New Here - Need help

[Abankert83]

Hi All! New member here! I have been reading forums here for years and gained so much knowledge, but have never had to post. A while back I started a new 13.5 gallon tank, live sand and rock and packaged salt water from the pacific. First stock was just a cleaner crew and some copepods dosing with very small amounts of plankton. Let it run, all parameters are spot on. Ordered my fish....a couple days before my 2 Clowns arrived it started to get a little cloudy. I thought ok, bacterial bloom, I'll let it go.. Fish arrived (because I can't stop shipment) and are very healthy and happy. I thought the bloom would cure itself but no. (I also noticed most of my pods were gone, there are some still hanging in the filter sponge.) I did water changes, no change in any parameters, they're still right where they should be, dosed with Prime, nothing, but then it started to get worse and now my tank is so cloudy I can barely see the rock and it's been 3 weeks. The clowns and all other creatures are still happy and thriving, when I can see them, but I'm very frustrated. I never had this happen in my 55 gallon tank and that one ran for years. Please HELP! Thank you!!!

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

 

[Schraufabagel]

 

[Sean Clark]

Welcome.

This looks like it could be a bacteria bloom. I am curious if the tank was cycled first. Typically a bacterial bloom would not last this long.

Glad you came here.

 

[Abankert83]

Welcome.

This looks like it could be a bacteria bloom. I am curious if the tank was cycled first. Typically a bacterial bloom would not last this long.

Glad you came here.

I didn't think it would last this long either, and yes I did cycle the tank for about 2 months before I added my livestock.

 

[Uncle99]

Welcome to R2R.
You say, started awhile ago, what’s a “while” mean to you?
Could something have died?
The cloud is something I’ve seen when good guy bacteria populations have been damaged or diminished and/or something is dead.

 

[Miami Reef]

Welcome to R2R.

Bacterial blooms is when heterotrophic bacteria proliferate into absurd amounts that they clump up to where you can see them with a naked eye.

These bacterias depend on a carbon source to proliferate. Too much food, dosing vinegar/vodka to the tank for nitrate reduction, and even dosing prime can cause a bacterial bloom since they all add a carbon source.

Usually established tanks have the proper bacteria to break down these carbons before the heterotrophs can get to them.

Bacteria blooms are not only unsightly, they are VERY dangerous because not only do they deplete oxygen in the water column, but they also produce ammonia as a byproduct.

Purchase a UV sterilizer to quickly eradicate it. Run activated carbon as well because it removes the carbon source.

 

[vetteguy53081]

What are you using (such as floss) to entrap small particles?
Adding a small pouch of Chemipure or chemipure blue will help clarify.
a sudden increase in the number of bacterial colonies occurs, specifically bacteria that are suspended in the water column. The bacteria grows so rapidly that collectively they become visible to the naked eye, causing the water to become milky/cloudy/hazy in appearance. This condition most often is seen in a newly started aquarium, but can also occur in a tank in which there is has been an increase in the nutrients in the water, particularly nitrates and phosphates. Excessive feeding of fish without cleaning the debris can also cause a sharp increase in nutrients that results in these blooms .
There are two types of bacteria at work in aquariums:

• Autotrophic Bacteria: Bacteria capable of synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances, using light or chemical energy. The beneficial bacterias are autotrophs.
• Heterotrophic Bacteria: Bacteria that cannot synthesize its own food and is dependent on complex organic substances for nutrition. The heterotrophs in the aquariums mineralize the organic waste (break down the uneaten food, fish waste, dead plant matter, etc. into ammonia).

It is more common that the heterotrophs are seen in bacterial blooms, not the trusted autotroph nitrifiers. It is the heterotrophs which are primarily responsible for creating the "bio-film" (slimy residue found on the tank walls and rocks. As the ammonia production increases due to the increased mineralization, the nitrifiers are slow to catch up and an ammonia spike occurs until the autotrophs reproduce enough to take care of it. Contrary to popular belief, bacterial blooms cause an ammonia spike, not the other way around.
It is unclear whether the autotrophic nitrifiers ever bloom into the water column or if they simply multiply too slowly to cause this effect.
Water changes will play a role as well as filter maintenance.

 

[tharbin]

Welcome to R2R! Probably bacterial as others have said.

 

[Abankert83]

Welcome to R2R.
You say, started awhile ago, what’s a “while” mean to you?
Could something have died?
The cloud is something I’ve seen when good guy bacteria populations have been damaged or diminished and/or something is dead.

It cycled for 2 months before I put in my livestock. Nothing to my knowledge has died, I'm a weirdo, I count all my snails and crabs etc every morning. But now I can't see to count them!

