Water change..Did I wait to long??

[gordruls]

I just did my first water change on my 150 gal tank the water I removed had a Yellow tint to it ...Is this normal?? or did I wait to long. I had a few things die in the last 2 weeks

 

[danedodger]

It shouldn't really be yellowish. Did you use a gravel vac and maybe suck up some icky stuff from the bottom that could be coloring the water? Was there any strong smell, especially an ammonia smell? What do your tests show?

 

[celacanthr]

I get that yellowish tint also, but I also don't have skimmer, so that may cause it, do you have one?

 

[gordruls]

I have a skimmer but it dosn't work well and my tests are perfect! BUT I lost some fish and coral in the last 2 weeks. I didn't stir anything up but when I put the water in a clean white 5 gal pail it was yellow. then I did a water change the same way in my 46gal and that water was clear. I changed out about 50 gal of a 150 tank plus sump..

 

[danedodger]

As long as your tests are ok it may just be excess nutrients in the water. It'll fuel algae growth but isn't really harmful otherwise as far as I know.