cloudy water in QT after kanaplex + metroplex

[coweyes298]

I have a 26 gallon qt with well established bacterial running for 4 months now. I had one round of copper and two rounds of prazipro that ended at 08/18. First batch fish were in there before the second batch introduce.

Since I have anthias in this qt with some bacteria infection. I have dosed API general cure 4 days ago along with Kanaplex. Tow days later added Kanaplex with Metro. Today I did 25% water change and then add kana + metro again. Later the course I started copper safe and current level is around 0.6 ppm. Water is super cloudy now... Maybe I dosed too much of antibiotics? Seachem ammonia badge is still at 0. Do I need to do large water change to clear the water or do I just hang in there and wait it to be cleared?

 

[Ocelaris]

That's usually just a bacterial bloom, as long as the ammonia is under control I'd wait it out. When you do a water change, bring the new water up to the same therapeutic levels of copper before you swap it in. Otherwise it's OK as long as the bacterial filters keep up with the feedings.

 

[Xclusive Reef]

you tried putting some carbon to clean up the cloudy water?

 

[4FordFamily]

Large water change and re-dose. This is common when mixing copper and antibiotics.

 

[Brew12]

And make sure you have a LOT of air exchange! The cloudy water is a bacteria bloom that will consume oxygen out of the water.

 

[4FordFamily]

And make sure you have a LOT of air exchange! The cloudy water is a bacteria bloom that will consume oxygen out of the water.

Yes very important sorry I missed!

 

[Humblefish]

Has this QT been setup continuously for 4 months now? If so, biofilm is likely breaking down the antibiotics: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/qt-and-biofilm.292878/

 

[coweyes298]

Fish are still eating like pig and ammonia is at 0. Cloudy water is a little bit improved but still fuzzy. I have a MP10 blasting full on one side and the Tidal 55 at full on the other side. Flow and surface agitation is crazy in this QT. I noticed when I dose the Kanaplex + Metro or API general cure, the water will get cloudy. But yesterday was worse than my previous dose.

The QT started around end of June for my other batch of fish. Went through 30 days copper + 2 round prazipro, with 20+ days post observation time.

I cleaned the QT with 50% water change and cleaned the film on the glass after the first batch fish out. I also change the HOB the same day to a new Seachem Tidal but using the old media plus new Seachem Matrix. Follow by introducing second batch the next day. So I can say it is continuous running for this period.

I will wait another day to see how things going. Good thing is I am still ramping the copper and it is only at 0.6ppm (coppersafe), so large water change and start over is acceptable. I also ordered the cheap 5 W sunsun intank UV, hope it will help to clear my water later.

 

[Brew12]

Fish are still eating like pig and ammonia is at 0. Cloudy water is a little bit improved but still fuzzy. I have a MP10 blasting full on one side and the Tidal 55 at full on the other side. Flow and surface agitation is crazy in this QT. I noticed when I dose the Kanaplex + Metro or API general cure, the water will get cloudy. But yesterday was worse than my previous dose.

The QT started around end of June for my other batch of fish. Went through 30 days copper + 2 round prazipro, with 20+ days post observation time.

I cleaned the QT with 50% water change and cleaned the film on the glass after the first batch fish out. I also change the HOB the same day to a new Seachem Tidal but using the old media plus new Seachem Matrix. Follow by introducing second batch the next day. So I can say it is continuous running for this period.

I will wait another day to see how things going. Good thing is I am still ramping the copper and it is only at 0.6ppm (coppersafe), so large water change and start over is acceptable. I also ordered the cheap 5 W sunsun intank UV, hope it will help to clear my water later.

I think @Humblefish is right. I think your QT has reached the point where it has enough bacteria feeding on the medication to quickly break it down. This is why you are starting to see bigger bacteria blooms each time you add those meds. Since we can't measure the amount of meds in the water it becomes hard to know if they are still effective.

When you are done with this batch of fish I would recommend taking it down and sterilizing it prior to using it again.

 

[coweyes298]

I think @Humblefish is right. I think your QT has reached the point where it has enough bacteria feeding on the medication to quickly break it down. This is why you are starting to see bigger bacteria blooms each time you add those meds. Since we can't measure the amount of meds in the water it becomes hard to know if they are still effective.

When you are done with this batch of fish I would recommend taking it down and sterilizing it prior to using it again.

That is what I am guessing too. I will wait a day or two and do WC to get rid of the cloudy water. Restart copper from there too. Good news is current fish in QT will be my last batch of fish, after this QT I will put this QT offline forever. Will give the setup a thorough clean for sure.

 

[Brew12]

That is what I am guessing too. I will wait a day or two and do WC to get rid of the cloudy water. Restart copper from there too. Good news is current fish in QT will be my last batch of fish, after this QT I will put this QT offline forever. Will give the setup a thorough clean for sure.

Forever is a long time... there are always bigger tanks!

 

[Humblefish]

Forever is a long time... there are always bigger tanks!

And fish outgrow tanks, start nipping on corals, fish fights happen, etc. etc. In 35+ years, I've never owned a tank that I considered 100% done - livestock or otherwise.

 

[jeff williams]

I've also noticed in my qt when I dose metroplex with cu my bio filter stops converting nitrite and as the nitrite builds the water will get cloudy

 

[Brew12]

I've also noticed in my qt when I dose metroplex with cu my bio filter stops converting nitrite and as the nitrite builds the water will get cloudy

I think what you are seeing is that the Metro itself is breaking down into nitrites or into something that triggers a false positive reading. Metro is C6H9N3O3. The metro itself could test positive in its pure state. I may have to test that out later, you have me curious.

 

[jeff williams]

I think what you are seeing is that the Metro itself is breaking down into nitrites or into something that triggers a false positive reading. Metro is C6H9N3O3. The metro itself could test positive in its pure state. I may have to test that out later, you have me curious.

Interesting let me know what ya come up with

 

[Brew12]

Interesting let me know what ya come up with

Well, I can confirm that Metroplex will not cause a false positive nitrite or nitrate reading on an API test kit.

Unfortunately, I don't have a QT set up right now. No way for me to check if bacteria can break down Metroplex into something that would trigger a positive nitrite test.