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Hi All! New member here! I have been reading forums here for years and gained so much knowledge, but have never had to post. A while back I started a new 13.5 gallon tank, live sand and rock and packaged salt water from the pacific. First stock was just a cleaner crew and some copepods dosing with very small amounts of plankton. Let it run, all parameters are spot on. Ordered my fish....a couple days before my 2 Clowns arrived it started to get a little cloudy. I thought ok, bacterial bloom, I'll let it go.. Fish arrived (because I can't stop shipment) and are very healthy and happy. I thought the bloom would cure itself but no. (I also noticed most of my pods were gone, there are some still hanging in the filter sponge.) I did water changes, no change in any parameters, they're still right where they should be, dosed with Prime, nothing, but then it started to get worse and now my tank is so cloudy I can barely see the rock and it's been 3 weeks. The clowns and all other creatures are still happy and thriving, when I can see them, but I'm very frustrated. I never had this happen in my 55 gallon tank and that one ran for years. Please HELP! Thank you!!!

Welcome! Glad you joined. Agree run carbon or chemipure blue.

Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)

This might help you find people local to you:

Local Reef Club Discussion

Looking for some locals to share frags and info with? This is the place! Find a local club that meets in your area! If you want to add your club just contact us.

www.reef2reef.com

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Kiwi reefer]

Welcome to R2R

 

[otzhorse]

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Jeffcb]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!

 

[PeterC99]

Welcome to R2R!

Good luck with your aquarium!

 

[miltonkl]

I just dealt with this last week in my 40 gallon tank. I was dosing some microbacter 7 just on a whim to add variety in bacteria, not because I particularly needed it, just thought it couldn't hurt, next thing I know I've got a bloom. I did a 20ish% water change thinking it would help clear it up but it just got worse and worse until the water suddenly turned green and I couldn't see more than an couple inches into the water. Fish were fine, it just looked TERRIBLE.

I did a 50% water change to dilute it down and then tossed in a "green machine" UV light ($30 knock off brand from amazon) and within 2-3 days the tank was back to crystal clear water. I'm going to let the UV run another week or so before I pull it out to make sure it's all cleared.

 

[Abankert83]

I just dealt with this last week in my 40 gallon tank. I was dosing some microbacter 7 just on a whim to add variety in bacteria, not because I particularly needed it, just thought it couldn't hurt, next thing I know I've got a bloom. I did a 20ish% water change thinking it would help clear it up but it just got worse and worse until the water suddenly turned green and I couldn't see more than an couple inches into the water. Fish were fine, it just looked TERRIBLE.

I did a 50% water change to dilute it down and then tossed in a "green machine" UV light ($30 knock off brand from amazon) and within 2-3 days the tank was back to crystal clear water. I'm going to let the UV run another week or so before I pull it out to make sure it's all cleared.

Do you have a link to what you bought by chance? I'll try anything!

 

[MnFish1]

Hi All! New member here! I have been reading forums here for years and gained so much knowledge, but have never had to post. A while back I started a new 13.5 gallon tank, live sand and rock and packaged salt water from the pacific. First stock was just a cleaner crew and some copepods dosing with very small amounts of plankton. Let it run, all parameters are spot on. Ordered my fish....a couple days before my 2 Clowns arrived it started to get a little cloudy. I thought ok, bacterial bloom, I'll let it go.. Fish arrived (because I can't stop shipment) and are very healthy and happy. I thought the bloom would cure itself but no. (I also noticed most of my pods were gone, there are some still hanging in the filter sponge.) I did water changes, no change in any parameters, they're still right where they should be, dosed with Prime, nothing, but then it started to get worse and now my tank is so cloudy I can barely see the rock and it's been 3 weeks. The clowns and all other creatures are still happy and thriving, when I can see them, but I'm very frustrated. I never had this happen in my 55 gallon tank and that one ran for years. Please HELP! Thank you!!!

1. Welcome.
2. It will get better - and as others have said it could be a bacterial bloom - or much less likely - some issue with your sand
3. You may be overfeeding - for the number of fish etc that you have - cutting back on feeding Will help
4. During a bacterial bloom - assuming thats what it is - the oxygen levels in the water can be quite low. An ayirstone or increased flow across the surface of the water can help dramatically
5. There are numerous DIY water polishers that can help (Just google) - you need a soda pop bottle and a powerhead - and some filter floss.

Lastly - about feeding. The bigger risk IMHO - is overfeeding - as compared to not feeding for a day or 2.

 

[rmorris_14]

Looks like you have tons of good info and questions being thrown at you already so I’m just going to say welcome and you came to the right place for help