Help! Why are my plants and water turning brown?

[oldie]

Hi all!

I started on my first 'scape about 3 weeks ago, used HC and Riccia and dwarf grass (I think). I added in a small piece of driftwood and some moss (tied to some lava rocks) about a week later.

However, for the past week, the water's turning slightly brownish, and the plants are also turning brown. I use CO2 for about 10hrs a day (1 bubble every 2 secs) as I wanted to boost the growth, but not sure if this is affecting the plants. Even the moss that I tied to the lava rocks is turning brown!

20140407_210019_resized.jpg

I'm at a loss as to why this is happening. The plants are "pearling" during the CO2 period, so its not as though they're dead. Even the glass filter intake/outtakes have a brownish stain on them (its a stain as I could rub it off with my hand).

20140407_210035_resized.jpg

Substrate used is ADA Amazonia, with Eheim Ecco Pro 300 filter. I did frequent large water changes in the first week after setting up the 'scape, but dropped to weekly changes after that. Could the coloration be due to the lack of water changes?

Also, I've noticed a fine furry-like coating my driftwood. What is that?

20140407_210045_resized.jpg

Sorry for all the questions, but its causing me some stress to see how things have developed within such a short period of time. Even my kids are asking why everything is turning brown! Any helpful comments would be highly appreciated!

Thanks!

Oldie

[Urban Aquaria]

The brownish film and stains are diatoms, very common in new tank setups that are still in the midst of cycling.

Here is some info on it: http://www.aquascapingworld.com/alga...php?item_id=79

Shrimps and otocinclus like to eat it and will usually clear it up easily... otherwise it will also gradually disappear on its own once the tank matures, then other types of algae will appear.

[thebaldingaquarist]

The brownish film and stains are diatoms, very common in new tank setups that are still in the midst of cycling.

Here is some info on it: http://www.aquascapingworld.com/alga...php?item_id=79

Shrimps and otocinclus like to eat it and will usually clear it up easily... otherwise it will also gradually disappear on its own once the tank matures, then other types of algae will appear.

See! I am not the only one going around scaring others with algae!!

Hi TS, its probably diatoms as what UA mentioned. But the water turn brown.. Is it the water browning or the tank glads browning?

Sent from my 2013023 using Tapatalk

[wongce]

Temperature of the water?, whats your light wattage? I suspect the temperature too high especially last month as its dry season. Try to maintain below 30deg whenever possible...

Bps calculation is not accurate, you need drop checker to know whether your co2 is sufficient or not. However, i doubt its the main problem here.

[qool]

Diatoms are much more friendly then other algaes at least they go away after some time, upon full cycle of the tank. But there are chances of reoccurance as I experienced before 2 or 3 random outbreaks.

What I usually do is add anti algae solution like Do aqua! be clear, a couple of nertile snails and this should do the trick mostly.

[Urban Aquaria]

I actually like diatoms... whenever i start up a new tank, they will usually appear for a short while, then i'll just harvest the brown film and transfer them as food to my other established tanks, the otocinclus in those tanks will have a big feast and swim around with nice round tummies for the next few days.

[Urban Aquaria]

Btw, since you don't have any fishes or shrimps in the tank at this moment, you can increase the Co2 injection rate to boost the plant growth further, it'll ensure that Co2 is not a limiting factor during this initial period.

Like what wongce recommended, it'll be good to get a drop checker to get an idea of the Co2 levels in the tank (this will be an essential item to help gauge and fine tune Co2 injection levels when you start adding fishes and shrimps later), get those drop checkers which come with pre-mixed indicator solution, much easier to use and less guesswork.

[bennyc]

Water turn brown (tea color) is due to tanning acids leeching out from your driftwood. which i assume you did not pre soak it. But it is not a big problem, it is actually good for fishes. It is personal preference , some like their tank water really pristine and clear. If so, just remember to pre soak DW in a pail or sort and change the water frequent until there is no tea color water any more before you put it in your tank.

[bennyc]

See! I am not the only one going around scaring others with algae!!

Hi TS, its probably diatoms as what UA mentioned. But the water turn brown.. Is it the water browning or the tank glads browning?

Sent from my 2013023 using Tapatalk

eric it is just me. hahaha.

[oldie]

Hi All!

Thanks for your helpful comments. Got held up at work so couldn't respond quicker.

Its not the water that's turned brown, its more like a very very thin layer on the glass and on some of the plants. The wife and I took the opportunity to do a water change this evening and I scraped the walls of the tank to get rid of it, and that's how we found out that it wasn't the water.

The temperature's also below 30 degrees - got a thermometer stuck to the wall of the tank.

Noted on the CO2 drop checker - will scout C328 for them. I don't think the problem's with the CO2, as the plants are all "pearling" like crazy - even the algae on the rocks is "pearling"!

I still got a couple of questions:

(a) Why are the plants (or some parts of them) turning yellowish/brown? They're "pearling" so it can't be that they're dying, right?

(b) The moss that I tied to the lava rocks is also turning brown. That is really odd as I expected the moss to be okay.

Any helpful comments would be appreciated!

[Urban Aquaria]

I still got a couple of questions:

(a) Why are the plants (or some parts of them) turning yellowish/brown? They're "pearling" so it can't be that they're dying, right?

(b) The moss that I tied to the lava rocks is also turning brown. That is really odd as I expected the moss to be okay.

Any helpful comments would be appreciated!

The plants turning yellowish or brownish are usually due to old or weak emersed leaves dying off while new greener submersed leaves grow out, its a transition process thats quite common with plants like HC and hairgrass. If the lights, Co2 and nutrients are optimal, the plants will eventually grow to become nice and green over time.

Moss turning brown could also be due to the transition period, or it could also just be due to dirt or detritus being trapped amongst the fronds (moss tend to be dirt magnets), you can try cleaning it by brushing or rinsing the moss (if you can remove it from the tank, just rinse in clean tank water).

[oldie]

Thanks for the advice Urban!

Keeping my fingers crossed, and planning to do another water change later this week.