Dono, I love the picture of the cement base on the diffuser. I may have to raise mine up again, but problem or me is that when water is lower in summer (when I need the aeration) the diffusers are already at maybe 7' or 8' depth. The deeper depth gives better movement of water and if I raise it up to 5' to avoid stirring up the bottom then I lose some action of the aeration.
Tom, it doesn't sound like you get enough leaves to blame tannins for your water color. The coffee with milk color is mud/suspended clay. The left over 'green' probably was a bloom or plankton which is healthy.
The way to tell tea color origin is to put in clear jar in the dark for a few days. tannins will not settle and water will stay tea colored.
