Bacterial Bloom problem, please help!

[Blackcoupe369]

Water has become cloudy for about a week now. I first dosed some clarity which seemed to minimally help with no avail. I then purchased a “green killing machine” UV Sterilizer which has been running continuously day and night for over 48 hours… little to no signs of improvement. From others experiences I have read it should have cleared up by now. Do I simply give it more time? What do I need to do moving forward? Thanks

 

[StatelineReefer]

Are you sure it's a bacterial bloom? Many things can cause cloudy and unsightly water.

Do you have any livestock currently in the tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Water has become cloudy for about a week now. I first dosed some clarity which seemed to minimally help with no avail. I then purchased a “green killing machine” UV Sterilizer which has been running continuously day and night for over 48 hours… little to no signs of improvement. From others experiences I have read it should have cleared up by now. Do I simply give it more time? What do I need to do moving forward? Thanks

Im not keen on green machine unless in a nano tank. Pictures would be helpful in determining type of bloom. At times, adding chemicals and especially NoPox will make matters worse as once binded , the source has no where to go which is the job of the filter.
What filters are you running ?
When a sudden increase in the number of bacterial colonies generates and becomes suspended in the water column, it grows so quickly that it becomes more visible causing the water to become milky and hazy in appearance due to an increase in the nutrients in the water especially nitrates and phosphates.

 

[Blackcoupe369]

Are you sure it's a bacterial bloom? Many things can cause cloudy and unsightly water.

Do you have any livestock currently in the

Im not keen on green machine unless in a nano tank. Pictures would be helpful in determining type of bloom. At times, adding chemicals and especially NoPox will make matters worse as once binded , the source has no where to go which is the job of the filter.
What filters are you running ?
When a sudden increase in the number of bacterial colonies generates and becomes suspended in the water column, it grows so quickly that it becomes more visible causing the water to become milky and hazy in appearance due to an increase in the nutrients in the water especially nitrates and phosphates.

I am using a tidal 75 filter… this is my new 30 gallon tank. The UV Sterilizer is good for up to 50 gallons, which should be plenty effective.

 

[Blackcoupe369]

Are you sure it's a bacterial bloom? Many things can cause cloudy and unsightly water.

Do you have any livestock currently in the tank?

2 clownfish and a mandarin

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am using a tidal 75 filter… this is my new 30 gallon tank. The UV Sterilizer is good for up to 50 gallons, which should be plenty effective.

problem is the UV unit itself does not have a long surface area and would take days to address spores suspended in tank.

 

[StatelineReefer]

It may seem counterintuitive, but add a few drops (1-3 ml) of carbon dosing. Vodka or White Vinegar. This will cause the bloom to intensify, then typically flocculate.

 

[Blackcoupe369]

problem is the UV unit itself does not have a long surface area and would take days to address spores suspended in tank.

Right. I noticed the UV Sterilizer has very poor water flow and was concerned. I then reviewed the manual and noticed it mentioned that what seems to be abnormally slow water flow is intended to assure that the water entering the lighting chamber has enough time to be sterilized. However, it’s been 48 hours and the internal GPH is 37. Is this normal? Should I just be giving it more time?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Right. I noticed the UV Sterilizer has very poor water flow and was concerned. I then reviewed the manual and noticed it mentioned that what seems to be abnormally slow water flow is intended to assure that the water entering the lighting chamber has enough time to be sterilized. However, it’s been 48 hours and the internal GPH is 37. Is this normal? Should I just be giving it more time?

Thats extremely slow- while slow is good for effective UV exposure, to slow offers no advantage

 

[StatelineReefer]

Right. I noticed the UV Sterilizer has very poor water flow and was concerned. I then reviewed the manual and noticed it mentioned that what seems to be abnormally slow water flow is intended to assure that the water entering the lighting chamber has enough time to be sterilized. However, it’s been 48 hours and the internal GPH is 37. Is this normal? Should I just be giving it more time?

Thats about typical for a GKM... Slow flow to maximize UV contact time.

 

[Blackcoupe369]

Thats extremely slow- while slow is good for effective UV exposure, to slow offers no advantage

No advantage as in having crystal clear water within hours as opposed to it slowly sterilizing and taking days?

 

[Blackcoupe369]

Thats about typical for a GKM... Slow flow to maximize UV contact time.

Correct

 

[bushdoc]

Clean HOB filter, it might be accumulating nutrients.
You might need to upgrade your UV sterilizer, heterotrophic bacteria are multiplying very fast( every 20 min or so), so I would recommend sterilizer with a flow at least 100 GPH.
Heterotrophic bacteria are multiplying in your tank faster then current UV sterilizer can kill them.

 

[Blackcoupe369]

Clean HOB filter, it might be accumulating nutrients.
You might need to upgrade your UV sterilizer, heterotrophic bacteria are multiplying very fast( every 20 min or so), so I would recommend sterilizer with a flow at least 100 GPH.
Heterotrophic bacteria are multiplying in your tank faster than current UV sterilizer can kill them.

Will not cleaning my filter terminate any beneficial bacteria?

 

[bushdoc]

Will not cleaning my filter terminate any beneficial bacteria?

Just rinse media in saltwater, not freshwater, to get rid of detritus, which might be decomposing. Filters need cleaning every now and then.

 

[vetteguy53081]

No advantage as in having crystal clear water within hours as opposed to it slowly sterilizing and taking days?

Sterilizing. First sign if unit is effective would/should be water clarity