Bacteria??

[Squibege]

What is the white/translucent haze on the bottom of my rock? It's a newer tank and I've been dosing 'SmartStart' and small amounts of vodka to get everything going. SmartStart is gone now, so just cut back on the carbon dosing and should be good?

 

[homer1475]

Hard to say from the pic, but since your carbon dosing, it's most likely a bacterial bloom.

Why are you carbon dosing a new tank? Carbon dosing is usually reserved for older tanks, and experienced refers.

 

[Squibege]

Bacteria??

Wanted to give the bacteria a good start to get the biofilter established. Don't have a skimmer online yet so bio filtration/ macro algae are my nutrient exports at the moment

(Skimmer pump broke and I'm in the process of ordering a new one)

 

[homer1475]

Nitrate, and phosphate readings? Carbon dosing only helps to reduce your nitrate and phosphates. If your tank is so new to not have these yet, then thers no need to carbon dose. Also a good skimmer is a must when carbon dosing.

 

[Squibege]

Nitrates are around 10- using the API kit and my hubby and I can never agree on what the reading is. Phosphate is between 0-0.25

 

[Squibege]

Skimmer pump will be ordered this week and hopefully online next week. I have two small Bangaii cardinals and a small purple firefish and a handful of corals so my bioload isn't super high yet

 

[homer1475]

For now, until the tank matures, I would stop carbon dosing. if your seeing bacterial blooms, your overfeeding the bacteria that probably isn't even present yet(A good skimmer will help with them)You mention the tank is new, but how new is new? In comparison, my tank is just over a year old and I didn't even have a need for carbon dosing until it was around 9 months old.

Consistent water changes and some GFO will clear up the nitrate and phosphates for now until your tank matures.

 

[Reef Frog]

If your skimmer isn't working, you should not be carbon dosing, as this is the main way to export the bacteria.

And it's not needed in a new tank that doesn't have high nutrients that need lowering, as state above.

 

[Squibege]

Okay sounds good, no more carbon dosing. Tank is about 3months old