Cloudy water column

[ReeferMadness1023]

Parameters

Alk: 8.5 dKH Nitrite: 0.2 ppm
Ammonia: 0.0ppm Calcium: 405 ppm
pH: 8.2 Nitrate: 15 ppm
Phosphate: 0.0 ppm
Magnesium: 1185 ppm Salinity: 1.025sg Temp: 78F

Having diatoms that are finally receding. But I started having a bacteria or algae bloom in my water column about 10 days okay. Everyone and everything looks fine. At night I can see in the tank better but during the day it’s fairly cloudy. Should I worry about it? I’ve just continued on with regular maintenance and more worried about dialing in my dosing than the bloom. Just want to make sure I’m not under reacting. I’m already over thinking it guaranteed but trying to not let my behavior reflect my thoughts.

 

[Ocypode sinensis]

Running into similar issues but I'm a bit worried about your 0 phosphates, what test kit did you use? I had a UV light OTW and I plan on putting it into my tiny tidal 35 hob filter, should clear things up.

 

[ReeferMadness1023]

Running into similar issues but I'm a bit worried about your 0 phosphates, what test kit did you use? I had a UV light OTW and I plan on putting it into my tiny tidal 35 hob filter, should clear things up.

Using a salifert phosphate test. It’s been reading it fine. Almost as soon as the diatoms started it went to zero and hasn’t come back up. I’ve been feeding reef roids like crazy trying to get it up. My guess is either the diatoms or bacteria are just eating it up. But yeah I’m worried as well because I know that can lead to more problems.

I’ve been looking at uv sterilizer as well. Just can’t see me spending $300 on one for a 14 gallon system in all reality there’s only like 10 gallons of water.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Hi,

That appears to be a bacteria bloom. Keep up gas exchange, as that amount of bacteria can quickly deplete your tank of oxygen. Don't do water changes. A UV sterilizer will help clear thins up, but is definitely not necessarry.

Was your tank cycled? A completely cycled tank shouldn't have reading of nitrites.

Also, recheck your mag level. That's very low, and will prevent your corals from growing their skeleton. If it's not a test error, get it up to 1350-1400.

 

[Ocypode sinensis]

Using a salifert phosphate test. It’s been reading it fine. Almost as soon as the diatoms started it went to zero and hasn’t come back up. I’ve been feeding reef roids like crazy trying to get it up. My guess is either the diatoms or bacteria are just eating it up. But yeah I’m worried as well because I know that can lead to more problems.

I’ve been looking at uv sterilizer as well. Just can’t see me spending $300 on one for a 14 gallon system in all reality there’s only like 10 gallons of water.

I feel you and I got a $13 UV on amazon. Is your rock dry rock? They can soak up quite a bit of phosphates initially.

 

[ReeferMadness1023]

Hi,

That appears to be a bacteria bloom. Keep up gas exchange, as that amount of bacteria can quickly deplete your tank of oxygen. Don't do water changes. A UV sterilizer will help clear thins up, but is definitely not necessarry.

Was your tank cycled? A completely cycled tank shouldn't have reading of nitrites.

Also, recheck your mag level. That's very low, and will prevent your corals from growing their skeleton. If it's not a test error, get it up to 1350-1400.

I thought it was… I believe I jumped the gun here though if I’m honest. Thankfully I’ve had no losses because of it. I definitely made some mistakes here. Getting good oxygen in there for now. Thankfully it isn’t too cloudy. But I have my return line getting good surface agitation and the aio sump running at the right level to get all that gas exchange as well. Everything has been doing just fine it just looks bad. I’ll think about a uv sterilizer. I dunno with the way I rushed things early on my heart tells me to just stop adding things right now and keep it simple and slow. Wouldn’t it just be the bacteria that fights the diatoms? Started dosing my magnesium last night. Brought it up 75 ppm and dosed again tonight. The low magnesium is screwing with my calcium as well so once I get the magnesium back up I’ll start my 2 part back up and get that all levels back out. Should have the magnesium up to 1385 in two more days.

 

[ReeferMadness1023]

I feel you and I got a $13 UV on amazon. Is your rock dry rock? They can soak up quite a bit of phosphates initially.

It was the life rock so they say it inoculated with bacteria but ‍. I really rushed the cycle like a rookie and think I’m paying for it now. You don’t think the diatoms could be just eating it all up? I’ve quit feeding the reef roids for now to see if the bloom was just eating it and staying around. Let me know how that sterilizer works I can definitely do $13!

 

[ReeferMadness1023]

I thought it was… I believe I jumped the gun here though if I’m honest. Thankfully I’ve had no losses because of it. I definitely made some mistakes here. Getting good oxygen in there for now. Thankfully it isn’t too cloudy. But I have my return line getting good surface agitation and the aio sump running at the right level to get all that gas exchange as well. Everything has been doing just fine it just looks bad. I’ll think about a uv sterilizer. I dunno with the way I rushed things early on my heart tells me to just stop adding things right now and keep it simple and slow. Wouldn’t it just be the bacteria that fights the diatoms? Started dosing my magnesium last night. Brought it up 75 ppm and dosed again tonight. The low magnesium is screwing with my calcium as well so once I get the magnesium back up I’ll start my 2 part back up and get that all levels back out. Should have the magnesium up to 1385 in two more days.

Hi,

That appears to be a bacteria bloom. Keep up gas exchange, as that amount of bacteria can quickly deplete your tank of oxygen. Don't do water changes. A UV sterilizer will help clear thins up, but is definitely not necessarry.

Was your tank cycled? A completely cycled tank shouldn't have reading of nitrites.

Also, recheck your mag level. That's very low, and will prevent your corals from growing their skeleton. If it's not a test error, get it up to 1350-1400.

Also may I ask you why no water changes? I will stop doing them but just curious behind the why. Any info would be much appreciated! I love learning everything I can to be better prepared for the future. Although I’m working on another build now and it’s going to just sit in the garage for a minimum of four months maybe longer honestly just cycling the rock no lights no nothing just sand rock water a heater and some water movement until I know the cycle is beyond over and the rock is mature enough to avoid so many hang ups.