How do I get rid of this bacterial bloom??

[Gwitness]

My tank has been running now since about mid November and I cycled it with dr. Tims bacteria and ammonia drops......the cycle finished and i started to add live stock....

My tank has now been pretty cloudy for the past 6 days or so and won't get any better or worse....I'm assuming it's a bacteria bloom, but I'm not sure. I have added more good bacteria to help fight off the other bacteria and still no change.....

I do weekly water changes of 15 gallons on my 220 reef

Parameters all check out

I run carbon and changed it (still no change)

DO NOT run a UV on my tank

I have chaeto in a 60 gallon refugium that is connected to the main display

Do I just keep being patient and let the bacteria do its thing or what else can I or should I do?

Fish and coral are all healthy and open (Including my sps)

Nitrates 0-2 on salifert
Phophates reading 0 on Hannah checker

 

[Diesel]

Best way is water changes.

 

[Gwitness]

So you cycled your tank first and then added your live rock?

Sorry no.....I put all Dry rock in and then did the dr. Tims stuff and ammonia drops

 

[Diesel]

Sorry no.....I put all Dry rock in and then did the dr. Tims stuff and ammonia drops

Yep my bad, I was reading Live rock but you posted life stock

 

[Gwitness]

I'm just assuming it's a bacteria bloom, but I'm not sure what else it could be....

I did a water change of 15 gallons 3 days ago and then another one today and still just stays the same....

 

[Diesel]

As I said water changes is your best remedy here, or just wait it out but don't add any new bacteria to the tank.

 

[Diesel]

I'm just assuming it's a bacteria bloom, but I'm not sure what else it could be....

I did a water change of 15 gallons 3 days ago and then another one today and still just stays the same....

Bacteria blooms can be weird, it can take a few days if not longer, it all depends on how established your tank is.

 

[Gwitness]

Bacteria blooms can be weird, it can take a few days if not longer, it all depends on how established your tank is.

I kinda figured that.....should I just let it be and just keep doing my normal water change schedule?

 

[Antics]

My advice is to wait it out. The bloom is happening for a reason. Stop adding bacteria additives, stop water changes and let it clear on its own. Should only be a few days.

 

[twilliard]

My advice is to wait it out. The bloom is happening for a reason. Stop adding bacteria additives, stop water changes and let it clear on its own. Should only be a few days.

Agreed quit adding any "bacteria" products as it may be a fuel source also.

 

[Salt Creep01]

I had one and a uv sterilizer cleared it up in about 36 hours .

 

[Gwitness]

Okay awesome....thank you for the help! I will not do anything until next Sunday with the tank....I'll send an update later in the week!

I've read UV helps this out a lot but I'll get that if I have no choice

 

[miyags]

UV cleared mine up in 3 days, It was cloudy for a month

 

[thegriffer]

Same for me. I had a little 8 gallon going through the same issue for about a month and decided to get the UV sterilizer and it cleared up in a few hours

 

[Gwitness]

Anyone have a good recommendation for a UV for my size system that's not crazy expensive?

I have about 250 gallons of total water

I just don't want to kill a lot of pods or good bacteria either....i know a ton of very successful reefers run UVs though

 

[miyags]

Check out the 36watt or 55watt uv sterilizer clarifier uvc on ebay

 

[Gwitness]

Check out the 36watt or 55watt uv sterilizer clarifier uvc on ebay

This?

 

[miyags]

Yes that type but 65$ at CLL Pet Supplies

 

[Gwitness]

Awesome thanks!

 

[bgoldb]

Stop adding bacteria and do water changes with basic IO salt. Strip out as much from the water as possible and then add back what you need. UV sterilizer would help but not necessary.