Bacterial Bloom

cheeseboy · 03/20/2007, 07:46 PM

Hi, I have some bacterial bloom in my 10g frag tank and I can not figure out why. I have a Remora for a skimmer and I am running carbon. My phosphates are 0 and my nitrates are 0. I have done several large water changes and the bacteria just comes back and never goes away. I also tested my water change water and that also has 0 phosphates and 0 nitrates. I feed my frags nothing and the only corals in the tank are some small zoa rocks. For a filter, I have a homemade one made out of a Tupperware container, bio-balls and a maxi jet. I can't figure out what is causing the bloom. I'm thinking of just giving in and adding a UV sterilizer if I can't figure it out. Anyone have any ideas that would solve the problem?

kool-cat · 03/20/2007, 07:54 PM

Is it cynobacteria, red slime?

cheeseboy · 03/21/2007, 11:57 AM

No, it's cloudy white water. Bacterial Bloom. I am also sure nothing is spawning in my tank.

jimwat · 03/21/2007, 12:16 PM

Whenever my tank has gone snowy it has either been an "event" or I over-dosed the tank and caused the calcium to precipitate out. In both cases the tank was clear in 24 hours. Have you noticed if your skimmer is pulling out more stuff? Have you considered running the Remora "wet" for a while to help clear it up?

michaeldaly · 03/21/2007, 01:07 PM

I dose sugar in my tank to cause bacteria to grow, and don't get cloudy water.

Are you sure sand or detritus is not being stirred up.

BTW you don't need that filter if you have a skimmer and live rock.

Sepeku · 03/21/2007, 01:16 PM

yah, "whiteness" tends to clear out on its own.

Things that help are putting in a mesh filter and running carbon...

03/20/2007, 07:46 PM	#1
cheeseboy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 12	Bacterial Bloom Hi, I have some bacterial bloom in my 10g frag tank and I can not figure out why. I have a Remora for a skimmer and I am running carbon. My phosphates are 0 and my nitrates are 0. I have done several large water changes and the bacteria just comes back and never goes away. I also tested my water change water and that also has 0 phosphates and 0 nitrates. I feed my frags nothing and the only corals in the tank are some small zoa rocks. For a filter, I have a homemade one made out of a Tupperware container, bio-balls and a maxi jet. I can't figure out what is causing the bloom. I'm thinking of just giving in and adding a UV sterilizer if I can't figure it out. Anyone have any ideas that would solve the problem?

03/21/2007, 12:16 PM	#4
jimwat Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,270	Whenever my tank has gone snowy it has either been an "event" or I over-dosed the tank and caused the calcium to precipitate out. In both cases the tank was clear in 24 hours. Have you noticed if your skimmer is pulling out more stuff? Have you considered running the Remora "wet" for a while to help clear it up? __________________ "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day and drink beer." Current Tank Info: 65 gal with 192w PC 10k, 192w VHO actinic, Blue-Moon LED, Tunze 6060 on WavySea, AquaController 3. 20gal sump, Natureef CDECX-1, Phosban Reactor, Remora, Kalk Drip, Ozone.

03/20/2007, 07:54 PM	#2
kool-cat Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New York City, Queens Posts: 92	Is it cynobacteria, red slime?

03/21/2007, 11:57 AM	#3
cheeseboy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 12	No, it's cloudy white water. Bacterial Bloom. I am also sure nothing is spawning in my tank.

03/21/2007, 01:07 PM	#5
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	I dose sugar in my tank to cause bacteria to grow, and don't get cloudy water. Are you sure sand or detritus is not being stirred up. BTW you don't need that filter if you have a skimmer and live rock.

03/21/2007, 01:16 PM	#6
Sepeku Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 356	yah, "whiteness" tends to clear out on its own. Things that help are putting in a mesh filter and running carbon...