Uv For Bacterial Bloom?

[SJ2K]

Never heard of that happening before and im quite certainly thats not the problem id imagine its got somthing to do with the bacterial transfer between filters.

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Indeed, if your filter bacteria is becoming loose from the media and flowing into the water column that would cause a bloom if there was enough waste for them to consume.

Is the bloom only when you clean the filter?

 

[SJ2K]

Its hard to tell, it lasts so long often cleaning periods over-lap. There annoying particles because they dont seem to move with the flow atall, just bob in the column.

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

How weird?

I would put a big sponge filter in the tank and let the bacteria bond to that. Just to see if it makes a difference. Other than that i am lost for ideas (and this would be the point i put the UV in, lol)

Chris

 

[SJ2K]

Hense My Enquiry

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Well i would try the sponge first and then come back and let me know what happens.

Chris

 

[SJ2K]

Well the idea was, if I get the go ahead for the new tank next year (55g mbuna), id have one of those filters running in it anyways, so to cycle it I would run in inside my 20 for a few months first Was wondering if I did if it'd help clear up any bacterial bloom for me aswell (2 birds with 1 filter).

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Thats what I did for my 60 gallon, apart from the bacterial bloom. Give it a try and see what happens.

Chris

 

[SJ2K]

As you've contributed so much to the topic ill contact you personly and tell you if it worked lol

Cya

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Cheers very muchly, hope it goes well.

Chris

 

[mark.w.jones]

Very strange. You are over stocked but then are over filtering so stocking shouldn't be an issue. Have you just added a new school of fish just before the bloom?

A few other things which may help us:

1. How much, what and how often are you feeding at the moment?
2. Do you have any live plants. If so which species and what fertilisers are you using?
3. What is your current maintance schedule? Amount of water changed, how often, what cleaning are you doing?
4. Are you medicating you tank in any way at the moment?
5. What temp. are you running at and what are your readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH.

The UV filter will help but in a balanced and smooth running tank you don't need one so we need to work out what's going wrong. Bacterial blooms are often caused by an ammonia spike or by excessive nutrients in your water. The questions above will hopefully pinpoint where the excessive nutrients are coming from.

 

[SJ2K]

1) Once a day, small pinch of flakes and occasional pinch of catfish pellets.

2) Some java fern added recently, no measures taken to feed them, there living off low light and fish waste.

3) Current schedule is every 2/3 days im doing partial water changes, including gravel vacuuming (a little more then needed but it helps clear the water).

4) Not anymore (Have done once, the bloom began before adding it and has continued well after its cleared)

5) Temp ranges from 25-28, Ammonia and nitrite are a consistant 0, nitrate goes from 10 to 20 and Ph is about 7.8

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

1) Once a day, small pinch of flakes and occasional pinch of catfish pellets.

2) Some java fern added recently, no measures taken to feed them, there living off low light and fish waste.

3) Current schedule is every 2/3 days im doing partial water changes, including gravel vacuuming (a little more then needed but it helps clear the water).

4) Not anymore (Have done once, the bloom began before adding it and has continued well after its cleared)

5) Temp ranges from 25-28, Ammonia and nitrite are a consistant 0, nitrate goes from 10 to 20 and Ph is about 7.8

Everything sounds fine with that, maybe some other plants will help.

Chris

 

[SJ2K]

Got another on order lol, im on the ball with this one.

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Got another on order lol, im on the ball with this one.

Brilliant idea, maybe you should try a "nitrate sponge" plant in your stocking, surface plants are the best for this, duckweed/riccia etc.