Aquarium cloudy after Na3PO4

[Katze]

Hello everyone,

I have a 1.5 month old ~100g tank with one cute tang.
Now, NO3 climbed to a good 10ppm state, while PO4 dematerialised to <0.01 from 0.05
It's the 1st week that corals are in such low nutrient conditions so I went ahead and dosed 12mls of Na3PO4 which should now make it 0.04 or so.
An hour after dosing the water turned cloudy.
Here are the details:
Chemical filtration: -carbon
kH: 9.6
NO3: <10
PO4: <0.01 (was measured 20 mins before dosing)
Salinity is 1.025

-no rocks or sand only a refugium
I am thinking that it may be a bacterial bloom which will hopefuly resolve itself thanks to the skimmer.
Any other theories ? Should I take action?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It’s either unrelated to the dosing, or phosphate was so low that the growth of bacteria was limited by it, and you suddenly lifted that limitation.

 

[Katze]

It’s either unrelated to the dosing, or phosphate was so low that the growth of bacteria was limited by it, and you suddenly lifted that limitation.

Good to know. Will this hurt corals if proceeds for +3 days ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Good to know. Will this hurt corals if proceeds for +3 days ?

No. If it is bacteria, they may like to eat it.

 

[Katze]

No. If it is bacteria, they may like to eat it.

The water is even cloudier today.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The water is even cloudier today.

I’d just wait it out, unless it goes on so long that it’s an aesthetic problem.

 

[Katze]

I’d just wait it out, unless it goes on so long that it’s an aesthetic problem.

The blooming still did not dampen, so tonight I checked with white light that whether or not it's truly bacteria.
The water is green under white light, under blue light the water is white. This leads me to believe that the bloom is actually phytoplankton ! This is mostly negative from the perspective that I simply don't have enough corals to eat that much, and the planktons (if my idea is actually true) suck every tiny bit of nutrient out of the water thus making zoas and an acan suffer.
-Today I tested PO4 it is 0 on Hanna ULR, I added Na3PO3 yet again since the mentioned corals were already starving.

 

[Katze]

-Skimmer and filter sock, neither of them take it out ( the filter sock is 200nm )

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I've never paid much attention to resolving phyto blooms so I'd search on that topic. I's a fairly uncommon problem.

 

[taricha]

If it's green water and it won't skim, filter or subside in a few days, most people use UV to knock it out.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You reported a bacteria bloom only on Wednesday, it takes about a week to week and a half to clear, just let it be. I would not add anything to the tank, especially nutrients since it feed the bacteria more. Don't do water change that will prolong the bacteria.

If you have a skimmer, almost impossible to turn the tank green with phyto

The tank is simply too new, only 6 weeks old, its an imballance of bacteria to nutrients that is causing this. Have you considered that corals not doing well simply cause the tank is not ready for them?

I would suggest not to worry about the corals for now, stop dosing stuff into your tank, just let your tank marinate and mature for a while.

 

[Katze]

I got a picture too. It is definetely phyto...

The skimmer does nothing, and mind you it is tuned properly.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

yes, that is definitely a strong phyto bloom. lol

 

[Katze]

yes, that is definitely a strong phyto bloom. lol

I have a canister filter, perhaps if I fill it with fine filterfloss I could get them out.
And maybe I could sell/use them in other tanks as a food source. I really don't like the idea of UV-C.
Next day I'll get my canister filter started, for now there is nothing better to be done.

 

[Katze]

yes, that is definitely a strong phyto bloom. lol

I bought some medical cotton paper can it be used for filtration ? I mean is it reef safe? It doesn't seem to fall apart when contacts with water, keeps itself together. As I mentioned, it is medical grade...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I bought some medical cotton paper can it be used for filtration ? I mean is it reef safe? It doesn't seem to fall apart when contacts with water, keeps itself together. As I mentioned, it is medical grade...

Not sure what all in it, but it is likely OK. Not sure how easily it will filter a whole tank, however.

 

[Katze]

Not sure what all in it, but it is likely OK. Not sure how easily it will filter a whole tank, however.

I'll use a plastic bottle attached to the pipe where the water comes into the sump. In the bottle I'd place the mentioned filter wool and sponge(s) to remove larger matters. I have 500 grams of this thing, it should last for awhile. I could also put this "paper" directly into the filtersock but then I'd say that it catches everything else aswell, thus using more of the "paper".
I'll have a try with the last concept - Since it is easier to do for now.