Bacteria Bloom

Yam · Jul 3, 2017

Got a bacteria bloom for ~ 1week now (cloudy water/white film on glass). System is ~3years old. Started when cleaning small ~3"x3" portion of the sandbed and increasing the the vinegar from 30 to 35mL/day in a 115G total water system. I've since backed the vinegar back down to 30mL/day but the bloom persists.

Prior to this, I've been wanting to start prodibio to better control my algae/nutrients. Should I wait for the bloom to clear up or go ahead with the Prodibio dosing?

Thanks.

GoVols · Jul 3, 2017

JMO...
But I'd stop all carbon dosing until it clears up. Carbon dosing will just keep fueling the bloom.
If your using TM bio-actif or AF Pro Bio salt mixes, then I'd stop and use a straight up mix until it clears too.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 4, 2017

The bloom isn't hurting anything. It just isn't attractive. I might just wait it out.

Which Prodibio product do you want to dose?

Yam · Jul 4, 2017

Want to dose biodigest and may get an Aqua UV 25W for future blooms.

Self-induced issue where tank was neglected for ~1 year. Been extra religious with tank maintenance since November '16. 1.5 gal daily autowater change (IO) and manual removal of algae at least weekly. The pink/red cotton candy algae is the toughest to clear out. Currently have red turf algae(?) or its same cotton candy algae that is slowly dying off. None longer than 1mm. Use a toothbrush and siphon to clear out now. Finally getting to the point were algae is not growing back on some of the rocks after a toothbrush scrub. I think my sandbed (~1.5-2") is still heavily loaded with nutrients though and will continue vac small patches at a time.

Phosphates between 0-0.07 (Hannah ULR) and Nitrates always zero (Salifert) for months now, yet algae still growing. If I put a new rock in, I don't get algae growth on it so assume nutrients are slowly leaching out of the rock & sand. No SPS loss, decent growth but colors are a slightly faded and lighter than they should be.

Running 5 tbsp of GFO in reactor (replace when effluent PO4 measurement from reactor is the same as tank and >0 for 3 days), carbon in a bag, vinegar, Vertex 150 skimmer. 8x39 T5, Ca/Alk via Kalkreactor and dosing Randy's 2 part to make up the gap. Bolus dose Mg as needed.