Serious Bacterial bloom overnight?!?

tundraguy1106 · Apr 16, 2020

Hey guys,

so I came down to my basement today and both my display tank and quarantine tank are super cloudy?!?! In my display tank the filter socks were clogged and overflowing.

my quarantine tank currently has zero fish in it and is only just getting ghost fed every so often till I buy new fish. The only thing I’ve added to my display recently was I started dosing continuum bacter clean-m. I know this is bacteria and would make sense to cause a bloom but to cause a bloom on the other side of my basement in my quarantine tank???

Yesterday I did paint a pantry which is located in my basement I used Zinsser primer (added picture) which contains ethanol. It has a strong smell however I opened up my basement outside door to ventilate the area. Anyone have any ideas on what could have caused a bloom in both tanks on the same day??? I’m currently mixing and making new water to do a water change. My tank is fish only and there are no losses at this time but I’m worried! Please help!

Bethany Yates · Apr 16, 2020

How long has the tank been set up for? It looks like it might be diatoms* which will bloom if there is silica in the water either from tap water or cement and drywall dust.

*algae not bacteria

tundraguy1106 · Apr 16, 2020

Bethany Yates said:
How long has the tank been set up for? It looks like it might be diatoms* which will bloom if there is silica in the water either from tap water or cement and drywall dust.

*algae not bacteria

Tank has been setup for a year now. I make my own RODI water and only use that for water changes. Have t done any construction just some waterproofing of a block pantry. I’m thinking it’s the fumes. Just weird how both tanks bloomed overnight! Has to be something basement related not the tank itself. I did bubble scrub my display last night after scrubbing the live rock. But I haven’t touched my quarantine tank since there’s no live stock.

tundraguy1106 · Apr 16, 2020

Bethany Yates said:
How long has the tank been set up for? It looks like it might be diatoms* which will bloom if there is silica in the water either from tap water or cement and drywall dust.

*algae not bacteria

The scimmer cup was also very jelly like. It’s usually dirty but not like jelly... not sure if that’s relevant

Bethany Yates · Apr 16, 2020

tundraguy1106 said:
Tank has been setup for a year now. I make my own RODI water and only use that for water changes. Have t done any construction just some waterproofing of a block pantry. I’m thinking it’s the fumes. Just weird how both tanks bloomed overnight! Has to be something basement related not the tank itself. I did bubble scrub my display last night after scrubbing the live rock. But I haven’t touched my quarantine tank since there’s no live stock.

That is so weird! I don't know very much about the chemical composition of paint fumes. I once had a bloom because one of my ro/di filters was clogged and I didn't realize it, but I'm sure you already checked that. I think that is the end of my expertise! Good luck!

tundraguy1106 · Apr 16, 2020

Bethany Yates said:
That is so weird! I don't know very much about the chemical composition of paint fumes. I once had a bloom because one of my ro/di filters was clogged and I didn't realize it, but I'm sure you already checked that. I think that is the end of my expertise! Good luck!

I appreciate the input. I just did a 15 gallon water change on my DT. Which is a 125 gallon with 35 gallon sump. I’m gonna do a 10 gallon WC on my quarantine tank next which is a 20 gallon long. Any advise on bacterial blooms? Just water changes and time? Never had one so I’m not sure what to do. I’m worried about the fish.

X-37B · Apr 16, 2020

I had a similar issue a couple weeks ago. The only thing I came up with is I started opening up the windows all day. Then there was jelly like white stuff in both my 120 and 45 frag tank sumps.
Water was milky in tank and both skimmers were nasty.
I cleaned out all the jelly like stuff and did a total clean on the skimmers.
Added MB7 and the 120 was clear the next morning and the frag tank took a few days to clear up.
I dont carbon dose or even do water changes on either tank.
No fish or corals were affected.

Bethany Yates · Apr 16, 2020

tundraguy1106 said:
I appreciate the input. I just did a 15 gallon water change on my DT. Which is a 125 gallon with 35 gallon sump. I’m gonna do a 10 gallon WC on my quarantine tank next which is a 20 gallon long. Any advise on bacterial blooms? Just water changes and time? Never had one so I’m not sure what to do. I’m worried about the fish.

I have heard that people have good luck with Furan-2 but I have never used it... I just water change and reduce feeding, increase flow, and decrease photoperiod on lights. I have never had a fish have trouble with a bacteria bloom.

tundraguy1106 · Apr 16, 2020

90's reefer said:
I had a similar issue a couple weeks ago. The only thing I came up with is I started opening up the windows all day. Then there was jelly like white stuff in both my 120 and 45 frag tank.
Water was milky in tank and both skimmers were nasty.
I cleaned out all the jelly like stuff and did a total clean on the skimmers.
Added MB7 and the 120 was clear the next morning and the frag tank took a few days to clear up.
I dont carbon dose or even do water changes
on either tank.
No fish or corals were affected.

That’s good to hear! I did have the door open for 5-7 hours. Maybe it’s something to do with the outside air and pollen season???