Need advice

Scooter1970 · Jul 28, 2017

Hi Everyone

I have a 40 gallon breeder and it keeps getting foam at the top. It's been running for about three months. Last week it happened and i did a 20% water change and rinsed the filter foam out. It was okay, but yesterday it happened again and my rocks which were white are now tan. Is this normal or something to worry about? I only have live rock and two clownfish in it, it's bare bottom. All of the water parameters are fine. It's usually crystal clear and now it's a little hazy. The filter is an aquaclear 70 with foam pad, Chemipure blue and two little fishies phosban. Thanks for your time and help!

ksfulk · Jul 28, 2017

Im guessing that without a protien skimmer, you are getting a frothy foam on the water top. If you look at the water, does it seem to have a "sheen: to it that you can break by using your finger? Most of the tanks that get by without a protein skimmer have to do more frequent water changes to eliminate that protein build up in the water.

If the tank water is hazy (not just at the water surface) then it may be a bacterial bloom instead. The rocks changing from white to brown is likely due to an algae bloom (or maybe diatoms) but is more than likely just a part of the natural process of the tank maturing. Some pictures might help us really get after what the issue is.

Welcome to R2R btw!

Palyzoa · Jul 28, 2017

How far is the water level from the aqua clear filter output? If the circulating water thru the filter is making allot of micro bubbles, then in theory the micro bubbles could cause slight foaming at the surface. Kind of like a protein skimmer does... Just a Theory tho, it could also be a bacterial bloom...

Scooter1970 · Jul 28, 2017

No film to break with your finger.

Scooter1970 · Jul 28, 2017

Hope you can see it. Phone pictures don't show much.

Palyzoa · Jul 28, 2017

Looks like a bacterial bloom to me

Palyzoa · Jul 28, 2017

The tank is still maturing and should even itself out soon

XNavyDiver · Jul 28, 2017

Palyzoa said:
Looks like a bacterial bloom to me

me too.

Scooter1970 · Jul 28, 2017

So no big deal? Thanks for your help! Much appreciated.

Palyzoa · Jul 28, 2017

Do you have a good test kit? I would test your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate if you have it. Monitor your parameters to make sure anything isn't getting to far out of line. Pay close attention to ammonia and nitrite, if these stay at elevated levels for a prolonged period of time it could be harmful to your fish. If your tests are in order then you shouldn't have anything to worry about, just let nature take its course.