Tank is foggy after adding pods

[higher99]

Hey R2R,

Quick question to see if this is normal or if I should be concerned. I have an Innovative Marine 25g Lagoon with a DIY refugium in the back growing chaeto. A few days ago, I received a bottle of mixed copepods and a bottle of phytoplankton from Reef Plantation. Everything arrived in good condition, bottles were cold, no damage.



I followed the instructions and added all the pods at once. About 70 percent went into the mini refugium with the chaeto and the rest went into the display. Almost immediately after that, I noticed the tank became pretty cloudy. This was before I even dosed phyto. I dosed phyto one time a day or two later, and since then the water has stayed cloudy. It’s been a few days now and the tank is still noticeably hazy.

I tested my water yesterday and ammonia is basically zero, nitrite is zero, and nitrate is also zero. Fish are acting normal, nothing seems stressed, but the cloudiness has me second guessing things. I’ve read that introducing pods to a newer system can sometimes cause a bacterial bloom and cloudy water, so I’m wondering if that’s what I’m seeing here.

Has anyone else experienced cloudy water after adding copepods to a newer tank? Did it clear up on its own, or did you do anything to help it along?

Appreciate any input, just want to make sure nothing bad is going on.

 

[Sam7]

pods should not cloud the water.....phyto will until its used up or cycled out

 

[JonoH]

Probably just a bacterial bloom from adding the phyto - should clear up in a day or so.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

It should not, the pods would be added to sterile tank water in a sterile bottle with phyto to feed the pods, nothing about it could cause fogginess. Did you see the pods alive and swimming, was it a fresh bottle? Is it a new tank? If its a new tank, I am inclined to think it is coincidence, new tanks do get blooms sometimes.

 

[higher99]

pods should not cloud the water.....phyto will until its used up or cycled out

I added only a capful of phyto 2 days after adding the pods.

 

[higher99]

Probably just a bacterial bloom from adding the phyto - should clear up in a day or so.

I think so too, I've been seeing a increase amount of brown algae on my glass and also live rocks as of this week. Maybe the introduction of pods was the last straw.
Should I do a water change today?

 

[higher99]

It should not, the pods would be added to sterile tank water in a sterile bottle with phyto to feed the pods, nothing about it could cause fogginess. Did you see the pods alive and swimming, was it a fresh bottle? Is it a new tank? If its a new tank, I am inclined to think it is coincidence, new tanks do get blooms sometimes.

Yes the pods were alive & swimming after I temperature-acclimated them. The water the pods came in was crystal clear. Do you recommend me do a water change?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Yes the pods were alive & swimming after I temperature-acclimated them. The water the pods came in was crystal clear. Do you recommend me do a water change?

I'm guessing it is a bacteria bloom, again like said it sometimes happens in new tanks, but its actually rather harmless so don't worry. Water changes will make the bloom last longer, so don't do any water changes until the bloom is over. Bacteria bloom lasts about a week or two at most then goes away on its own after the bacteria has depleted the food source (water changes replenish the food source... its complicated). If you have fish in the tank, bacteria bloom depletes oxygen, so if you have an air pump it will be a good idea to add it to the tank to add extra oxygen.

 

[JonoH]

I think so too, I've been seeing a increase amount of brown algae on my glass and also live rocks as of this week. Maybe the introduction of pods was the last straw.
Should I do a water change today?

You can, but probably not really necessary - it will settle on its own.

You can run a UV to help...but thats not a cost effective solution if you don't already have one.

 

[sgdnycct]

How long has the tank been running?

 

[higher99]

Update: It’s been about a few days and the tank has fully cleared. This happened mainly due to the filter sock being cleaned and cutting back on feeding.

I do see expedited algae growth on the glass these past few days but I’m testing out a new AI Prime setting (dark blues).

If anyone has a AI Prime and would be down to share their settings, I’d like to check it out!

Currently keeping softies & x1 toadstool leather coral.