How do you use aquarium soil so it won't turn the water yellow and cloudy?

When keeping ornamental fish, we try as much as possible to recreate the fish's original living environment, so we place some aquarium soil in the tank, and while using aquarium soil we find that the water quality slowly turns yellow. What exactly is the reason for this?

When keeping ornamental fish, we try as much as possible to recreate the fish's original living environment, so we place some aquarium soil in the tank, and while using aquarium soil we find that the water quality slowly turns yellow. What exactly is the reason for this?

Why does some aquarium soil turn the water yellow?

In fact, yellow water is not a "patent" of domestic aquarium soil; many international brands also produce yellow water. For example, ADA's aquarium soil products turn the water very yellow after use, some people even describe it as being like horse urine. This is mainly related to the manufacturer's aim of recreating the water conditions of the Amazon, whose water quality is very suitable for the growth of fish and aquatic plants. So it is said that the earliest ADA soil raw material mainly came from old Amazon pits, and the formula tried as much as possible to match the original ecological soil conditions, which is why the yellow water was so severe. In recent years, because customers disliked it and yellow water ruined the aquascape, and everyone still thinks clear water is better for viewing, ADA could only adjust according to market demand, and along with changes in the raw material source, the ADA soil everyone bought later produced clear water. The most typical example is Five Flavor Soil (Gobe Soil); because a large amount of activated carbon is added to it, its water-purifying effect is especially good, almost able to reach the clarity of old tanks by the second day after setting up the tank, which is why the soil granules of Five Flavor Soil are black!

So, for the needs of aquascaping, nobody wants to see yellow water. How can yellow water be avoided?

First, it is best to ask the seller about the effect of the aquarium soil currently being sold, because with many brands of aquarium soil, due to formula improvements or changes in raw materials, certain batches of soil may produce yellow water. However, manufacturers generally improve this as quickly as possible; the key is that you had better not buy that batch. The first few tankfuls of water with new aquarium soil may show varying degrees of yellow water, which is very normal; it is mainly because the new soil has higher acidity and pigment concentration, and it will be fine after a few water changes.

Second, some soil that originally did not turn the water yellow becomes severely yellow after one or two years of use, mainly because the soil disintegrates quite badly and the pigments deeply hidden inside the soil granules leach out in large amounts. Such soil is best replaced, because the more it is used, the yellower it gets! We can also add a large amount of activated carbon inside the filter canister to adsorb pigments, or use it together with aquarium soil that has relatively strong adsorption capacity, such as Five Flavor Soil, to achieve the effect. Logically, ceramic pellets also have adsorption capacity, but I have not tested it; friends who are interested can try it.

In fact, yellow water is not necessarily a bad thing. We will find that in yellow water, aquatic plants grow especially well and fish also develop especially well. So when you encounter aquarium soil that turns the water yellow, using it to breed fish and promote fish growth may have surprisingly good results.