Bacterial Bloom

[ZapataInc]

Im cycling my new 90g setup with live rock and live sand. I left this morning and my water looked pretty clear. I get home tonight and the water is really cloudy. Im thinking it is a bacterial bloom.
My parameters are:
Ammonia looks like its just about 0 it was like 25 yesterday.
Nitrites 0
Nitrates looked like it was around 20 but yesterday it was at 0.
Thoughts? I do not have a UV filter. If it is a bacterial bloom what, if anything do I need to do?

 

[Shawn]

Wait. Just wait. That's all,

 

[ZapataInc]

Wait. Just wait. That's all,

Can I move my stuff once ammonia goes to zero like a normal cycle?

 

[Shawn]

Maybe. Some folks take the first sign of zero ammonia as a completed cycle. I would wait a week with zero ammonia. Just my two cents.

 

[Shawn]

Even still - I would only move LPS/softies. SPS will require a bit more time/maturity before they will succeed.

 

[Rickdareefa]

Never hurts to throw a rock or two and a hand full of sand from your old system in the mix to help the cycle along

 

[jessie45]

I too had a bacterial bloom while cycling my tank. A UV sterilizer worked for me. Took about 3 days. I used a Green Killing Machine from PetSmart. They are a bit clunky but can just be removed once the bloom is gone.

 

[CJD18]

I too had a bacterial bloom while cycling my tank. A UV sterilizer worked for me. Took about 3 days. I used a Green Killing Machine from PetSmart. They are a bit clunky but can just be removed once the bloom is gone.

DITTO!!!! mine is still in!!

 

[jwils27]

There are lots of things that can clear it up. But ultimately you just need time for things to balance. It’s not dangerous to your fish, if you have any, as long as you have ample flow. Just a part of the ugly phase unfortunately.

 

[lmm1967]

Can I move my stuff once ammonia goes to zero like a normal cycle?

Your O2 levels will be lower than normal until after the bacteria bloom is settled. If you put anything in that tank be sure you have lots of surface agitation and run the skimmer.

 

[snowmansnow]

Do you have snails?


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[ZapataInc]

Do you have snails?


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I have some in my 40 gal.

 

[ActiveAngel]

Yup; I would just wait. Don’t add anything yet. I imagine it will clear up over the next several days. Keep testing water during that time too, to ensure ammonia and nitrite stay at zero.

you don’t need a UV sterilizer if you don’t want one. And I’d stick with softies and easy fish for the first 1-2 weeks, before I branched our to easy LPS and SPS like Duncan’s and Montis (and a very small amount of CUC). As for euphyllias or Acros, I would wait 1 month minimum, but 2 is better. And add more clean up crew over that time after some initial algae has grown.

 

[ZapataInc]

Yup; I would just wait. Don’t add anything yet. I imagine it will clear up over the next several days. Keep testing water during that time too, to ensure ammonia and nitrite stay at zero.

you don’t need a UV sterilizer if you don’t want one. And I’d stick with softies and easy fish for the first 1-2 weeks, before I branched our to easy LPS and SPS like Duncan’s and Montis (and a very small amount of CUC). As for euphyllias or Acros, I would wait 1 month minimum, but 2 is better. And add more clean up crew over that time after some initial algae has grown.

So what about my current 40gal? I was going to transfer everything over when the cycle was through.

 

[ActiveAngel]

What about it? I view your 40g as the largest blessing possible. Not everyone has the option to delay livestock transfers at the convenience/safety of the livestock. You have the option to go slowly by leaving it running for several weeks, and moving things over piecemeal.

When I had to move to Atlanta from Chicago, all my livestock, including lots of Acros, had to be moved as my lease was ending. To prepare, I began curing my dry rock almost 1 year in advance. Even so, I didn’t move the Acros until week 4, the final moment. Unfortunately, I still lost 1 Cornbred Deepwater Acro. (In retrospect, I think my temp was 1 degree too high as the thermometer I used was old and cheap. This would have contributed to losing the acro)