Water Quality

[alexandra]

I have a 55 gallon tank filled about 1/3 with water for my two T.grans. I run a Duetto 100 filter and just put up a new lamp fluorescent light for live plants. I have been noticing this sort of oily thin film on top the water. I had kept the opening of the filter pointing downwards to avoid any currents. I wonder if the water does not get filtered well enough. I also added a new large piece of driftwood and the tannins are coloring the water light brown. I just checked the pH and it is right around 7.2/7.4. Could the tannins or the thin film on top of the water be potentially harmful to newts?

 

[joan]

The tannins will make the water slightly more acidic. Keep up with water changes. The film is probably dust/proteins settling on top of the water. I suggest an airstone to cause a bit of movement at the top of the water.

Edit: Also, a Duetto 100 is probably the absolute bare minimum of filtration for ~25 gals of water. I'd try to get a bigger filter, or more live plants.

(Message edited by Joan on July 21, 2005)

 

[justin]

I had this same problem. Joan is right, it is a thin protein layer usually caused from the bloodworms that most newts eat. It is hard to figure out how to eleminate this layer. The only thing I thought of was to point my spray bar near the wall enough to slightly aggitate the surface. The newts dont seem to mind since most of the current is diffused once it hits the driftwood in my tank. It is nothing to worry about really, some people say it prevents some gas exchange from the water, but if you have SOME surface movement you are fine.

Also to back up what Joan said, you should get a larger filter. If you want, I suggest a Cascade canister filter since it comes with a spray bar so it somewhat diffuses the current and also has adjustable input/output knobs to slow down the flow. I have the Cascade 700 (which is for up to 65gallons) on my 20 Long. Given it is turned WAY down, it works great!

 

[alexandra]

Thanks for the comments. I pointed the filter opening upwards to create a little bit of surface movement and it seems to help!I will look into getting a larger filter and more life plants. I took out the large new piece of driftwood for now and will start growing it over with plants in a separate container. By the time the plants are established (I am thinking Anubias and Java Fern)the tannins will hopefully have seeped out.

 

[joan]

Take the driftwood and boil it on the stove for a long time. This will help.

I've had a piece of driftwood in my new Taricha tank for over a month (and it came out of a fishtank previously) and it still turns the water brown. I haven't tried boiling it though.