QT turning yellowish.

T

Thornbreaker

New member
I've had a 20g QT (cycled, ammonia 0) running for about a month now. I've been doing 20-25% water changes each week.

As of this weekend tho, the water is looking yellow, and a bit frothy. I've changed the filter out on the HOB.

Advice? Will carbon fix the color?

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The only problem with running carbon to clear it up is that if you are medicating the carbon will remove the meds, making proper dosing difficult.

The yellowish water is just an indication that there are dissolved organics in the water. Those, in turn, can (will) break down into ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. If you are willing to control those levels through water changes then no, no harm done.

If it were mine, and you intend to keep the tank running long term, then carbon would be the way to go. Just remember to remove the carbon if you do need to medicate. I would then start it back up after the dosing regimen is done so that you can start with a clean (unmedicated) tank.
 
Thanks. Not medicating.

Did TTM before putting them in QT.

So far the 2 clowns I have in there are happy and appear healthy.



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Any recommendations on what carbon/application to use? This is my first QT. Display tank is beginning cycle this week if all goes well.

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I buy mine from BRS in 5g buckets. In a reactor (TLF 150 or similar) is your best option so that it gets adequate contact with the water.
 
FYI, changing filters in HOB (if its the only place bacteria grows) can throw the tank into a minicycle. keep an eye on that, while carbon can take care of the yellowish water.
 
bnumair said:
FYI, changing filters in HOB (if its the only place bacteria grows) can throw the tank into a minicycle. keep an eye on that, while carbon can take care of the yellowish water.
Click to expand...
That's a good point. I did swap out the cartridge. Test this morning is 0 to .1 for ammonia. Red sea kit.

Think I should run another water change just to be sure?

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any ammonia over 0 is bad so water change and or ammonia remover will work if there are no other meds being used.
 
I went ahead and ran one, and may do so again tonight. The seachem badge is still a bit grey, indicating it may be at .05 still on ammonia.

I'll retest ammonia tonight as well.
 
So I got home, ran an ammonia test and it was no longer yellow...

Seachem badge is still grey/. 05

I just did a 40% water change.

Should not have pulled the filter. It definitely has impacted the ability to process the ammonia.

Should I drop in a little prime to negate any ammonia, or just do water changes till its catches back up?

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I would double check ammonia with another test kit and make sure. A little prime will not hurt anything unless you are using copper based medicine.
For what it's worth whenever you need to change filter in hob place the new filter in tank beside/behind rocks or simply in high flow area about 2 weeks ahead and let bacteria grow on it. If you have 2 filters in hob change 1 and change second about 2 weeks apart. Hope it helps.
I personally think you will be alright from now on. Your tank went into a mini cycle. Bacteria can multiply and double their numbers in 15 hrs and they live in exact proportion as ammonia being produced.
Happy reefing
 
Thanks. I appreciate all the help.

Will definitely have a prepared back up in the future.

Fish seem to be hanging in there okay.

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