Biological Bloom Cloudiness

So my tank water has some cloudiness to it after a 50% water change last Saturday and I’m almost positive it’s due to Biological Bloom. My fish are all happy and healthy and I’m going to pickup some filter media (Fluval Biomax Spec) to add to my filter canister. I did a gravel vacuum earlier today but the water has been cloudy since before that cleaning. I’ve seen some water clarifiers that claim to assist in speeding up the process of clearing the water but I don’t want to waste money if I just need to be patient and it will clear on it’s own. The tank has been set up for a month now 3 weeks with fish. Also does anyone know if a Fluval sponge filter cover will fit on my filter pictured? The Top Fin brand sponge filters are sold out and it looks like the Fluval one will slide on and do the trick. (PS- chemicals I am currently using are Prime (every other day) and Tetra East Balance Plus once a week.)

 

Can I ask why you're using the easy balance? Easy balance is basically meant for aquariums that do not receive regular water changes...If you don't have a personal reason for using it....I personally wouldn't use it but...the problem WITH using it is the fact that if you do not use it as directed on the packaging (if you use it occasionally rather than consistently), it can actually throw your water parameters out of whack...be careful with easy balance plus.

If the cloudiness is caused by a bacterial bloom, than you don't want to do anymore water changes on the tank.

Water clarifiers will indeed be a waste of money if it is a bacterial bloom. Water clarifiers work by taking particles that're floating around in the water and flocking them together. Coagulating them so they're dense enough to sink to the bottom, out of the water column. Considering bacteria aren't particles, the chemicals usually don't help with this.

The better supplement you could add would be a beneficial bacterial supplement like tetra safe start. This will add some of the bacteria that was removed back into the tank straight from the bottle. I keep a bottle on hand for this reason.

I'm not sure if a fluval sponge cover will fit that intake, but an aquaclear sponge...if you cut a hole in the middle of a 70G filter sponge media...that might work as a pre-filter.

I don't want to be offensive in adding redundant information you already know because you mentioned a bacterial bloom, but I'm not sure you're aware of what's going on when a bacterial bloom presents. Have you tested your water recently?

When the bacteria blooms and the water gets cloudy. The cloudiness you're seeing is actually the bacteria itself going into the water column to multiply. Either 1. (which is what I think happened - had to be) too much bacteria was removed to account for the CURRENT amount of ammonia (given off by the current fish) in the tank, so they need to multiply to get back to their 'normal' levels, or 2. more fish were added to the tank that caused the ammonia to spike, the bacteria may have to multiply to account for the extra ammonia. When there is bacterial cloudiness, you can almost assume there is also higher than average ammonia, You wouldn't have a bloom otherwise.

EDIT: So, in short, I would keep using prime for sure, try not to do water changes until it clears up on it's own. (unless you HAVE TO, but prime should detoxify the ammonia..) and if it's just not clearing up, the beneficial bacterial supplement should help remedy the issue faster.

 

Can I ask why you're using the easy balance? Easy balance is basically meant for aquariums that do not receive regular water changes...If you don't have a personal reason for using it....I personally wouldn't use it but...the problem WITH using it is the fact that if you do not use it as directed on the packaging (if you use it occasionally rather than consistently), it can actually throw your water parameters out of whack...be careful with easy balance plus.

If the cloudiness is caused by a bacterial bloom, than you don't want to do anymore water changes on the tank.

Water clarifiers will indeed be a waste of money if it is a bacterial bloom. Water clarifiers work by taking particles that're floating around in the water and flocking them together. Coagulating them so they're dense enough to sink to the bottom, out of the water column. Considering bacteria aren't particles, the chemicals usually don't help with this.

The better supplement you could add would be a beneficial bacterial supplement like tetra safe start. This will add some of the bacteria that was removed back into the tank straight from the bottle. I keep a bottle on hand for this reason.

I'm not sure if a fluval sponge cover will fit that intake, but an aquaclear sponge...if you cut a hole in the middle of a 70G filter sponge media...that might work as a pre-filter.

I don't want to be offensive in adding redundant information you already know because you mentioned a bacterial bloom, but I'm not sure you're aware of what's going on when a bacterial bloom presents. Have you tested your water recently?

When the bacteria blooms and the water gets cloudy. The cloudiness you're seeing is actually the bacteria itself going into the water column to multiply. Either 1. (which is what I think happened - had to be) too much bacteria was removed to account for the CURRENT amount of ammonia (given off by the current fish) in the tank, so they need to multiply to get back to their 'normal' levels, or 2. more fish were added to the tank that caused the ammonia to spike, the bacteria may have to multiply to account for the extra ammonia. When there is bacterial cloudiness, you can almost assume there is also higher than average ammonia, You wouldn't have a bloom otherwise.

