Cloudy water after cycle

[GOSKN5]

So my tank cycled in about 5 weeks. I added Dr Tims and used ammonia. Had a long battle with high nitrites which dropped after two large water changes and then the tank cycled.

Now I have diatoms (normal I know). I have added two hermits, a couple frags and one clownfish and have been testing all levels. Zero ammonia, zero nitrites, around 5ppm nitrates.

The problem is the water has gone through two very cloudy periods. The first was during the high nitrites, I did two large water changes back to back and it cleared. A few days later back to cloudy water. I also have a stringy bacteria looking stuff on glass and in corners on seams.

I used caribsea "life rock" and I drilled the rock which could be releasing particles from the drilling. But I'm not sure since it seems to appear suddenly with no changes in flow etc.

The water is smoky cloudy I can see the cloudiness being moved in the flow... corals open, fish fine.

Here is a link to previous cycle thread..
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/223320/

Here is a filter sock after about 2 hours on my return

Here are some pics of cloudiness...

Any thoughts?? Has been this way for about a week now...

 

[JedClampett]

Run some carbon

 

[GOSKN5]

Forgot that part.. carbon in a reactor since day one (changed regularly)

 

[GOSKN5]

Any ideas?

 

[GOSKN5]

Me either

Ran a canister for about 5 hours and it made no noticeable difference.. there are some larger particles floating but the cloudy milky water is still there...

Some of the stuff floating is definitely alive and moving around like floating pods??

 

[Bunnee911]

Do you have a skimmer? Could it be microbubbles?

 

[GOSKN5]

Yea have a skimmer.. but does it when skimmer off as well.. definitely smaller than micro bubbles too... I have had them in previous setups...

The pods have absolutely exploded and cover the glass and every large particle floating is a pod swimming in the water...

 

[esolo16]

You might be going through a bacteria bloom.

 

[scardall]

Water change needed for now IMO.

 

[surfnsalt]

+1 for bloom. Just needs time for bb in live rock to catch up.

 

[bevo5]

Bacteria bloom. It'll sort out IMO. Pods are great.

 

[Russ265]

+1 on bacterial bloom.

no amount of carbon or water changes will solve it. usually they extend it.

turn the lights up and itll burn itself out in 72 hours generally.

carbon helps on older systems, but i have a feeling your surfaces are getting coated with slime, which is their food source.

good luck

edit: is that a birdsnest on the rock? and some other lps below it?

...oh boy

 

[HiddenUser]

Bacteria bloom for sure! Just ride it out and it'll clear up on its own.

 

[GOSKN5]

+1 on bacterial bloom.

no amount of carbon or water changes will solve it. usually they extend it.

turn the lights up and itll burn itself out in 72 hours generally.

carbon helps on older systems, but i have a feeling your surfaces are getting coated with slime, which is their food source.

good luck

edit: is that a birdsnest on the rock? and some other lps below it?

...oh boy

Thanks for the help.. yea I put a couple frags in.. all levels test fine and it's been cycling for over 6 weeks.. frags have been open and extended..

this isn't my first tank.. just the first i have done without live rock to start... never experienced a bloom such as this with the live rock...

 

[Lenny_S]

I agree with the bacteria bloom and that you just need to ride it out... Be mindful of your pH while you are going through this. Large aerobic bacteria blooms can really drive up the CO2 and thus lower your pH. Lots of exposed surface area for the water and skimming will help.

 

[Sabellafella]

Everyone seems to have this issue with their liferock, including me i would look into it

 

[esolo16]

I had a bacteria bloom while setting up my new tank with fully cured live rock. IMO it is a symptom of new tanks and not a result of the rock used.

 

[GOSKN5]

Everyone seems to have this issue with their liferock, including me i would look into it

What was your outcome? Clear up eventually?

 

[esolo16]

Yep, time is your friend. These kind of bacteria blooms are not a threat to anything other then decreasing oxygen levels, so make sure you have plenty of surface agitation. I have heard uv sterilizers will help the process if you really want to speed things up but I personally I have not used one.

 

[Salty0331]

I agree with the bacteria bloom and that you just need to ride it out... Be mindful of your pH while you are going through this. Large aerobic bacteria blooms can really drive up the CO2 and thus lower your pH. Lots of exposed surface area for the water and skimming will help.

+1 Like Lenny said make sure you have good aeration.