Crazy algae bloom! Help

neltel_7 · May 29, 2020

Hey guys so about 9 days ago my canister filter broke so I decided to officially start a sump. I got all the material but it took me a while to make sure everything was right and I didn’t start running the sump until 2 days ago. I have yet to buy a skimmer but I will soon. Anyways, ever since I took out the canister filter and was just using wave makers for circulation an algae bloom has statrted in the water column. It been getting progressively worse every day and now I can barley see in the tank. I’m using air pumps to provide extra oxygen but I’m worried. All my fish are doing fine but my corals look terrible. Please help.

Webslinger · May 29, 2020

that will happen when you remove filtration from your system, hopefully you don't get a mini cycle. What are you using for filtration? did you move the media from your canister to the sump?

neltel_7 · May 29, 2020

Webslinger said:
that will happen when you remove filtration from your system

Will it subside soon?

R.Weller · May 29, 2020

Congrats on getting the sump setup & pulling out the canister filter. Big win in the long term.

I had a similar experience with our old 60gal system. Our occurred the day before leaving for vacation & a few days after installing a proper light for the reef. The bloom will die once it consumes all nutrients, but you can accelerate it if you are worried about the corals. I used the Green Killing Machine UV sterilizer, but removed it after the bloom ended & it has sat on the shelf ever since. I prefer biological methods now.

Webslinger · May 29, 2020

neltel_7 said:
Will it subside soon?

what are you using for filtration, did you move media over to sump?

neltel_7 · May 29, 2020

Webslinger said:
what are you using for filtration, did you move media over to sump?

I moved the media from my canister filter to the sump and I have some filter floss between the baffles
But it’s not much, I have cheato, filter pads bio rings and balls but that’s it