Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

My water has brown "tanons" - it's clear, you can see the bottom, but it's brown. Don't think it's particulate matter.

"Tannins" Gemmell - the same stuff that makes you cup of tea the colour it is (before you add milk).

Doesn't actually affect anything.

So where does it come from? Plants or worms? And is there a way to get rid of it other then water change? Or is it benificial?

My guess is it comes from the feed. When I first started my system I was feeding with Goldfish flakes and my water was crystal clear then switched to a "real" feed and since my water has turned a nice weak tea colour. DOn't think it is a problem I have caught bream in Lake Tyers and at times that water can be as black as a strong black tea apparently caused by the teatree around the area.

An "amber" tea colour is actually a sign of a mature balanced system... amber coloured, but clear...

Here's member "Worms" tank for instance...

I particularly like the reflection of the shirtless, headless man.

I've added some egg whites to mine, now to see how it goes over the next day or so.

We have had members forgo washing their media, figuring that they could later remove the sand/silt/clay from the bottom of the tank. They wound up having to empty the tank ans shovel out the thick layer. I would not recommend large scale non washing. Now I've been known to add a little gravel without washing, like when topping up a grow bed after the initial settling. But the initial fill of gravel into the system, should be washed. You don't really want to subject your pumps to huge amounts of sand/silt, it isn't really good for them. And if you have any plumbing that drops down to the ground and comes back up to drain into sump or fish tank, that would suck to have that plumbing plug up with sediment.

Skipping washing now could really make for lots more work later.

if your gravel is anything like my gravel it will still make the water go dirty even after you wash it
you now have to opertunity to do things the hard way ( and earn major kudos) as wellas try out the eggwhite Floc so best of both worlds dont you think

Cheers
pete

I really need to ensure I read posts correctly, I read the 10,000 as 1000 and needless to say 8 eggs was too many for my system.

The water definitely didn't clear up, and solids now appear to be suspended in the body of the water itself. At present I can't see the bottom of the tank . Haven't had any fish kills so far, fingers crossed it'll stay that way.

dont worry, it will be fine - give it few more days

It's looking ok today, at least I can see the bottom again.

Hi LV
Just wondering what sort of fish you have in your system and glad to they are all ok, probably wise not to feed them too much until the water is clear.
Always good to gather information on the effective and safe limits using eggs.

I've got Jade Perch fingerlings and some Goldfish.

Hi LV
Wondering how your system is going after using the egg whites, hopefully clear water with no fish deaths