13g tank

[Trenton0115]

I have a 13g fluval flex I am currently on week 3 of cycling.. first 2 weeks were great, started getting diatoms and so on.. Week 3 though the water is so cloudy with a greenish tint & you can barely even see the live rock inside. I’ve been reading about what to do, and I’m not sure if it’s an algae bloom or bacterial bloom?? Do I do a water change or let it run its course? I rinsed out the filter media, do I need to change it? Also do I need to post my parameters?

 

[Trenton0115]

I have a 13g fluval flex I am currently on week 3 of cycling.. first 2 weeks were great, started getting diatoms and so on.. Week 3 though the water is so cloudy with a greenish tint & you can barely even see the live rock inside. I’ve been reading about what to do, and I’m not sure if it’s an algae bloom or bacterial bloom?? Do I do a water change or let it run its course? I rinsed out the filter media, do I need to change it? Also do I need to post my parameters?

here is a picture

 

[Pistondog]

Id guess algae, cause green, and not be overly concerned about it.

 

[Subsea]

I have diatoms in my 25 year mature tank and I consider them a healthy bioindicator.

white cloudy water is normally a bacteria bloom, green water is an algae bloom / phytoplankton.

At three months, I would do little aside from 10% partial water change. Consider adding more circulation or an air stone. What livestock is in this tank?

Granulated activated carbon or protein skimming would assist with bacteria bloom. UV would assist with green water.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Have you added anything to the water to make it green? Personally I would turn off the lights for now while the tank cycles.

 

[Trenton0115]

Have you added anything to the water to make it green? Personally I would turn off the lights for now while the tank cycles.

I haven’t added anything. Only Seachem prime & stability at start up!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would just turn off the lights for a bit until it clears. If you have any way to run activated carbon, that will help pull the impurities out of the water.

 

[Trenton0115]

I have diatoms in my 25 year mature tank and I consider them a healthy bioindicator.

white cloudy water is normally a bacteria bloom, green water is an algae bloom / phytoplankton.

At three months, I would do little aside from 10% partial water change. Consider adding more circulation or an air stone. What livestock is in this tank?

Granulated activated carbon would assist with bacteria bloom. UV would assist with green water.

I have diatoms in my 25 year mature tank and I consider them a healthy bioindicator.

white cloudy water is normally a bacteria bloom, green water is an algae bloom / phytoplankton.

At three months, I would do little aside from 10% partial water change. Consider adding more circulation or an air stone. What livestock is in this tank?

Granulated activated carbon or protein skimming would assist with bacteria bloom. UV would assist with green water.

I will definitely try more circulatuon. There is currently nothing in the tank as I was a little scared to add anything only 2-3weeks in!! I have a media bag with activated carbon running now!

 

[Subsea]

I will definitely try more circulatuon. There is currently nothing in the tank as I was a little scared to add anything only 2-3weeks in!! I have a media bag with activated carbon running now!

“you can barely even see the live rock inside“

Please detail your startup. Also detail how you seeded nitrification bacteria. Detail live rock source.

I use uncured diver collected live rock when starting a tank.

Gulf Live Rock.com

gulfliverock.com

Gulf Live Rock.com

gulfliverock.com

 

[Trenton0115]

“you can barely even see the live rock inside“

Please detail your startup. Also detail how you seeded nitrification bacteria. Detail live rock source.

I use uncured diver collected live rock when starting a tank.

Gulf Live Rock.com

gulfliverock.com

Gulf Live Rock.com

gulfliverock.com

I used a box of caribsea life rock(had it in a different tank that I broke down) , and used all new sand. I made sure to rinse sand in r/o water really well before adding.. I used seachem prime and stability and followed new tank directions on the bottle

 

[Subsea]

I used a box of caribsea life rock(had it in a different tank that I broke down) , and used all new sand. I made sure to rinse sand in r/o water really well before adding.. I used seachem prime and stability and followed new tank directions on the bottle

For whatever reason, the bacteria density is insufficient and micro algae density have gained the advantage and tinted the water green. Green water needs light and bacteria doesn’t.

Two post have already suggested turning off the lighting. Make that three post that suggested turning off the light.

 

[Trenton0115]

For whatever reason, the bacteria density is insufficient and micro algae density have gained the advantage and tinted the water green. Green water needs light and bacteria doesn’t.

Two post have already suggested turning off the lighting. Make that three post that suggested turning off the light.

Consider it done!! Should I wait a little bit before changing the water?

 

[Subsea]

@Trenton0115
I am not familiar with the media that you are using.

Granulated activated carbon will absorb impurities in the water which are fueling phyto growth.

Protein skimming will remove phyto from water column.

For your size tank a 10% water change weekly is a good routine. Yes, I would replace carbon media which should polish water.