Help me solve this reef mystery (bacterial bloom)

[Rob Lion]

the quickest and easiest way to deal with heterotrophic bacteria is to use a good UV light with a slow flow for 24-48 hours to kill it off or until longer if needed until the source of the organics is removed.

 

[GoVols]

the quickest and easiest way to deal with heterotrophic bacteria is to use a good UV light with a slow flow for 24-48 hours to kill it off or until longer if needed until the source of the organics is removed.

My Good Friend!!!!!!!!! is Back!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Newb73]

the quickest and easiest way to deal with heterotrophic bacteria is to use a good UV light with a slow flow for 24-48 hours to kill it off or until longer if needed until the source of the organics is removed.

I don't have UV, but i have a large ozone reactor and posiden generator setup already that i could flip on.

My fear was that if it started killing off the bacteria the organics in them will release right back into my tank.

Think i might turn skimmer back on and see if i can start skimming them???

 

[GoVols]

I had my carpets cleaned one time. The guys shot some aerosol stuff down and dobbed it in, right in front of my reef to help clean that high traffic area before they brought in their machines.

Well... BLAMO!!!!!!!!

We learned the hard way and (lol) you can not pay my wife to use a (Glade, Plug-In) in our den, to this day.

 

[Rob Lion]

if using the ozone, set your skimming to very wet, be prepared to add more salt water to your tank as the skimmer will remove salt water and your ATO will dump in fresh water, lowering your salinity. Use very fine filter socks and change out very regularly too, and as many water changes as you can bare.
a UV light is a modest investment (about $100-$150), that can help cure and contain a number of problems, its a great insurance policy to have ready if ever needed. Maybe try and borrow one from a nearby reefer if you can't buy one.
products like Dr Tims waste away and refresh are good too for consuming organics in your tank a natural way, but takes longer but is safe.

 

[Newb73]

Guy at local fish store just told me to cut lights.

Are bacterial bloom photosynthetic?

 

[Newb73]

if using the ozone, set your skimming to very wet, be prepared to add more salt water to your tank as the skimmer will remove salt water and your ATO will dump in fresh water, lowering your salinity. Use very fine filter socks and change out very regularly too, and as many water changes as you can bare.
a UV light is a modest investment (about $100-$150), that can help cure and contain a number of problems, its a great insurance policy to have ready if ever needed. Maybe try and borrow one from a nearby reefer if you can't buy one.
products like Dr Tims waste away and refresh are good too for consuming organics in your tank a natural way, but takes longer but is safe.

I can't even run the skimmer, it foams over immediately.

My waterfall style overflow is foaming like crazy.

Changing filter socks once per day and am about to start doing daily water changes at 40g per day x5 so 200g total.

 

[Rob Lion]

you can always raise your skimmer body up by placing it on cd cases etc so that the water level in the skimmer chamber is lower.....
and do your water changes via the skimmer too if it has an outlet port

 

[Newb73]

Running with the level lowered in my sump. It is still over foaming but its able to stay on.

Its pulling about 1.5g every 90 minutes or about 1gal per hour and the sump looks like the inside of a soapy dishwasher.

 

[Newb73]

 

[Newb73]

With this i can make 40g of new water at a time and i have a 150gpd ro di unit but water changes dont seem to help much.

 

[Rob Lion]

@Newb73 your tag says you are in the Southeast.... where about? USA? UK?

If South east UK, i'm near Eastbourne, you are more than welcome to borrow my UV filter and pump for a week.

Try and raise your skimmer up a bit more by placing something inert under it to raise it by an inch.

 

[Newb73]

Southeast USA.

It has started slowing, its now only skimming around .4g per hour and it is foaming less.

I have my ozone running through a reactor in line to my carbon, not through skimmer.

Both are now running non stop.

I changed 40g this am, will do another 40 gal tonight.

Corals look better but worried about plate monti and clam.

 

[Rob Lion]

ok great, sorry you are too far for me to drop over to

just keep skimming, changing filter socks, wipe down all surfaces with clean cloth, ozone, water changes, feed as little as you can... you will get there, it will just take some time...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't have UV, but i have a large ozone reactor and posiden generator setup already that i could flip on.

My fear was that if it started killing off the bacteria the organics in them will release right back into my tank.

Think i might turn skimmer back on and see if i can start skimming them???

Ozone as used by hobbyists does not typically sterilize the water. The amounts are usually too low and the contact time not long enough.

 

[Newb73]

It eventually worked itself out.

I did lose by claim but nothing else.

I think ill be shopping for a UV on black friday this year.