Bacterial Bloom help

Duberz · May 3, 2020

I'm battling a bacterial bloom. My tank is two months old. It was started with Marco dry rock and brightwell bacteria. The water was crystal clear for about a month or so. I bought a cheap uv sterilizer and the tank was clear after 2 days. I took the uv out and tank was cloudy again in two days. I can put it back in and same thing happens. I have been dosing microbacter 7 on the advice from my lfs. Any ideas other than wait it out?

Scorpius · May 3, 2020

Keep running your uv. I had a bacterial bloom that lasted months. I run uv all the time now.

Duberz · May 3, 2020

Yeah but the one I got sits in the tank and it’s an eye sore. Really wish I could pinpoint the problem. I may get one that is in-line and can keep in the sump area.

Dan_P · May 3, 2020

Duberz said:
I'm battling a bacterial bloom. My tank is two months old. It was started with Marco dry rock and brightwell bacteria. The water was crystal clear for about a month or so. I bought a cheap uv sterilizer and the tank was clear after 2 days. I took the uv out and tank was cloudy again in two days. I can put it back in and same thing happens. I have been dosing microbacter 7 on the advice from my lfs. Any ideas other than wait it out?

Why are you dosing Microbacter 7?

What else are you adding to the tank?

Duberz · May 3, 2020

Nothing other than microbacter. Lfs (wwc) told me to dose it for my bloom.

Dan_P · May 3, 2020

Duberz said:
Nothing other than microbacter. Lfs (wwc) told me to dose it for my bloom.

The reason I ask is there must be something feeding the bacteria. I don’t know anything about Microbacter 7, but I assume the LFS person thought adding more bacteria would get rid of the existing bacteria. I know, hard to follow the logic.

The other thought is that there must be a huge population of protozoa feasting on the bacteria, possibly adding to the turbidity of the water.

is there a possibilityof something in the system feeding the bacteria? Nitrate and ohosphate would not have to be super high fir a bloom, but organic matter could certainly encourage a large bacteria population.

Duberz · May 4, 2020

Nitrates are barely detectable and phosphates are .01. I’m lost as to what’s feeding it. I’m doing 10% wc weekly with 0tds. I feed sparingly and dose nothing.

Duberz · May 4, 2020

Come to think of it I did have two fish disappear never to be seen again. Could a dead fish under a rock feed a bloom? I’ve got a good cleanup crew though.