Possible Bloom?

[Aeiyr]

Tank is an IM 14g Nuvo peninsula. Tank is 8 weeks old. No skimmer, just running floss and bio media. (have a skimmer arriving this week as it took me forever to find one to fit this tank in a way I liked.)

I think I've had a bacterial bloom form as of this past Saturday. I got my first two clowns who were picky/refused food for the first 4 days. In an effort to entice them I took local advice and ordered a small bottle of Selcon which definitely broke their will when I soaked some frozen mysis and PE pellets with it. However I think my first go at it was a bit too much and made water that was already seeming a little cloudy, become definitely cloudy.

When I got the fish I also ordered a small CuC to go with them as I have diatoms, and wanted to get what I'd want from a reputable pre-QT seller since I do not have the space for a QT tank. I ordered 3 trochus snails, 2 astrea, 3 nassarius, 5 blue leg hermits, and one scarlet.
Anyone who may have seen some of my other posts in the last week will know that Dr.Reef made mistake seemingly in my favor, and instead sent me 10 of everything (each snail and crab species) without charging the extra. The trochus all died within hours or within 2 days. I attribute this to one of those snails being DoA in the bag, and after speaking with the seller they informed me to prepare for the other 9 to die as well, as in a shipping bag one death will likely pollute the others enough that their fate is sealed.

With so much unexpected CuC arriving,trying to keep them fed (there definitely wasn't enougth growth to feed this many) and getting the clowns to eat/dialing in how much to feed I am certain I've overdone it a few times. I have changed floss either daily or within 36 hours since the livestock arrived to keep ahead of things, and did a 2 gallon (around 18-20% WC) the day prior to posting this.

Now Selcon does say it may cloud the water if too much is used, but for 3 days? and after a superfine floss/ball swap and a water change?

Makes me think I am experiencing my first bloom. I have some ROX 0.8 carbon on the way tomorrow, as well as some coarse GFO (IM sells them in prepacked pouches for my AIO so I just bought a couple to have on hand)
I plan to run the carbon as the water is a bit smelly from the frozen mysis I've fed, and was wondering if this will also help clear the water/bloom up as well? Should I also run the GFO?

So far ammonia is within safe parameters and the clownfish seem comfortable. not gasping or anything and are eating regularly now. I feed the PE pellets in the AM, noon, and then frozen mysis at night. the WC I did was to keep ahead of Nitrates which were last at between 10-15 (RedSea test)

Anyways, sorry I always seem to make these things wordy I just try to recap as much of the event leading up to the problem as i can remember incase I'm not seeing the whole picture. Any input is appreciated. I know these things happen, and I have water on standby I can change out for frequently than weekly if recommended. I don't have the budget for a drop in UV atm, but my skimmer (Icecapp K1 nano) get's here either tomorrow or the next day, and I will run that to help de-gunk and get some of the disolved food I know I've overdone out of the water. I also run an airstone in my return chamber for a few hours at night to help lift uneaten food up and get it into the floss chamber while I haven't had a skimmer and to keep PH a little more stable

 

[Stephen8169301]

Okay yeah a lot going on here if you could post a pic of the tank so we can kinda see what’s going on and put your words and help get an idea also what do you mean ammonia is in “safe parameters” do you mean 0? ammonia readings is unsafe

 

[Aeiyr]

Okay yeah a lot going on here if you could post a pic of the tank so we can kinda see what’s going on and put your words and help get an idea also what do you mean ammonia is in “safe parameters” do you mean 0? ammonia readings is unsafe

So I've heard two terms for ammonia. Free and Total. It's been explained to me that the seachem AmmoAlert badges read free ammonia, and that the redsea test kit reads total ammonia. I've also been told that as long as the badge reads <0.02 (gold/yellow) that this is a safe minimal level of ammonia and not to worry, as bacteria are actively working on things and keeping it low/0 and stable.

I will post a photo of the tank however.

 

[Stephen8169301]

Okay the one clown looks like it may have something going on can you get more photos of clown fish? Maybe sunken belly but would like a fish medic to possibly confirm @vetteguy53081

 

[Aeiyr]

Okay the one clown looks like it may have something going on can you get more photos of clown fish? Maybe sunken belly but would like a fish medic to possibly confirm @vetteguy53081

I'll try. the bigger of the two has a vendetta with my nero3. it keeps swimming to line up with the flow and then going full bore directly at it for a few seconds before peeling off the the side out of the flow. Both have begun eating fairly regularly the last couple days. I sprinkle in PE saltwater 1mm pellet through the day, and I was giving them half a cube of frozen mysis, but there was a lot of waste so I was going to try slimming it to just over a quarter cube, unless this is too little? One clown is maybe 2.5 inches, the other is about 2 inches.

Both are pre-QT'd from Dr.reefs. though i know no QT is 100% bulletproof.

(it is incredibly hard to take a good picture of these guys)
First photo is the larger one which seems to be becoming the dominant one if it isn't already. the second picture is the smaller guy, he's much more chill.

 

[Stephen8169301]

I'll try. the bigger of the two has a vendetta with my nero3. it keeps swimming to line up with the flow and then going full bore directly at it for a few seconds before peeling off the the side out of the flow. Both have begun eating fairly regularly the last couple days. I sprinkle in PE saltwater 1mm pellet through the day, and I was giving them half a cube of frozen mysis, but there was a lot of waste so I was going to try slimming it to just over a quarter cube, unless this is too little? One clown is maybe 2.5 inches, the other is about 2 inches.