EDIT: So, in short, I would keep using prime for sure, try not to do water changes until it clears up on it's own. (unless you HAVE TO, but prime should detoxify the ammonia..) and if it's just not clearing up, the beneficial bacterial supplement should help remedy the issue faster.

I have to respectfully disagree. Adding bottled bacteria will at best do nothing, and at worst, increase the number of bacteria, which is the problem to begin with, too many bacteria. I agree that clarifiers are a waste of $$$.

The bloom is caused by an imbalance between your bacteria and the amount of impurities (usually ammonia) in your water. This is normal, especially in a new tank. It's call "New Tank Syndrome". The best thing to do, is, DO NOTHING. It will resolve itself. Keep an eye on your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates, and do a water change to keep your combined ammonia and nitrites at less than 1 ppm, and you will do fine.

Doing a WC just to clear the cloudiness is not advised because it is only temporary. The bloom will be back withing 24 hours, and you're right back where you started.

Let it run it's course, and watch for ammonia and nitrites going over 1 ppm combined, then do a WC for that.

 

Can I ask why you're using the easy balance? Easy balance is basically meant for aquariums that do not receive regular water changes...If you don't have a personal reason for using it....I personally wouldn't use it but...the problem WITH using it is the fact that if you do not use it as directed on the packaging (if you use it occasionally rather than consistently), it can actually throw your water parameters out of whack...be careful with easy balance plus.

If the cloudiness is caused by a bacterial bloom, than you don't want to do anymore water changes on the tank.

Water clarifiers will indeed be a waste of money if it is a bacterial bloom. Water clarifiers work by taking particles that're floating around in the water and flocking them together. Coagulating them so they're dense enough to sink to the bottom, out of the water column. Considering bacteria aren't particles, the chemicals usually don't help with this.

The better supplement you could add would be a beneficial bacterial supplement like tetra safe start. This will add some of the bacteria that was removed back into the tank straight from the bottle. I keep a bottle on hand for this reason.

I'm not sure if a fluval sponge cover will fit that intake, but an aquaclear sponge...if you cut a hole in the middle of a 70G filter sponge media...that might work as a pre-filter.

I don't want to be offensive in adding redundant information you already know because you mentioned a bacterial bloom, but I'm not sure you're aware of what's going on when a bacterial bloom presents. Have you tested your water recently?

When the bacteria blooms and the water gets cloudy. The cloudiness you're seeing is actually the bacteria itself going into the water column to multiply. Either 1. (which is what I think happened - had to be) too much bacteria was removed to account for the CURRENT amount of ammonia (given off by the current fish) in the tank, so they need to multiply to get back to their 'normal' levels, or 2. more fish were added to the tank that caused the ammonia to spike, the bacteria may have to multiply to account for the extra ammonia. When there is bacterial cloudiness, you can almost assume there is also higher than average ammonia, You wouldn't have a bloom otherwise.

EDIT: So, in short, I would keep using prime for sure, try not to do water changes until it clears up on it's own. (unless you HAVE TO, but prime should detoxify the ammonia..) and if it's just not clearing up, the beneficial bacterial supplement should help remedy the issue faster.

The Easy Balance was a suggestion by one of the fish guys at one of my local pet stores. So far I have only used it twice after water changes.
I think I’m going to just add the bio filter media today after I pick it up and see how quick that has an effect. I know I need it to collect beneficial bacteria and help catch some of the particles floating in the water.

Should I get anything else other than the BioMax to add to my filter?

 

As others said chemicals are a waste of money invest in an API liquid test kit and test daily for ammonia nitrites and nitrates and if none are present don’t change the water. Only need Prime and a liquid test kit when ammonia and or nitrites get to about .5 then do a 50% WC and add Prime for the entire volume of the tank and wait it out... it’ll clear up once the beneficial bacteria becomes more established

 

I have to respectfully disagree. Adding bottled bacteria will at best do nothing, and at worst, increase the number of bacteria, which is the problem to begin with, too many bacteria. I agree that clarifiers are a waste of $$$.

The bloom is caused by an imbalance between your bacteria and the amount of impurities (usually ammonia) in your water. This is normal, especially in a new tank. It's call "New Tank Syndrome". The best thing to do, is, DO NOTHING. It will resolve itself. Keep an eye on your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates, and do a water change to keep your combined ammonia and nitrites at less than 1 ppm, and you will do fine.

