Bacterial Bloom

[Tradewinds]

There is no lack of interesting opportunities in this hobby.

I appear to have a bacterial bloom in my 180. I recently started running Bio-pellets, but am not sure if this contributed to the problem.

I have done three 50 gallon water changes and vacuumed the sump, but the cloudiness remains.

What are everyone's thoughts on running UV sterilizers?

 

[makeshift101]

Run carbon to get rid of the cloudiness?

I read you can get blooms when introducing bio-pellets, did you introducing them slowly?

 

[Aqua Man 07]

It's pretty common for bio pellets to do that. It will clear up in a couple days.

 

[mpgrant77]

What kind of biopellet reactor are you running? Recirculating or not? Are you dosing vinegar or vodka? I started up a bio-pellet reactor a little while back. Took my nitrates from 12 to 0 in 2 weeks without a water change. It wasn't a recirculating reactor so I had to turn it into one. System needs a little nitrate to be healthy. I almost crashed my tank. Run your protein skimmer wet and it should start to clear up.

 

[iluvmyfishes]

I had greenish water so I used my UV and it cleared it up. I run it all the time now.

 

[Tradewinds]

Thanks for all the great information!

Run carbon to get rid of the cloudiness?

I read you can get blooms when introducing bio-pellets, did you introducing them slowly?

I do run carbon but it hasn't helped. I may have added it too quickly. What is the suggestion rate of introduction?

It's pretty common for bio pellets to do that. It will clear up in a couple days.

It's been two weeks.

What kind of biopellet reactor are you running? Recirculating or not? Are you dosing vinegar or vodka? I started up a bio-pellet reactor a little while back. Took my nitrates from 12 to 0 in 2 weeks without a water change. It wasn't a recirculating reactor so I had to turn it into one. System needs a little nitrate to be healthy. I almost crashed my tank. Run your protein skimmer wet and it should start to clear up.

I am running a skimz recirculating reactor. I am thinking about taking the reactor off-line and start dosing vinegar and vodka.

I had greenish water so I used my UV and it cleared it up. I run it all the time now.

Is there any negative to running UV all the time?

 

[mpgrant77]

I personally am not a fan of UV steralizers but I have read posts that say they cleared up their cloudy water. With your bio pellet reactor how much flow do you have returning to the aquarium. Mine is a very small flow almost a trickle of water basically going back to the system. I seen posts that use Dr Tim's waste away clears the aquarium. Using bacteria to control bacteria. I don't know if carbon dosing with vinegar or vodka would have any affect. Since you are basically feeding the bacteria. Although good bacteria out competing the bacteria bloom could be why Dr. Tim's works. Have you checked your levels. PH, NH4,NO2,Alk? Increased bacteria production can mess with your system. Just curious if there is something else going on. Never hurts to have a larger picture.

 

[Tradewinds]

I personally am not a fan of UV steralizers but I have read posts that say they cleared up their cloudy water. With your bio pellet reactor how much flow do you have returning to the aquarium. Mine is a very small flow almost a trickle of water basically going back to the system. I seen posts that use Dr Tim's waste away clears the aquarium. Using bacteria to control bacteria. I don't know if carbon dosing with vinegar or vodka would have any affect. Since you are basically feeding the bacteria. Although good bacteria out competing the bacteria bloom could be why Dr. Tim's works. Have you checked your levels. PH, NH4,NO2,Alk? Increased bacteria production can mess with your system. Just curious if there is something else going on. Never hurts to have a larger picture.

Thanks for the insight.

The tank's phosphate levels were high in my view, at .17 which is why the bio-pellet reactor was introduced. I have quite a bit of flow exiting the reactor and it is directed towards the input of the skimmer. If the flow is reduced the pellets tend to clump together.

PH is a little low, but stays around 8.25.

KH was on the low side at 6.27, but has been brought up to 8.11

NH3/4 is 0, NO2 is 0, and NO3 is 0.

One other thing of possible interest is that I have noticed a thin coat of brown film on equipment in the sump. More of the same in the skimmer cup, but much denser. The diamond Goby is going to the surface and looks to be gluping air. The other fish look okay. My feather duster and ORA Grube's Gorgonian are closed.

I picked up a 13 watt all-in-one submersible UV system from Ponds Plus at lunch and have it running. I also added an air stone to the tank in case oxygen levels are low.

 

[babybull]

Cloudy water

Cloudy water

It's pretty common for bio pellets to do that. It will clear up in a couple days.

I always start with about half the recommended amount for a couple weeks then add more

 

[Aqua Man 07]

Bio pellets have little effect on phosphate they are me for nitrate. I put a slightly oversized algae scrubber on my tank and phos was at 0 with no gfo in a little over a month. When I started my bio pellets I started with 1/4 of the recommended amount and increased it by a 1/4 every 2 weeks

 

[Aqua Man 07]

I did find out that mixing brs pellets and nps pellets creates a funky orange slime lol.

 

[Tradewinds]

Bio pellets have little effect on phosphate they are me for nitrate. I put a slightly oversized algae scrubber on my tank and phos was at 0 with no gfo in a little over a month. When I started my bio pellets I started with 1/4 of the recommended amount and increased it by a 1/4 every 2 weeks

An algae scrubber sounds great, but I don't have room in the sump.

I did find out that mixing brs pellets and nps pellets creates a funky orange slime lol.

I wonder if the same think is happening as I am running GFO and bio-pellets on the same tank, however they are in different reactors.

 

[Aqua Man 07]

could be. they do offer external scrubbers but they are not cheap. santa monica makes a scrubber that takes up verry litte room and looks like it works fairly well.

 

[Tradewinds]

could be. they do offer external scrubbers but they are not cheap. santa monica makes a scrubber that takes up verry litte room and looks like it works fairly well.

I'll check out the santa monica scrubber thanks for the info.

The UV kicked butt, the water is crystal clear now.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I had issues with water blooms for months after setting up last June. I finally gave in a got a UV from ponds plus back December last year, a 25w danner. Water has stayed clear since.

 

[Pife]

I would dose lanthum chloride to lower your po4s.

 

[Aqua Man 07]

I would dose lanthum chloride to lower your po4s.

ah yes i tottaly forgot about this option

 

[Tradewinds]

I had issues with water blooms for months after setting up last June. I finally gave in a got a UV from ponds plus back December last year, a 25w danner. Water has stayed clear since.

Have you noticed any negatives to continually running UV?

I would dose lanthum chloride to lower your po4s.

Would this be a good long term solution?

 

[Scubareefman]

So a bit of green in the water is bad? If I fill up a bucket my waters a hint green, I figured that's a good sign my system in healthy. My DT is clear as a bell, but in the bright white bucket its a little greenish.

ok, not trying to derail,

 

[Flippers4pups]

"Have you noticed any negatives to continually running UV?"


No I haven't. The only thing I'm remotely concerned about is calcium build up on the crystal sleeve. I'm trying to keep my alk, calcium and magnesium high range and have seen some elevated precipitation on heaters, pumps, etc....