Bacteria Bloom
- Thread starter Jag1980
- Start date
I'd been looking into that just today. Seems that it's caused by excess nutrients in the water, often in combination with too long a photoperiod. It's an algae bloom.. could also come from adding a nutrient rich substrate or if there's a lot of decayed plants (which yours obviously aren't). Maybe check your dosing to see if it's a little high in phosphates. You mostly have to wait it out and cut back on dosing/feeding until it clears up on it's own. Water changes won't help.. the replacement water just introduces more algae spores that go nuts for the nutrient rich conditions already present. Watch to see if your fish react by gasping or hanging out at the surface. If it stays cloudy for a long time or gets thicker, an algae bloom can deplete the oxygen real fast. Since that's a planted tank with CO2 going, you're probably not adding a lot of oxygen as it is.
It's not a algae bloom, it's a Bacteria bloom.
First time it happen was when I started doing the EI schedule and dosing Iron the same day as my Macros.
My phosphates are around 1.0
First time it happen was when I started doing the EI schedule and dosing Iron the same day as my Macros.
My phosphates are around 1.0
Bacterial blooms are the start of green water algae blooms generally. Time and diligence is one of the few things that work well. You can also try to use a diatom filter to try and clear the water.
Easiest way to check if its green water or an algae bloom is to get a cupful of tank water in a white cup and judge the color from there.
Easiest way to check if its green water or an algae bloom is to get a cupful of tank water in a white cup and judge the color from there.
It's not clearing up
I can't lower my lighting because the bulbs don't have a dimmer switch.
I need to keep my Co2 and Ferts going.
What else can I try besides spending allot of money on some expensive specialty filter..
My new canister filter is coming in the mail today and I don't want to gunk up the new pads, but I want to hurry up and install my new filter.
Should I try some Seachem Clarity?
After I remove my old filter, do you think I will have a lacking in bacteria and have issues with cloudy water again if I got my water to clear up?
I can't lower my lighting because the bulbs don't have a dimmer switch.
I need to keep my Co2 and Ferts going.
What else can I try besides spending allot of money on some expensive specialty filter..
My new canister filter is coming in the mail today and I don't want to gunk up the new pads, but I want to hurry up and install my new filter.
Should I try some Seachem Clarity?
After I remove my old filter, do you think I will have a lacking in bacteria and have issues with cloudy water again if I got my water to clear up?
How long of a photoperiod are you running? I have seen recently that 7 to 8 hours is the max recommended to help avoid algae blooms. If your goal was to dim the light, you might could try a cheap window tint kit from an autoparts or box store on the glass tops (temporarily). No idea how effective that would be though.
looks like the onset of green water, whatever you do, DO NOT turn on your lights. It will only get worse, trust me. I've been down this road 3 times already. try doing a blackout and it should go away.