Diatom with cloudy water that has began to turn green

[florida reef]

OK, a bit of a problem here. My tank has been set up about two months. I currently have a 55g with approx 50lbs LR, 1" SB, 4.7g HOB skimmer/refugium , FISH/inverts: 1 orange diamond goby, 1 lawnmower blenny, 3 green chromis, 1 sixline wrasse, 1 arch eye hawk fish, 1 cleaner shrimp, 15 hermits, 15 snails. Various softies and 1 sps(montipora).

So four days ago I was at my LFS and asked how I could improve my water clarity. I was given a carbonit-p and placed a nylon bag of it in my fuge. The next day I woke up and noticed what appeared to be diatoms on my sand bed, I figured the hermits would take care of them. The following day I noticed my water began looking a little cloudy and the problem persisted through yesterday. Now this morning I woke up and the water is beginning to have a green tint. I read some articles online and found out this is possibly an algae bloom or bacteria bloom.
My question is, does the increase in my overall water quality cause an outbreak of bacteria fleeing from the fuge in search of food? Any suggestion on what might be going on, I am all ears.
Thanks

[HighlandReefer]

Florida Reef,


To Reef Central


It sounds like you may have rushed things a bit in adding organisms to your tank. My guess is that you are having bacterial blooms (white) and alge blooms (green) occuring from lack of sufficient nutrient export mechanisms.

The biggest concern is these blooms can rob needed oxygen from your water column for your fish. Increasing water flow at the water surface will help.

Another concern now is your ammonia level which can be very toxic to fish.

A list of your current water parameters will help.

You can run a filter bag to help remove the bacteria and algae causing the blooms. Also you can stop feeding for three days to help and then greatly reduce the amount you feed after that.

[florida reef]

highland reefer,

My current water perameters are as follows:
PH: 8.2
Alk: 9
Nitrate: 2-5
Ca: 400-450(currently dosing to elevate)
Magnesium: 1050(also dosing to elevate)
Phosphate: <.05
Salinity: Last time I checked was 1.021

So, how do I get rid of this algae/bacteria bloom? I have read some things that say don't turn on the lights for 3 days(which I am currently doing in my fuge). Also, some have suggested a UV sterilizer. Would a massive water change help?

[florida reef]

Possible cause...I have had my fuge lights off for 2 days to help reduce some microalgae in the refugium...that mixed with the new carbonit-p possibly shocking the chaeto thus causing the chaeto to attempt to reproduce?

[HighlandReefer]

With coral in your tank, you will need to get your salinity slowly up to 1.024 - 1.027. I keep my tank close to that of the ocean where most coral come from, around 1.0264. You don't want to raise your salinity by more than 0.002 per day. The best way to elevate the salinity would be to use salt mix for your water top-off.

The bloom should stop once the elevated nutrients are gone. Using a filter bag will help remove the bacteria and algae fairly quickly. Water changes may help some.

I would buy an ammonia kit or take a sample to your LFS to have them check for this.

I would invest in a GFO reactor to keep your phosphate level below 0.03.

[HighlandReefer]

In most cases these blooms are due to overfeeding. I would stop feeding for three days until the blooms stop.