Yellow water

[danettem]

I have removed the carbon from my 55 gallon for ich treatment, and my water has turned a terrifying yellow color. My nitrites are zero, my PH is 8.2, my ammonia is .25, and my nitrates are 40 (they have always been high in this tank) Any ideas?

[MonoSebaelover]

What did you treat with? I would do a water change to get ammonia to 0. This is more than likely causing the stress. Also what fish are in the tank and how long has it been set up? It is never advised to treat your display tank as the medications attach to the substrate, the rock work, the walls of the tank and will never be able to house inverts. Anyway, give us some more info and we should be able to help better.

[danettem]

The tank has been up for several years, but we inherited it about 2 months ago, it has a yellow tang, a dog faced puffer, a porcupine puffer, 2 clowns and a cleaner wrasse. We have been doing weekly 25% water changes and have never been able to get the ammonia to drop. We have also tried the ammonia deactivator stuff our fish store recommended. We are treating in the tank, with kick-ich, as we don't have a hospital tank. If the ammonia is the problem, what is the best way for me to finally get rid of it?

[seahorse]

I'm a newbie, so I might not know that much. What size tank is it? Maybe there's too many fish for the tank size.

[seahorse]

I'm sorry. You said 55g. Maybe it's not too many fish but the size of them.

[MonoSebaelover]

That is too many big fish for that size tank. I would get rid of either or both of the puffers if you don't plan on upgrading extremely soon (ie next 3 months) to at least a 125g. Both those fish get 12 inches long. Plus you have a lot of ich magnets in there with the Tang and the 2 Puffers, so if it were my tank I would get rid of these three and stock with smaller Basslet/Goby/Blenny type fish. Lessening the bioload will be the only way to get rid of ammonia in this case. Anyway, hope this helps and good luck.

[mogurnda]

With regard to the ammonia, are you sure that's a real reading. Many kits (like Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) give readings that look a bit like 0.25 when there's really none there.

Try a different kit, or test freshly mixed saltwater.

[danettem]

I'm sorry, we actually have a 75 gallon. We are quite attached to the puffers, what size tank would be appropriate for just them? We have resigned ourselves to the fact we will need to get another tank, after figuring out the eventual size of our puffers.

[slipknottin]

Carbon gets rid of the yellow, as will any plants or algae, and protein skimmers.

[danettem]

Fresh tap water tests zero on our ammonia test, but as soon as we add Instant Ocean, it tests at .25-.50. We will get a different ammonia test than the American Pharmaceuticals kit we now have. Thank you all.

[MonoSebaelover]

Absolute minimum size tank for either puffer is a 125 as listed before. For both it will be a 150g and remember this is minimum not ideal. I would suggest a 200 for the puffs but that's just me.