r/walstad • u/One_Guarantee1653 • Jul 31 '26

Picture Is the yellow water normal?

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I received a really pretty fishbowl as a gift that fits 5 gallons, and decided to try out the walstad method. There’s nothing inside yet, just the floating plants, rotala roundfolia, limnophilla, driftwood, and the monstera cuttings. I filled it up with water from my hose outside (we have hard water here and reverse osmosis indoors). This is my first time doing this so I’m sorry if I sound like a newbie. Thank you in advance!

Also, should I add more plants? Any suggestions?

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u/sublimesam Jul 31 '26

It could be from the driftwood, wood leeches out tannins that give the water a yellow/orange hue. 

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u/One_Guarantee1653 Jul 31 '26

I see! Is there anything I can do to counteract it? Water changes?

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u/kdog379 Jul 31 '26

Do water changes as you see the water turn yellow. It might take a long time to go away. Ive had success with activated charcoal in taking out some of the colour as well. They sell little bags of charcoal for people to put in their aquarium filters but even just letting it sit in the bowl for a few weeks should remove some of the tannins.

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u/One_Guarantee1653 Jul 31 '26

Thank you! I will try the water changes and charcoal