Bacterial Bloom?

[dzsigmond217]

So I had set up a new 7 gallon tank using media from my established tank and days later BAM! nitrite reading off the charts. This was the first time I tried setting up a new tank with media from an established tank and I guess I did it wrong. I looked closely at the tank water (before I realized the nitrite level was so high) and saw these 'clouds' wafting around. Is this a bacterial bloom?? To say the least I have been doing major water changes and adding extra Prime. The nitrite level is down to almost nil. Can anyone tell me about bacteria blooms??

 

[5teady_2012]

There are a number of causes for water not to be crystal clear. Bacteria, medications, algal blooms or dyes in solution can all cause an aquarium to have discoloured water.
Milky Water
Bacterial blooms all are a result of a population explosion of hetertrophic bacteria in the water column. Generally there are two causes.

1) New Tank Syndrome
- a newly established aquarium often will go cloudy about three days after it is set up. Bacterial blooms in this case are a result of the sterile conditions after chlorine removal suddenly able to support bacterial populations. In most cases the growth explosion is controlled by the amount of organics present in the water when it was dechlorinated. When there an excess amount, the fast replicating bacteria up in the water column explode, using the nutrients in the water supply to heavily overpopulate, so much so that the tremendous number becomes a visible cloud in the water. Heavy instances of a bacterial bloom will look like someone poured a glass of milk into the tank

2) Bacterial Bloom in Older Aquariums
- Older aquariums are often overfed, fish may die and live plants can lose leaves, in other words there are a number of nutrient sources that can unbalance the bacterial populations in an established aquarium. In most instances the most important factor is the amount of food offered to the aquarium. Excessive food addition adds nutrients to the environment that are not always used by the fish. These easy meals for bacteria promote overpopulation and the same milky cloud that is seen in "New Tank Syndrome". The only real difference is the nutritive source and the timing compared to the intallation of the aquarium.
SOLUTION - Take a look at a local pet store's remedy shelves and count the water clarifiers. They are designed to precipitate out the cloud and leave the aquarium "Crystal Clear". They work - as directed - but only address the symptom. I suggest to refrain from feeding the aquarium for three days to allow the bacterial populations to naturally remove the nutrients. When this is done, the populations die back due to lack of food and the problem - as well as the symptom - disappears. Water clarifiers are great for the symptom, but I add as few extraneous chemicals to my aquarium, I prefer to help nature take its course.

 

[Minni3]

i got that when I was cycling my tank as well. it cleared up iin a few days. As long as your water smells earthy rather than fishy, then there's nothing to worry about.

 

[chicklette]

This is normal when first setting up the tank. Do you have any fish in there? If so you need to start doing lots of water changes.

This is a bacterial bloom which is a good thing.

 

[dzsigmond217]

This is normal when first setting up the tank. Do you have any fish in there? If so you need to start doing lots of water changes.

This is a bacterial bloom which is a good thing.

Good to know! A'yup..been doin' those (water changes)

 

[SJ2K]

Bear in mind these can spring up even a few months down the line Ive battled a few in the past, as said, nothing plenty of water changes wont cure.