FishProfiles.com Message Forums

What is the best way to correct a bacterial bloom or a biological bloom?

Also known in simpler terms as "cloudy water", a reaction to excessive feeding, poorly maintained tanks or uncycled new tanks, you'll have to tell us which is the culprit...

--garyroland.

I have a new 46 gallon tank that has been running for about two weeks.

Let the tank finish cycling. It's a natural process. For more info read [link=this link]http://www.fishprofiles.net/faq/begin-cycling.asp" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link].

^_^
Current [link=Contest Rules]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/44382.html?200412022138" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link][/font]

Kidsmom - Did you have a chance to read the link Babel provided? It covers New Tank Syndrome and Cycling. New Tan Syndrome can kill fish that are not hardy to cycling toxins. All new tanks undergo the process and once it is done, you should not have to deal with it again, unless you are in a situation as GaryRoland mentions above.

Any questions? Do you have test kits? If not, you can take a bag of water to most fish stores for free testing. But, ask them for the raw numbers so you can post them back here.

Since your tank is cycling and if you have never gone through this before, please post your numbers here and we'll walk you through this process as it happens. One way to accelerate it and provide some relief to your fish, is to add bacterial starters. The best on the market is Bio-Spira, but it is harder to find. The chain stores all sell New and Improved Cycle. It adds live bacteria. Don't let the sales clerk talk you into ammonia removing chips or chemicals at this time.

We can tell you the most economical kits to use also, if you are interested in recording and following the numbers until the tank is done with this process - a dangerous time for fish.

How big is this tank and what kind of fish are in it? How many fish are in there?

Diane

Last edited by Cory_Di at 13-Jan-2005 23:15

Last edited by Cory_Di at 13-Jan-2005 23:17

It's a 46 gallon, Diane...

But the poster didn't tell us if there's fish in her tank and if she is aware of the cycling process.

Perhaps she'll forward more complete info for us.

--garyroland.

Doh! Didn't see the size in the reply - my mistake.

Complete stock list, if there are fish in there

Yes, I do have fish in the tank I have a few tetras, 2 dwarf gourami, 2 red tail sharks and 1 algae eater and my tank has been up and running for about 3 weeks.

Hi to all. Am new to this site. I have a 75 gal FW tank which has been running for 10 months. All my water parameters have been normal. My tank is now experiencing a bacterial bloom. I cut down on food and light and have been changing 25% of the water every other day. The bloom has persisted. I'm now trying this product called Algone. It's supposed to clear up an algae or bacterial bloom in 5 days to six weeks depending on the severity of the bloom. I'll post a message here to let you know if Algone works or not. Later, Ray

6 discus
4 neons
1 ancistrus

Welcome to fishprofiles.com Ray

Ray, if you are having a bacterial bloom 10 months into a tank being setup, then something is happening in that tank and I'm afraid Algone is probably not what you want to use.

A bacterial bloom strongly begs of parameter readings. You want to know if you have ammonia and/or nitrite present, which would not be uncommon just before, during, and I've even seen immediately following a bloom. Something happened to disturb the good bacteria in the tank to cause the cloud (unless it is green water).

Have you used any medications in the tank lately?

Have you increased your stock in recent weeks?

Has power been cut to the filter for an hour or more?

Has the filter media just been changed?

You have been keeping fish for 10 months, so you must have some experience. However, I would like to know if you are aware of the Nitrogen Cycle and how it develops. Those who grasp the nitrogen cycle typcially grasp the nature of the bloom. It is a feeding frenzy of good bacteria, usually consuming ammonia. Here's more and please forgive me if you are already fully aware of this. We never know when someone new comes to the site, what their knowledge is.

http://www.fishprofiles.net/faq/begin-cycling.asp

You are further ahead to pick up some BioSpira by Marineland or New and Improved Cycle or Stress Zyme - any kind of bacterial starter. Definitely get readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH as your fish could be headed for trouble, espcially the Discus who would be most sensitive to ammonia. Even 0.25 can hurt or kill some fish.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 24-Jan-2005 18:06

Hi Cory. I've ruled out the water as all the readings are normal. ammonia - 0, nitrite - 0, nitrate - .05, Kh and Gh are very low, in the range for discus. My discus will eat everything and anything I put in the tank. I am guilty of over-feeding them. In addition to the Algone I'm changing 25% of the water every other day. The cloudiness is starting to clear up and looks like it will be gone with a couple of more water changes. My daily routine included vacuuming the tank every ( bare bottom ), and I let it go for a few days and that may have caused the bloom. Thank you for the reply. Later, Ray

>I forgot to mention that I would occasionally leave the lights on for long periods. I have since cut the light to about 6 hours a day and that seems to be helping also. Later, Ray

Still seems strange Ray, unless the cloud wasn't bacterial. Just looked up the Algone and it appears to be a treatment for green water. With nitrates that low, I would expect that. Not unless Algone treats things much like Jungle's Clear Water does with its potassium permangenate solution - binding stuff into solids, thereby clarifying the water.

You're right it is strange. It seems to be clearing up as fast as it started. I can see end to end of the tank (4 feet)now. From what I've read about Algone, it seems to be a natural product. On another forum I read that it is some kind of barley root that will absorb the bad stuff and free floating good bacteria very slowly. Later, Ray