Firecracker

I used the recommended amount and now my water is brown ... VERY brown like a medium strength tea.

Is this bad for the fish?

Will it go away?

Are there other types of root tabs that don't cloud the water?

capekate

What is the brand that you used that caused the water to turn brown?
I have used: Plant Care Fizz Tabs by Jungle brand. It conditions water with trace elements and CO2. Its for established plants and new plants. And you use it weekly in freshwater aquariums. It never turned my water brown.

mlinden84

I used ONE of the API Root tabs in my 55 gallon and it turned the tank a little darker than normal. I also used ONE in my 10 gallon planted betta tank and it didn't (although the gravel is much deeper so it got buried all the way).

I'm assuming that since it goes in the tank, it's safe for the fish, so it's probably not a big deal that it's turned the water brown. There are some liquid fertilizers, so basicly it just turned into that instead of being in the substrate.

I don't have a ton of experience with fertilizers/live plants so someone correct me if i'm wrong...

SereneReyn

i use seachem's liquid plant stuff, seems to work well and there's no noticable change to the water color.

joy613

I had brownish water one time from my root tab it cleared up during the next water change. I was glad I didn't get green water. I think it might have been I didn't get it buried deep enough. It didn't seem to change the water reading. I only use the root tabs in tanks that I have heavy root feeders like swords or crypts.

Firecracker

It was API and going by their instructions I used a lot more than 1 for my 30gal ... are their instructions that much off?

mlinden84

I think it's just a matter of getting them deep enough. The only reason I used just one in my 55 gallon was because I only had 1 plant that was in the substrate (the rest was floating).
I don't think it's harmful for the fish... just not always the best looking. There are other options if you don't like the colored water.

Firecracker

So, next time maybe I'll try one of the other types ... it was VERY brown.