So not only do I have a few marine tanks, but I also have a freshwater tank that is housing an albino tiger oscar. And of course he has grown too big for his current tank so I called up my lfs and he sold me this 65 gallon tank for 40 bux. Apparently it was used a a sump for a skimmer. No big deal, I bought it, took it home, built a stand, inspected the seams, all good. Last night I filled it up with tap water to ensure no leaks. This morning it all looked good. Today I wanted to get the cleaning process started. I through a wave maker in the tank and added about a cup and a half of bleach to it to kill anything in the tank as I usually do, let it go for a few days, drain it, scrub it, then do it again with white vinegar, rinse drain, rinse, dry then good to go. But after about 45 minutes of adding the bleach, it turned this nasty yellow green? Can someone explain what this is? Of all the tanks I have cleaned this way, I have never had the water turn this color before. Is it decaying organics from the previous use? just a little confused. attached a pic before and after.
Never seen this when cleaning a tank...?
- Thread starter Cjud7982
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Brew12
Electrical Gru
Yup. It is likely the crud that it has cleaned up.So not only do I have a few marine tanks, but I also have a freshwater tank that is housing an albino tiger oscar. And of course he has grown too big for his current tank so I called up my lfs and he sold me this 65 gallon tank for 40 bux. Apparently it was used a a sump for a skimmer. No big deal, I bought it, took it home, built a stand, inspected the seams, all good. Last night I filled it up with tap water to ensure no leaks. This morning it all looked good. Today I wanted to get the cleaning process started. I through a wave maker in the tank and added about a cup and a half of bleach to it to kill anything in the tank as I usually do, let it go for a few days, drain it, scrub it, then do it again with white vinegar, rinse drain, rinse, dry then good to go. But after about 45 minutes of adding the bleach, it turned this nasty yellow green? Can someone explain what this is? Of all the tanks I have cleaned this way, I have never had the water turn this color before. Is it decaying organics from the previous use? just a little confused. attached a pic before and after.
If the water doesn't still have a strong bleach smell after about 6 hours like this I would drain it and run your bleach cycle again.
Cjud7982
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2017
- Messages
- 396
- Reaction score
- 297
ok cool, that is what I was thinking as well. I did not know if it was the iron in my hard tap water reacting with the bleach. Ill drain the tank tonight and refill it with another batch until I stop getting the green water. thanks 
