Yellowing

[fatdaddy]

My 110 gallon tank has gotten very yellow. I haven't been very diligent about water changes, but I have actively monitored the water quality so that my nitrates, phosphates, etc are all zero and I run carbon.

I did a 10g water change last week and a 15g water change yesterday. I also refreshed the carbon last week. However, it's still looking very yellow.

Besides stepping up the water changes and doing them consistently for a few weeks, is there anything else that I can be doing?

[kau_cinta_ku]

how much carbon, how are you using it(where placed in the tank) and how often you changing it? for the yellowish color carbon will usually fix the problem, also are you using ro or rodi water?

[fatdaddy]

RODI water. I have two resin canisters and replace them as soon as the first one is exhausted.

I put the carbon in a "two little fishes" phosphate reactor that has about 10-15g/hour flow through it. This last time I put in about 2 inches of phosphate remover and the balance was carbon.

Hm, I just looked at the box: Eheim EHFI Karbon. But, it says it's only for fresh water. I'll get some different carbon. Maybe that is it.

[kau_cinta_ku]

for carbon you want the flow to be running strong through it, where as phosban you want a slow movement through it. i am not familuar with that carbon brand though so I don't know much about it.

you say you only put 2" of carbon in? if so that is not enough. just to give you an idea but alot of ppl run about 1/2 cup per 25 gals. I run 2 phosban reactors in my tank, 1 for carbon and 1 for phosban so I can regualte the flow between both of them, and in my carbon one it is about 1/2-3/4 full of carbon (changed out every 3-4 weeks) and this is on my 75 gal.

[fatdaddy]

Thanks. I'll pick up another reactor and do some plumbing.

[rookiegirl]

Can a rookie ask a silly question? If the tank is looking yellow could it have anything to do with needing to change your bulbs?

[rbursek]

One way to check is to put some tank water in a white bucket and see if it is yellow water. The carbon should have about 50-75 gph going thru the reactor.

[rbursek]

Rookiegirl,
yes a 10k MH makes the tank look more yellow then lets say a 14k or really blue 20kMH. The water though should still be clear. Lights loose there punch with time but usually do not shift spectrum in color.

[rookiegirl]

Thanks :)

[rbursek]

Your welcome!

[tmz]

I don't know where the specific flow recomendations for carbon are coming from. There are arguments that carbon does better in high flow and others that argue slower flow for enhanced absorbtion. I do both. What is the basis for a very specific rule of 50-75gal through a reactor for carbon? A good carbon at a reasonable price is lignite carbon( you can try Two Part Solutions a vendor listed in the sponsors listings).

As for the amount to use and change time,definative information is not available.The type of carbon you use,your salt mix,biolaoad,feeding,water and a number of other variables influence how much carbon to use and how often to change it.
I use 32ozs (4 cups) on a 500g system. I change it every 3weeks and clean and crunch it once a week. This practice is a bout middle of the road. Half of it is in a high flow area . The other half in a moderate to low flow area.

[fatdaddy]

Wow! I picked up a different brand of carbon from a local pet store and ran it over night. Big difference. It's completely clear now and the colors are much more vibrant.

I usually don't like to make such a big change overnight, but the tank really looks good.

[fatdaddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12314170#post12314170 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tmz
and clean and crunch it once a week.

Err, what do you mean? Do you dump it in a sieve and rinse it once a week?

What is crunching? Do you break it up to expose new surfaces?

[tmz]

I have mine in a mesh bag. I take the bag put it in a container with some tank water and massage it in my hand as I rinse it. This exposes more surfaces,beaks up any clogs and enhances the rinse.