Natural Predators to Combat Phyto Blooms

[AmaleeC]

Hello everyone! Good evening
I’ve been going through a phytoplankton bloom for a little over a week now. I put some fresh carbon into the tank and have had a UV sterilizer running for about 4 days now. I know there’s not much I can do, so I’m just giving it time and monitoring the progress. At the end of the day, it is a new tank so patience is key. My only regret is putting my SPS and euphyllia in there - some of them look very upset at the moment
Regardless, I’m waiting, monitoring, and in the meantime: researching things about phytoplankton. I’ll admit though, I’m wayyy more interested in their predators.

So here’s my thought: phytoplankton blooms are not a new phenomenon. We’ve developed our remedy’s over time through UV, filtration, and fine filtration. What I’m curious about is if zooplankton are natural predators, can’t one just add zooplankton to eat the phytoplankton? Or two or three clams?

 

[lapin]

Rotifers, pods and other filter feeders eat the stuff. No reason you cant try it

 

[AmaleeC]

Rotifers, pods and other filter feeders eat the stuff. No reason you cant try it

& do you think the results in how quickly the water clears would be better?

 

[lapin]

It would depend on how many rotifers / pods, what type ect.....

Rotifer Culturing Support

Rotifers are small (50-1000 µm) zooplankton that occur in freshwater, brackish, and marine environments. Rotifers feed on microalgae and are consumed by a wide variety of fish, shellfish, corals, and other organisms. They are used extensively in aquaculture and aquariums because of their very...

reedmariculture.com

 

[NS Mike D]

a phyto bloom in itself shouldn't be an issue because they are locking up NO3 and PO4, so watch those numbers closeley.

The UV might be causing a catch 22 cycle, by killing the phtyo, you are releasing their nutrients back and thus feeding the survivors.

It might be better to leave the UV off for now and let them run their course and let your filter socks, skimmer and corals/filter feeders remove the live once .

And you pod population should naturally expand with the additional phyto