Bacteria bloom

[The_DuckTank]

Good morning fellow reefers!
-200g system
-5 weeks old
-was started with %30 live rock %70 day

i’m posting today in regard to a two week long bacteria bloom that occurred when I broke down my small 24 gallon tank and added everything that was in that tank to the 200 gallon tank. Yes I am aware and I know that maybe it was a little early to do that big of a move but everything is happy…. Minus the lingering bacteria lol.

This bacteria bloom is not extreme, but it is definitely annoying and it’s not lightning up. I have been lights off for three days now, not really wanting to go much longer because of corals. I’ve been feeding lighter. To keep introduced organics on the low end. I’ve been changing filter floss daily. And there have been no livestock conditions since the bacteria Bloom has occurred.

I am reaching out to see some recommendations for what I may do next to try and eradicate this problem and get my water clear again. I think what I’m going to do today is go to my local fish store and pick up UV sterilizer. Currently the best one he has in stock is the sicce 13 W. It says that it’s rated up for 250 gallons, but considering that it’s so cheap. I don’t really know how effective it’ll be and I don’t really know if I have hundreds of dollars to go drop on it top-notch UV system right now.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

IME the best is to just wait. Bloom happens because of a type of excess nutrient is feeding a type of bacteria (I'm just a grunt and this is the best I can explain it), so when that excess nutrient is fully consumed the bacteria bloom will end. In my experience you should be coming to the end of it at 2 weeks, I would hang in there a bit more. Activated carbon can help if you are not already running some. Good luck

 

[Unit731]

I would advise using the "Remedy Ale" made by Home Brew Live Feeds. They specialize in microbial products and other live feeds. Provided the right dosage for your 200 gallon saltwater aquarium, you should resolve the bacterial bloom within a week and have a much cleaner smelling skim in two weeks. Hard to believe, I know. They also have the "Aquatic Tonic" for freshwater tanks. These beneficial bacterial blends keep our tanks running with clean parameters, healthy fry, and combat algae. Just remember to perform basic, regular water changes and it's that easy.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[BryanM]

You can fairly safely turn on blues only at like 40% to help the corals not be as stressed. Its mostly the whites that feed the fire.