bacterial bloom vs water changes?

[iloveoscars702]

will water changes help get rid of my bact. bloom in my tank? a week ago my water was almost clear and i did a water change yesturday for my weekly water change and now its clowdy again . will another water change help with my situation?

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

water changes and time will cure this. But be sure to take some reading on your water. Most of the time a bacteria bloom is a result of ammonia build up in the water. If so do enough water changes to keep ammonia down under .5-1.0ppm. I try for .5ppm on new tanks with fish.

 

[iloveoscars702]

ok i just did a water level check and here are the readings...

ammonia: is in between 0 and .25 ppm
nitrate: jsut above 5ppm
nitrite: 0 ppm

is my problem the nitrates? and also i cleaned my cannisters and media... so would that be my problem also? andd would it be alright to do a small water change right now?

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Check water parameters. If they are acceptable leave it alone. Who cares if it looks cloudy, it will disappear eventually. Important thing is the water parameters.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

ok i just did a water level check and here are the readings...

ammonia: is in between 0 and .25 ppm
nitrate: jsut above 5ppm
nitrite: 0 ppm

is my problem the nitrates? and also i cleaned my cannisters and media... so would that be my problem also? andd would it be alright to do a small water change right now?

I would leave it alone. You will just keep restarting the bloom. Toomany water changes and just cleaning your filters is alot of stress on the bacteria. In about 1-2 hours check the parameters again. If it is rising then do a small water change. If its about the same or less leave it alone. But check it again in anohter 1-2 hours.

 

[iloveoscars702]

I would leave it alone. You will just keep restarting the bloom. Toomany water changes and just cleaning your filters is alot of stress on the bacteria. In about 1-2 hours check the parameters again. If it is rising then do a small water change. If its about the same or less leave it alone. But check it again in anohter 1-2 hours.

these parameters have been the same since 8 in the morning... so i guess ima just let it sit. i think ima prob start doing wc every other week. instead of every week and see how the water clarity improves.

 

[dave'stank]

Does UV light destroy this bloom or possibly prevent it from occuring in the first place?

 

[iloveoscars702]

Does UV light destroy this bloom or possibly prevent it from occuring in the first place?

uv is mostly used to remove algae blooms.. so iono if it would bacterial blooms in tanks..

 

[Pyramid_Party]

these parameters have been the same since 8 in the morning... so i guess ima just let it sit. i think ima prob start doing wc every other week. instead of every week and see how the water clarity improves.

Yeah thats a better idea. Its said that you are not suppose to do aggressive cleaning/gravel vacs too often or it disrupts the bacteria. Just keep an eye on your parameters and you should be fine. The cloudiness will disappear.

 

[iloveoscars702]

alright thanks.. i think ima stick with my idea. my dang lfs sayed 40% water change and substrate cleaning would help with my bact. bloom and its only made it worse
thats the last time ima take advise from my lfs.