Seasonal Tannins

[duanes]

Because my tanks are outside, and sit below a lot of foliage, during the rainy season. lots of tannins get washed in.
I divert water during rains, from plants and gutters o add to my regular water changes (sometimes with daily rains plenty of water is auto changed daily.

During that season tannins can get so thick, its almost too dark to see thru to the tanks back wall.

Because of the anti bacterial qualities of the tannins, and free rain water water changes, I overlook the temporary visibility loss,
but then , with a normal water change schedule, once the dry season starts, the tannins quickly dissipate.
The dry season is in full swing now, so the tea like tint of the tank has now become almost transparent.

 

[neutrino]

Admirable way to emulate and take advantage of natural cycles.

 

[jjohnwm]

I use a great deal of "feral" water...i.e. snow melt ...every spring when I fill my outdoor stock tanks. I love the idea of working with what nature provides, just as you are doing.

But, I must admit...I simply could not bear to look at that tea-coloured water in my tanks. I know it has benefits to the fish...I know it's natural...I get all that...but, wow, I just hate looking at it. My outdoor inground pond and some of my stock tanks are quite stained by season's end, from leaves falling in and also because I use them to waterlog new pieces of driftwood I've collected. The water tends to be more "clear brown" rather than "translucent brown", if that makes sense. Think tea without milk or cream, as opposed to tea with even a small addition of dairy.

Either way, I can't abide that look in my aquariums. To each his own!