Both are pre-QT'd from Dr.reefs. though i know no QT is 100% bulletproof.

(it is incredibly hard to take a good picture of these guys)
First photo is the larger one which seems to be becoming the dominant one if it isn't already. the second picture is the smaller guy, he's much more chill.

Maybe try and post a video of them

 

[Aeiyr]

Maybe try and post a video of them

Here goes.

 

[Stephen8169301]

they appear to be pretty close in size maybe the female is stealing food from the other
I know this wasn’t what you were asking about so apologies for this lol but with a small tank it’s very important to make sure you know what you put in it and are very sure that this won’t cause issues small you very well might be going through the ugly stage

 

[Aeiyr]

they appear to be pretty close in size maybe the female is stealing food from the other
I know this wasn’t what you were asking about so apologies for this lol but with a small tank it’s very important to make sure you know what you put in it and are very sure that this won’t cause issues small you very well might be going through the ugly stage

It is week 8, so ugly stages are coming for sure. rocks are getting a dirty green color. I have taken to feeding small amounts over several minutes to make sure both are eating. I promise you the little guy is way better at getting food than the bigger one is, lol. Little guy homes in like a laser and picks pellets from the surface. the big one forehead(?) bonks them and misses a lot. I'll drop in some carbon tomorrow and hope it clears up along with getting the skimmer installed. I know some of this has be be from suddenly having to feed 40 cuc members when I was only expecting like 13.

Should I also drop in the GFO? or stick with carbon/skim?

 

[Stephen8169301]

It is week 8, so ugly stages are coming for sure. rocks are getting a dirty green color. I have taken to feeding small amounts over several minutes to make sure both are eating. I promise you the little guy is way better at getting food than the bigger one is, lol. Little guy homes in like a laser and picks pellets from the surface. the big one forehead(?) bonks them and misses a lot. I'll drop in some carbon tomorrow and hope it clears up along with getting the skimmer installed. I know some of this has be be from suddenly having to feed 40 cuc members when I was only expecting like 13.

Should I also drop in the GFO? or stick with carbon/skim?

I would also feed some frozen mysis shrimp to them

As for gfo I cannot give you info on that cause I don’t run that I run a little carbon in my tank so that may help clear up water with a little filter floss

 

[Aeiyr]

I would also feed some frozen mysis shrimp to them

As for gfo I cannot give you info on that cause I don’t run that I run a little carbon in my tank so that may help clear up water with a little filter floss

They get frozen mysis with a couple drops of selcon in the evening and the swarm of 20 crabs cleans up the leftovers (I hope. I never see them go far from their giant rock colony)

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I've heard two terms for ammonia. Free and Total. It's been explained to me that the seachem AmmoAlert badges read free ammonia, and that the redsea test kit reads total ammonia. I've also been told that as long as the badge reads <0.02 (gold/yellow) that this is a safe minimal level of ammonia and not to worry, as bacteria are actively working on things and keeping it low/0 and stable.

I will post a photo of the tank however.

Looks more like a bacterial bloom opposed to algae bloom. When a sudden increase in the number of bacterial colonies generates and becomes suspended in the water column, it grows so quickly that it becomes more visible causing the water to become milky and hazy in appearance due to an increase in the nutrients in the water especially nitrates and phosphates.
If youre using NoPox, this may be one cause. Assure filters are clean and if using carbon- will help

 

[Aeiyr]

Looks more like a bacterial bloom opposed to algae bloom. When a sudden increase in the number of bacterial colonies generates and becomes suspended in the water column, it grows so quickly that it becomes more visible causing the water to become milky and hazy in appearance due to an increase in the nutrients in the water especially nitrates and phosphates.
If youre using NoPox, this may be one cause. Assure filters are clean and if using carbon- will help

Okay, bacteria bloom. I figured it had to be one or the other. I've read a bit about heterotroph bloom making the water hypoxic in more serious cases. Should I be running my airstone more frequently so I don't need to worry about that part of it? Carbon gets here tomorrow, I'll drop a bag in the intake caddy. GFO/phos removal won't effect bacteria the same way will it?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Okay, bacteria bloom. I figured it had to be one or the other. I've read a bit about heterotroph bloom making the water hypoxic in more serious cases. Should I be running my airstone more frequently so I don't need to worry about that part of it? Carbon gets here tomorrow, I'll drop a bag in the intake caddy. GFO/phos removal won't effect bacteria the same way will it?

GFO which is an oxide can cause haziness and should be used sparingly. As for hypoxic- that is correct. You can also add bacterial occasionally at 1.5ml per 10 gallon to allow bacteria to keep up with tank loads

 

[Aeiyr]

GFO which is an oxide can cause haziness and should be used sparingly. As for hypoxic- that is correct. You can also add bacterial occasionally at 1.5ml per 10 gallon to allow bacteria to keep up with tank loads

I have been adding microbacter7 at a rate of 1ml per day (5ml treats 25 or 50gal I forget) for a couple days to help keep things in check and avoid lethal spikes in ammonia. I'll run the stone for a few days solid until thos blows over and skip the GFO for now. Once I get the skimmer set up I'll worry less about oxygenation and hopefully I get get a lot of the heterotroph food out of the water. Thank you very much for the feedback.

The fish look healthy though yeah? Stephen8169301's inquiry had me a little worried I wasn't picking up on something.