Bacteria Bloom

[TC7]

Hi Guys,

My tank has been severe cloudy for about 4/5 days now and all the fish are constantly swimming at the top of the water. I am assuming it is a bacteria bloom, and was wondering how to/if I can clear it???

 

[fluttermoth]

Big water change to start off with; 80 or 90%.

 

[TC7]

Would a big water change be the cause of a bacteria bloom by any chance?
I bought a gravel vacuum on Sunday and used it but my tank looked horrendous afterwards (I probably didnt use it correctly ) The water was full of waste & pure black. So then I decided to clean the whole tank, and since the day after its been severe cloudy & fish are staying around top of water (deprived of oxygen I take it?)

I checked all my water stats last night and the are all perfect. I also bought a new air pump today & put it in the tank about an hour ago as I'd read this might help.

 

[fluttermoth]

When you say you 'cleaned the whole tank', what exactly did you do?

Have you tested the water at all?

 

[TC7]

Yes, I wrote above that I had tested the water last night and all my stats are perfect.

I removed everything from the tank and clean it all and put fresh water in, along with a few litres from the tank that I had the fish in.

 

[fluttermoth]

Did you disturb the filter at all? Change anything in it?

It sounds like the bacterial bloom you get in new tanks, so a few big water changes should clear it up

 

[TC7]

I removed the filter last night and cleaned the sponge inside of it, but I cleaned it in the tank water and not clean water.
I didnt really want to do a massive water change just yet as I am currently treating my male guppy for fin rot

Thanks for your help

 

[fluttermoth]

Ok, just checking!

There isn't really anything you can do, apart from water changes, I'm afraid.

 

[TC7]

Ok thanks, will get cracking tomorrow morning. Cant wait to see in my tank again, cant even see my plants & ornaments its so so bad

 

[fluttermoth]

Sure you can't manage to fit one in this evening?

 

[Aqua Tom]

What colour is your "cloudy" water. This is important.

White or milky = Bacterial Bloom.

Green = Algal Bloom.


Bacterial will clear up by itself, Algal needs some further investigating.

Tom

 

[TC7]

Fluttermouth - just seeing your msg now, I done an 90% water change last night and just done another there now and the water is much much better looking thankfully.

Tom - The water was white/milky colour.