Algae Bloom Milky Colored

[dee dee]

Two weeks ago I noticed a clear to beige gelatinous (snot-like) goo over my filters. I cleaned everything, the tubing was almost clogged, replaced filters and it keeps coming back. Now the tank is milky. I started a UV sterilizer.

The tank has had pond snails for several months. I manually remove them, but they are not as prolific as when they were first noticed.

Advice please...

29 gal.
2 angels
10 yellow fin tetras
6 cory cats
1 6 in plec.

Ammonia 1.0 ppm
Nitrate <5.0 ppm
Nitrite neg.
PH 8.0 (hard water here)

 

[Assaye]

This is not an algae bloom but a bacterial bloom. The milky colour gives that away.

Bacterial blooms are caused when there is something in the water that causes the water-borne bacteria to start reproducing very quickly. These bacteria are usually the ones responsible for converting organic matter into ammonia and your high ammonia reading supports this theory.

The bacterial bloom will correct itself. The bacteria reproduce too fast for water changes to be effective. However, your high ammonia reading is very worrying in a stocked tank. You need to use water changes to bring this down to zero. Test your water twice a day and do at least one 50% water change a day until the ammonia is consistently zero. If your second test (several hours after the first) shows high ammonia again (anything above zero), then do a second large water change. Start off with one 80% water change and move down to two slightly smaller water changes from there. You need to keep ammonia and nitrite at zero at all times.

Th bacterial bloom may have been caused by something rotting in the tank such as uneaten food, decaying plants or a dead animal (fish or snails in your case). Check to see if there is anything like this and do a very good gravel clean with a gravel vacuum. Also give your filter media a clean in a bowl of tank water to make sure it isn't clogged.

 

[dee dee]

This is not an algae bloom but a bacterial bloom. The milky colour gives that away.

Thank you for the imformative reply. I changed the water and the Ammonia is now 0. I left the UV in the tank. That's ok, I think.

I have been trying to starve the snails by feeding lightly and making sure there are minimal left-overs. I always vacuum the gravel as regular maintenance. Do you think I should replace part of the gravel to dispose of the snail detritus?

All fish are accounted for at this time.

Thank you so much, Dee Dee

 

[Assaye]

This is not an algae bloom but a bacterial bloom. The milky colour gives that away.

Thank you for the imformative reply. I changed the water and the Ammonia is now 0. I left the UV in the tank. That's ok, I think.

I have been trying to starve the snails by feeding lightly and making sure there are minimal left-overs. I always vacuum the gravel as regular maintenance. Do you think I should replace part of the gravel to dispose of the snail detritus?

All fish are accounted for at this time.

Thank you so much, Dee Dee

Keep that water ammonia free and the bloom should sort itself out. Give your gravel an extra clean to be sure. No need to throw any out as long as it's nice and clean, right deep down.

Hope it sorts itself out