GRR....FRUSTRATED!

[j.falk]

I tried restarting my tank because it was overrun with Lygbya, bryopsis and dinos.

Upon restarting, I decided to go barebottom and kept having issues with cloudy water even after using bottled bacteria...so...I bought some new Ocean's Direct live sand to add to the tank thinking I needed more surface area for the bacteria to grow on. I rinsed all of the sand extremely well prior to adding it to the tank and did not have the usual cloudy water issue from adding new sand to a tank.

A week after I added the new sand, my tank started forming a pocket of bubbles (* see pic) in the back corner next to the Aquaclear filter...and the tank stinks like a dirty sea shore. In fact, it smells just like the Florida shoreline did last year during the red tide event. I've never had a saltwater tank smell like this before and I take it as something being seriously wrong.

Since first noticing the bubbles, I have changed 75% of the water several days in a row while vaccuming the sand to get rid of anything that might be causing the issue. This seems to resolve the issue for roughly 24 hours and then the bubbles start forming again and the smell comes back.

And...to make matters worse...as of this morning I have dark brown stringy cyanobacteria forming all over the sand bed and rock work. * see pic * I'm assuming it's a cyanobacteria because none of it is forming bubbles like dinos would have.

I am very, very frustrated right now. I've never had these types of issues with a saltwater aquarium before and I honestly don't know what the best course of action is.

 

[Nasir]

Leave it along, let it run it’s course and be patient. If you have been in this hobby for a while you should know nothing happens fast.

 

[Flippers4pups]

As far as bubbles are concerned, do you run a protein skimmer?

 

[j.falk]

Leave it along, let it run it’s course and be patient. If you have been in this hobby for a while you should know nothing happens fast.

So don't do anything, no water changes, no turning the lights off, no skipping feedings, etc?

 

[j.falk]

As far as bubbles are concerned, do you run a protein skimmer?

No, it's a 20 gallon high tank...there is no room on the back left for a skimmer unless I remove the Aquaclear and cut the glass top to accommodate one...and the ReefCentral guys all said a skimmer would be pointless on this size of a tank. Everyone over there said to do weekly water changes and that's all I would need to do to keep the water clean and stable.

 

[BeejReef]

Those bubbles remind me of when I was cycling... that dish soap bubble appearance. Anything dead or buried in your new sand. Was it new? Any chance you're processing an ammonia spike?

 

[j.falk]

Those bubbles remind me of when I was cycling... that dish soap bubble appearance. Anything dead or buried in your new sand. Was it new? Any chance you're processing an ammonia spike?

The sand is all brand new...thoroughly rinsed before adding to the tank. I didn't find anything in it as far as dead livestock.

I'm not showing any ammonia using a brand new Salifert test kit.

I have been adding live bacteria daily...could it be dying and causing the smell/bubbles? It's Seachem brand and the instructions say to dose for a week straight.

 

[Flippers4pups]

No, it's a 20 gallon tank...there is no room on the back left for a skimmer unless I remove the Aquaclear and cut the glass top to fit a skimmer...and the ReefCentral guys all said a skimmer would be pointless on this size of a tank. Everyone over these said to do weekly water changes and that's all I would need to do.

Yes you can get by without a skimmer, though the bubbles are likely proteins generated by the water cascading out of the HOB filter. It may always have some there. The best way to deal with that would be more water movement at the surface.

 

[Katrina71]

My tank had a really funky smell with cyano once. Maybe a certain strain? It was about like you are describing. Honestly, I added Biospira with a couple of water changes, and it went away.

 

[j.falk]

Yes you can get by without a skimmer, though the bubbles are likely proteins generated by the water cascading out of the HOB filter. It may always have some there. The best way to deal with that would be more water movement at the surface.

On the opposite side of the tank I have a powerhead aimed directly at the surface for water movement.

 

[Flippers4pups]

On the opposite side of the tank I have a powerhead aimed directly at the surface for water movement.

It may not be enough.

 

[BeejReef]

The sand is all brand new...thoroughly rinsed before adding to the tank. I didn't find anything in it as far as dead livestock.

I'm not showing any ammonia using a brand new Salifert test kit.

I have been adding live bacteria daily...could it be dying and causing the smell/bubbles? It's Seachem brand and the instructions say to dose for a week straight.

I honestly don't know. If there is zero ammonia, you probably could back off on the bacterial seeding. All the seasoned peeps seem to lean towards just letting it run its course. Easier said than done though with the stink. Maybe some carbon would provide relief while you let the microbes battle for dominance.

 

[JCOLE]

How long has the tank been running for?

 

[Katrina71]

It may not be enough.

+1

 

[SandJ]

The foam is likely caused by the bubbles from the HOB filter. You can put a piece of filter floss in under where the water coming out. That should stop it. I had to do something similar with a HOB protein skinner.

 

[j.falk]

How long has the tank been running for?

I restarted the tank 5 weeks ago. Bleached all the rock, got rid of my old sand, cleaned the tank and equipment with vinegar to kill all the Lyngbya and bryopsis and then put everything back together again with all new water and a bottle of Biospira meant for a 75 gallon tank.

 

[j.falk]

The foam is likely caused by the bubbles from the HOB filter. You can put a piece of filter floss in under where the water coming out. That should stop it. I had to do something similar with a HOB protein skinner.

I thought that might be causing it...but before I restarted the tank, I used the same filter on the same tank for over 6 months straight and never had the bubbles issue.

I'll give the filter floss a try and see if that helps solve the issue. Thank you!

 

[j.falk]

It may not be enough.

On the side of the tank that has the Aquaclear is one powerhead pushing water to the right and on the opposite side of the tank I have the powerhead pushing water up at the surface. I have had this same set up running the exact same way for over 6 months straight and never had any of the issues I'm currently having with the tank now until after I broke everything down and restarted everything.

 

[Silent]

Too much too soon. Sometimes a tank with sand might take 6 months to be nice and stable. Double that if barebottom. Dont expect results fast.

 

[j.falk]

Another thing I forgot to mention is that the bubbles go away at night. I don't know why but after the lights have gone out, they dissipate...then start forming the next morning as soon as the lights come on.