Walt Smith 2.1 Rock and Bacteria?

whatchamacallit · Nov 25, 2015

Has anyone else noticed an increase in bacteria with this rock? Tank is fully cycled and not my first rodeo. Starting to wonder if the water can't penetrate the Rock and not allowing enough beneficial bacteria to form.

Thanks in advance

KingTriton · Nov 25, 2015

Nitrifying bacteria is formed mainly on the surface of the rock not so much in it. Denitrifying bacteria is within the rock. Lack of flow would only further its growth in my opinion.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 25, 2015

What do you mean by noticing an increase in bacteria?

You mean white globs around the tank?

whatchamacallit · Nov 25, 2015

Yeah white Flemish bacteria and cloudy water. Still can't get rid of it, so I'm starting to wonder if it is my rock

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 25, 2015

Flemish bacteria?

FWIW, I've never heard of people actually seeing the nitrifying bacteria of the nitrogen cycle, but you certainly may have other bacteria for other reasons.

Dtackett · Nov 25, 2015

was thinking he was using a microscope. I definitely need to get one just to see all the cool stuff we never see.

Sabellafella · Nov 25, 2015

whatchamacallit said:
Yeah white Flemish bacteria and cloudy water. Still can't get rid of it, so I'm starting to wonder if it is my rock

Wow this is so funny u ask, this is my first time using the reef rock and i have a crazyyyyyyy phosphate deficiency because the rock was man made and never cycled so its not leaching anything, another thing ive had was a week bacterial bloom nd now have sponges growing everywere in my tank

Sabellafella · Nov 25, 2015

Dtackett said:
was thinking he was using a microscope. I definitely need to get one just to see all the cool stuff we never see.

Microscopes are so awesome, ive never used them up until last year, its pretty interesting

Dtackett · Nov 25, 2015

I like the man made rocks from west mariculture. think my next big tank will have all of his rock in it. think its like 5 bucks a pound. comes live and is purple all the way through so you can bust it up and it still look right.

Jimbo · Nov 25, 2015

I used the same rock and went through a nasty bacterial bloom.https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/white-slime-bacteria.218362/#post-2509948

whatchamacallit · Nov 25, 2015

EXACTLY what is happening in my tank

brandon429 · Nov 25, 2015

Whatcha

Can you post good detail rock pics to compare the two

fascinating tie in between sources

Perhaps as Marco rocks are known po4 associates this brand of LR has some association with white slime, talk about rare. Using regular standard LR for sixteen years we've never seen this in our town only from web posts

whatchamacallit · Nov 25, 2015

Brandon the rock is actually man made and the white stringy stuff looks exactly like my tank. I'll get some pictures tomorrow! Be added carbon and will get a polypad on Friday!

whatchamacallit · Nov 27, 2015

Randy, would the "bacteria" affect my skimmer foam production? I see there is strings in it as well

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 27, 2015

Skimmers can remove bacteria, and they may also make and release molecules that impact skimming.

whatchamacallit · Nov 27, 2015

Jimbo said:
I used the same rock and went through a nasty bacterial bloom.https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/white-slime-bacteria.218362/#post-2509948

Jimbo where did you put your polyfilter?

Jimbo · Nov 27, 2015

I put it in the bubble trap of the sump. Like I said I'm not sure if that's what made the difference because I did so many things to get rid of that stuff. If I had to guess I would say it's the UV sterilizer that finally did away with it but I'm not sure.

It literally went away over night. I hope you have the same luck.

whatchamacallit · Nov 27, 2015

Well hopefully it's the polyfilter that works lol i don't want to have to buy a sterilizer

whatchamacallit · Nov 27, 2015

Well one thing I've noticed since adding the filter is my skimmer is sucking out some bacteria lol

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1448669454.475719.jpg

Diesel · Nov 27, 2015

IMO, just leave your tank as is and it will clear out by it self.
I had 40lb from the 2.1 rock and went through the same, left the tank for a week and it cleared up 100% as if I was filtering over 20lb
of activated carbon, and I never use carbon.
I have all kinds of yellow, pink, blue, green, red and white sponges going.