water from the lfs
I have a large marine land canister filter and a small whale canister
I feed them clownfish specific food
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Alkalinity 120
Salinity 10.30
I have 2 fluval units just below surface for oxygenation

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I just put an activated carbon filter in when you say needs more flow what do you mean? Do I need more live rock? I have been using Pete made water from the lfs
I have a large marine land canister filter and a small whale canister
I feed them clownfish specific food
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Alkalinity 120
Salinity 10.30
I have 2 fluval units just below surface for oxygenation

hopefully the carbon will help

The rock should be about a pound per gallon, so you need way more rock. Rock is the biofilter of the tank, it also provides hiding spaces for fish and breeding space for micro organisms. Rock is the foundation of a saltwater tank.

Since you have 2 canisters it should be ok for flow, but point your powerhead at the surface to help with gas exchange.

What do you mean salinity is 10.30? It should be at 1.026.

 

[NCfishmama]

^carbon is good advice and although I’ve never seen it this color it could be a bacterial bloom, if that’s the case a uv sterilizer would clear the water.

How do I know if it’s bacterial bloom? What is a uv sterilizer?

 

[Kmst80]

I am with Kev, could be a bacterial bloom. I had the so called brown water once at the end of fighting dinos, I dosed silicates and raised the dose towards the end resulting in a diatom bloom or brown water. Bought a cheap uv that cleared it in 2 days.

 

[NCfishmama]

hopefully the carbon will help

The rock should be about a pound per gallon, so you need way more rock. Rock is the biofilter of the tank, it also provides hiding spaces for fish and breeding space for micro organisms. Rock is the foundation of a saltwater tank.

Since you have 2 canisters it should be ok for flow, but point your powerhead at the surface to help with gas exchange.

What do you mean salinity is 10.30? It should be at 1.026.

1.030

 

[NCfishmama]

I am with Kev, could be a diatom bloom. I had the so called brown water once at the end of fighting dinos, I dosed silicates and raised the dose towards the end resulting in a diatom bloom or brown water. Bought a cheap uv that cleared it in 2 days.

What is a uv sterilizer?

 

[Kmst80]

It's a filter where the water runs past a uv bulb killing bacteria in the process.
I got the green killing machine back then.

 

[Kmst80]

How old is the tank? I see you got a bubbletip in there not doing so well.
Could be the brown water or and the tank is way to young for it. Here is my bba when I had the brown water. They did come back but my tank was a year old at that stage and loads of live rock.

 

[kevgib67]

What is a uv sterilizer?

Sorry just saw this, I think @Kmst80 answered your question but if you need more info let me know.