Tank Media Turning Orange?

Alright so here is what I have
-20 gallon high tank with a sand/gravel bottom
-HOB filter designed to filter a 35 gal tank
-Sponges in filter, one sponge is from an older tank to aid with beneficial bacteria

The tank has been running for just shy of 1 month:
-Ammonia - 0
-Nitrate - 0
-Nitrites - 0
-Ph - 7.2
-Temp - 76 (degrees F)

I have 1 piece of drift wood and 1 larger fish tank safe decoration, with six False JuliI Corydoras.

If I missed anything please ask, however my filter pads, sponges, and carbon filter have all been turning orange. My filter pads I have to replace almost daily due to discoloration. I have been feeding the corys quite regularly as they are very skinny, TetraMin Granules and Omega One Shrimp Pellets. The fish seem completely unaffected by the stuff on my filters.I attempted to rinse the sponges out using tank water yesterday with a 5 gallon water change, however I wasn't able to get any of the coloration out. I am curious if anyone else has had this issue and if so what have you done to correct this situation.

Thank you ahead of time!

 

Your media will not stay the original color it was. My white media turns rusty brown/orange given time. My blue sponges turn brown/black, it’s normal.
Probably because of all the tannin and organic junk it absorbs/catches.

I’d stop replacing media, it isn’t necessary until the media is so nasty its falling apart. Rinse and reuse.

 

By the numbers you have posted your tank is not cycled you should be showing 0 / 0 / 10-20ppm on a cycled tank. You may have crash your cycle replacing the media. As long as you have fish in there while not cycled you should be doing 50% water changes and treating with prime daily..

 

its definitely normal, some media is more noticeable then others though. my once prettty white sponge is now an orangish brown colour, its just form all the gunk in the water

 

Sorry for the delay I haven't been able to get on in a few days, I know my tank is cycled, I mis-typed to 0 nitrites as I meant to put 10. I haven't replaced any of the media and I am letting the tank do its thing. the fish are quite happy and have been swimming around and eating. I was concerned about my water quality with the discoloration happening so quick however I think I can nail the source down to my piece of drift wood that is in the tank letting of tannins into the water/

Thank You everyone!

 

yes, the tannins will stain your filter media. you can add Purigen to absorb all that tannin.

check out this guide for upgrading your media.

added link:
Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters

 

I don't see a link to upgrading my media

 

Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters

 

Thank you, that is almost the exact setup I have going in both my tanks right now. The actual cartridges are silly expensive.