Tannins (Brown/Tea-Colored Water)

Brown or tea-colored water is usually tannins leaching from driftwood or dried leaves — cosmetic, not harmful, and often intentional in some setups. Activated carbon in your filter will clear it up if you'd rather have clear water.

Why this happens

• Driftwood, dried leaves (like Indian almond leaf), or other natural decor leaching tannins into the water.
• New driftwood releases tannins fastest, tapering off over weeks to months as it leaches out.

What to do next

1. Add activated carbon to your filter to absorb the tannins and clear the water.
2. Pre-soak or boil new driftwood before adding it to reduce how much it leaches once submerged.
3. Do more frequent partial water changes if you want faster results without carbon.
4. Leave it as-is if you like the look — tannins are cosmetic, and many aquarists keep them intentionally in a "blackwater" setup.

Frequently asked questions