Rotifer Bloom - Next steps when overdue water change

[DNZ]

Hey All,

It has been 2 weeks since i have done a water change in a 3 month old tank 20 gallon nano tank (skimmer running, carbon in bag only). My parameters are pretty perfect apart from a bit of phosphate i want to reduce. No visible algae, corals and fish happy.

The only thing I had is at least for 3-4 days now a bloom of what i think are rotifers. Tank isnt overly cloudy but there are enough of them to change the hue and there is an abundance of them on the glass. I put phytoplankton in earlier in week which is likely cause of spike

Watching/reading things online the suggestion seems to be to not do any water changes and leave it to die down as water change might give them more of the nutrients, however I also read a lot about nano tanks and how quickly they can go south and should keep on top of the water change.

My main question is what would the experienced reefers do? The water change or just leave it for another week?

Thanks

Chris

 

[Subsea]

What else is in the tank to be dosing phytoplankton?

A full tank shot with white light would help us see what you see.

Please post your parameters.

 

[DNZ]

I have one of those orange lens things arriving today for taking better photos so will upload later.

I have:

2 snowflake clowns

2 hermit crabs
1 conch
2 nassarius snails


toadstool x 1
zoas - 2 frags
gsp - 1 frag
zenia - 1 frag
kenya tree + baby kenya tree
candy cane - 1 frag

Added:

Copopod shot
Rotifer shot
Phyto - 3 x 5ml spread over a few days

 

[DNZ]

takn with pumps off hence the little movement, hard to see on cam but they do move themselves when on the glass

 

[Subsea]

White light please

 

[Subsea]

After reviewing your list of corals, I am curious as to your reason to dose rotifers?

Are you planning on adding invertebrate that are filter feeders?

PS: I am ignorant about roitifers, so I goggled roitifer size.

• Size: The average length of a rotifer is about 0.2 - 0.5 mm
• Requires a microscope to see.

Depending on your live rock, I would expect copepods in a 3 month young tank.

 

[DNZ]

i didnt dose specifically for the corals, these have been in for a while now, cant remember exact reason why... i think i watched some youtube video about the benefits of cycling early with both copopods and rotifers so added a shot bag of each.

My tank after and throughout the whole process so far has been going to plan, i added a small amount phyto leading up to addition of corals

 

[Subsea]

Hey All,

It has been 2 weeks since i have done a water change in a 3 month old tank 20 gallon nano tank (skimmer running, carbon in bag only). My parameters are pretty perfect apart from a bit of phosphate i want to reduce. No visible algae, corals and fish happy.

The only thing I had is at least for 3-4 days now a bloom of what i think are rotifers. Tank isnt overly cloudy but there are enough of them to change the hue and there is an abundance of them on the glass. I put phytoplankton in earlier in week which is likely cause of spike

Watching/reading things online the suggestion seems to be to not do any water changes and leave it to die down as water change might give them more of the nutrients, however I also read a lot about nano tanks and how quickly they can go south and should keep on top of the water change.

My main question is what would the experienced reefers do? The water change or just leave it for another week?

Thanks

Chris

“My main question is what would the experienced reefers do? The water change or just leave it for another week.”

So, you dosed copepods & phytoplankton and then copepods flourished; now, they are in the water and on the glass. All good to me.

I see no reason to do an unscheduled water change.

 

[DNZ]

ah sorry, so its not an unscheduled change, i have a scheduled one today/tomorrow so wasn't sure whether to go for it or not but sounds like yes