Diatom/bacteria bloom

[JeffSchefsky]

Hi everyone!

New to the forum, new to reefing. I’ve learned a lot here so far but I could use some advice on a topic I can’t find.


15g AIO tank up and running for about 6 weeks, we did a fishless cycle, confirmed with weekly spike tracking and ending with 0 Ammomoa/nitrite and high nitrates


3 weeks ago, I added two clowns along with a small dose of Microbactor just in case of a mini spike, well we’ve had a bad bacteria bloom since then, as well as the expected Diatoms, but I’m more concerned with the bacteria bloom. Water has been super cloudy, I’ve tried to wait it out, added a nano skimmer, no water change/ supplements in 2 weeks but it’s been very persistent for about 2.5 weeks now, and my nitrates have completely disappeared without a water change in over 2 weeks now?

Any advice is appreciated.

Parameters as of tonight:
Ammonia/Nitrate/Nitrite- 0 (API Kit)
PH- 8.2 (API Kit)

Salinity- 35ppt
Temp- 79F

Salifert Tests
Calcium- 430
Alk- 9.3
Mag- 1320
Phosphate- 0

 

[Subsea]

Jeff,
Please post full tank shot with white light.

For bacteria bloom, uv sterilizer would be one option. Also, granulated activated carbon would assist with removal of some DOC better than your protein skimmer.

How long has nitrate & phosphate been zero. This is not a good place to be with a new reef tank with minimal biodiversity as opportunistic algae such as dinoflagellates thrive. Do not worry about diatoms as they are a type of phytoplankton and everything eats them. Worry about dinoflagellates when phosphate is zero and worry about Cynobacteria when nitrates are zero.

 

[JeffSchefsky]

Jeff,
Please post full tank shot with white light.

For bacteria bloom, uv sterilizer would be one option. Also, granulated activated carbon would assist with removal of some DOC better than your protein skimmer.

How long has nitrate & phosphate been zero. This is not a good place to be with a new reef tank with minimal biodiversity as opportunistic algae such as dinoflagellates thrive. Do not worry about diatoms as they are a type of phytoplankton and everything eats them. Worry about dinoflagellates when phosphate is zero and worry about Cynobacteria when nitrates are zero.

Here is a photo. I have been running a pack of carbon since the fish were added. Forgot to mention 2 zoa colonies and a hammer coral, all the corals seem to be thriving and growing like weeds. Also three small snails.

 

[JeffSchefsky]

Here is a photo. I have been running a pack of carbon since the fish were added. Forgot to mention 2 zoa colonies and a hammer coral, all the corals seem to be thriving and growing like weeds. Also three small snails.

 

[JeffSchefsky]

Here is a photo. I have been running a pack of carbon since the fish were added. Forgot to mention 2 zoa colonies and a hammer coral, all the corals seem to be thriving and growing like weeds. Also three small snails.

Nitrates have been zero since water change 2 weeks ago. Haven’t had any nutrient spikes or drastic changes from the parameters I posted. Phosphates have not been detected ever but I’ve only had the test kit for a little over a week and tested twice so far.

 

[JerryB1232]

What are you using for mechanical filtration? I was dealing with a similar situation I put in a 100 micron pad and was gone in a couple of hours