Help me decide if I let it be or take action

[Lenny_S]

7 days ago my 160 gallon reef tank (4 months old) clouded up pretty bad. I'm quite sure it's a bacteria bloom from carbon dosing. However the corals are starting to look bad now. Nitrates and phosphate have come up a little (0.25 ppm nitrate and 0.02 ppm phosphate) so I don't believe there should be any organic carbon left. And I've been running fresh GAC and skimming heavy since the cloudiness started.
Never had this happen before so I'm looking for some input.

Do I keep waiting it out?
Since the corals aren't opening fully do I use a clarifier to clear things up quickly?
Or is there another option I haven't already done or thought of?

 

[Lenny_S]

Bumping, any help out there?

 

[Aussie paul]

I find when my water gets cloudy the quick way to clear it up is put some fine filter wool around the inlet to your pump to stop most of it circulating back to the tank

 

[Aussie paul]

And just keep checking your levels for any spikes

 

[Lenny_S]

Thanks Paul! I have a 100 micron filter sock going... doesn't seem to make a dent[emoji20]

 

[Lenny_S]

Being I'm sure it is a bacteria bloom... The little buggers are just too fine to catch in some kind of sock or floss. Skimmer might be getting some, but they could still be reproducing I suppose... but not sure what is spurring it.

 

[Diesel]

[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

Large water changes will be you best friend for your corals on the moment.

 

[jetmaker]

Uv sreralizer

 

[jetmaker]

Steralizer

 

[Reefing Madness]

What kind of corals? Sure it isn't a spawning?

 

[Diesel]

Steralizer

Sterilizer only kills the living organisms but you still have to filter them out, Skimmer, filter sock, Carbon or water changes are my bet.

 

[kschweer]

Hmm. Bacterial blooms can be a real pain. Some say do large water changes and some say leave things alone and wait it out. I would suggest first trying a few Days of lights out and reassess after that.

 

[jetmaker]

Sterilizer only kills the living organisms but you still have to filter them out, Skimmer, filter sock, Carbon or water changes are my bet.

I don't use filter socks I don't run carbon and I don't do water changes anymore uv will keep the water clean been in this for 30+ yrs

 

[rayn]

I agree with the large water change. It can't hurt, only help. Go as big as you can.

 

[Reefing Madness]

I don't use filter socks I don't run carbon and I don't do water changes anymore uv will keep the water clean been in this for 30+ yrs

Sump/Fuge??

 

[Reefboy1]

[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

Large water changes will be you best friend for your corals on the moment.

I'm with Diesel, Do the water change.

 

[jetmaker]

Sump/Fuge??

Fuge cheato for export and aqua max c01 filter socks are nitrate factory's carbon is unnecessary in a cured system and if you have great water why change it. I have a trigger ruby 36 s fuge.

 

[jetmaker]

How does your tank look after a water change lol

 

[Reefing Madness]

Usually tanks look crystal clear and ocean blue after water changes.
And Nitrate factories are only made if one lets them accumulate junk, instead of a regular cleaning.

 

[Diesel]

I don't use filter socks I don't run carbon and I don't do water changes anymore uv will keep the water clean been in this for 30+ yrs

Not going to argue but sterilizers won't clean.
Since organisms are exposed to the UV light, the ultra violet rays cause a change in the chemical bonds of the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), preventing their multiplication, which will result in annihilation of the specie. Only microorganisms, like algae, parasites or viruses, floating in the water and exposed to the UV light are eliminated. Nitrifying bacteria contributing to the well-being of fish are not carried to the sterilizer, and therefore do not come in contact with the UV light and will not be destroyed. There have been some findings that the Amphipod populations are threatened by the use of UV Sterilizers. Although some of the larvae from the Amphipods and other benthic creatures could be waterborne, they usually lay their eggs in the substrata and in the rocks crevices and a very small amount would be released in the water column to be killed by the UV Sterilizer.