Doing a WC just to clear the cloudiness is not advised because it is only temporary. The bloom will be back withing 24 hours, and you're right back where you started.

Let it run it's course, and watch for ammonia and nitrites going over 1 ppm combined, then do a WC for that.

I'm sorry but I don't understand why adding more bacteria would be a bad thing at all, or a not helpful thing? Help me understand because with how I understand the cycle, that makes no sense. If there is too much ammonia in the tank, than you'd want more bacteria to control that ammonia?

How would there be too much bacteria? The blooms are caused by less bacteria and more ammonia unless I'm totally wrong there but...the amount of bacteria in the tank can't grow more than the ammonia present in the tank.....so how would there be too much bacteria? I'm just confused, I've understood the cycle the same way for the past 4 years now...Essentially I agree, the best thing to do is do NOTHING. Doing a water change is worse than not and I explained that in extreme detail.....but if you were to do SOMETHING, the only thing I would think...would be worth doing is adding a BB supplement.

Throw that Easy balance in the trash and don't ever let a sales associate sell you something if you dont 100% understand why he's selling it to you...That's just my personal opinion but....at the store where I work, when I first started, we have to test on products and easy balance was one of my products and because I was so new, my manager basically told me everything about it. The chemical itself was used in war times to help keep the water clean for drinking because purification methods weren't adequate at the time. You don't need it at all for your aquarium unless there is something especially dirty about your tap water (like initial high nitrate) and maybe the sale associate knew that about the area that you live....just be careful using that product. If you choose to keep using it, never miss a beat with it.

Should you get anything else for the filter? I would say no? the BB supplement IS optional though I still think it MIGHT help but...essentially you're waiting for your bacteria to multiply and calm down. The biomax will give them more space to flock to but, for now it's basically a waiting game.

 

I'm sorry but I don't understand why adding more bacteria would be a bad thing at all, or a not helpful thing? Help me understand because with how I understand the cycle, that makes no sense. If there is too much ammonia in the tank, than you'd want more bacteria to control that ammonia?

How would there be too much bacteria? The blooms are caused by less bacteria and more ammonia unless I'm totally wrong there but...the amount of bacteria in the tank can't grow more than the ammonia present in the tank.....so how would there be too much bacteria? I'm just confused, I've understood the cycle the same way for the past 4 years now...Essentially I agree, the best thing to do is do NOTHING. Doing a water change is worse than not and I explained that in extreme detail.....but if you were to do SOMETHING, the only thing I would think...would be worth doing is adding a BB supplement.

I hope these two links help explain it. You're partially correct, a bacteria bloom may be triggered by excess ammonia, but that's what causes the bacteria to multiply to the point that there are too many bacteria, and in such a large number, they can actually be seen as a colony, and that's the cloudiness we see. Adding more (bottled bacteria) will not help, and is just as much a waste of money as the water clarifiers are. The best treatment is to let it clear naturally, with regular water tests to monitor the ammonia, and water changes to control ammonia.

Bacterial Bloom: Understanding What It Is and How to Fix It

Aquarium Adventure :: Fish Keeping Tip Sheets

 

I didn't realize there were heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria. But that's about the only thing that surprised me...I'm still confused as to why a beneficial bacterial addition would not help to reduce the ammonia at all. especially if you're adding the nitrosomonas bacteria (the autotrophic, slower reproducing one), the one that'll help lower that ammonia.

Its the heterotrophic bacteria that're usually causing the cloudiness, this isn't nitrosomonas...and the heterotrophs also cause the increase in ammonia, you're waiting for the autotrophs, the nitrosomonas bacteria...to multiply to catch up and consume the ammonia from the heterotrophs...in this instance I still don't understand how adding tetra safe start would not help lower the ammonia at all. I understand then the recommendation of quick start would not be adequate...but....fair enough, we have different perspectives.

though I do agree to leave the tank alone and let things balance on their own, that'd just be the best thing. You don't want to rush the blooms or you'll only end up with more blooms..

 

Well I checked my water today and everything looks good. I added more bio filter media to my canister and I purchased a sponge filter and also a pad to cover my impeller that will arrive this weekend. I’m also adding some Poly-Fil to my filter tomorrow so hopefully this will help and speed up the process bc my tank is horribly cloudy at the moment with my water tests coming back fine. I hope the extra filtration and media will do the job. FYI...My fish are doing very well and look very healthy even though it’s hard to see them unless then are near the front of the tank.