TANK ALL CLEAN!
- Thread starter TheBroc
- Start date
As has been said it looks to be a bacterial bloom, most likely due to elevated nitrate levels; that's my guess. I say that because you said you have a problem with algae which one of the contributing factors in an over abundance of algae growth is elevated nitrate levels. Nitrate levels can become elevated due to over crowding, overfeeding, the sudden addition of more fish then the already established biological filtration could handle or insufficient filtration. Any of these factors can cause a sudden bacterial bloom, if it's the addition of fish, water changes and time will help the bacteria to establish themselves in the proper levels to deal with excess bioload as long as it's within reason.
Interestingly enough what probably helped keep your water clear was the algae you scrubbed off as it was helping your biological filtration by consuming the excess nitrates. I believe the algae made up for the lack of biological filtration you have by keeping the tank so barren or not having the right amount of certain filter media or a small filter size. In my experience a barren tank needs better consideration in its filtration system and it's media and better consideration of the tanks occupants to help keep the nitrate levels in check. This is because the addition of ornaments and substrate creates more places for the biological filtration that consumes nitrates to establish themselves. One of the reason they help is because nitrate consuming bacteria is unlike bacteria that consumes nitrites and ammonia which like oxygen rich environments, nitrate consuming bacteria thrives in areas of low oxygen. So it will grow and thrive under the sand or under tiles and in the porous parts of ornaments that don't get much water circulation creating a secondary home for the bacteria outside your filter; which of course more is better as more of them can handle a larger bioload.
Sorry if that was long winded, just figured it was worth explaining, which by the way might explains why your other tanks are stable. As for how to fix it we first have to figure out for sure what the problem is instead of me just guessing. Do you think you over feed? How often do you feed? What kind of filters are you running on the 135 and what kind of media are you using? How long do you leave your lights on for? Does the tank get any sunlight?
Interestingly enough what probably helped keep your water clear was the algae you scrubbed off as it was helping your biological filtration by consuming the excess nitrates. I believe the algae made up for the lack of biological filtration you have by keeping the tank so barren or not having the right amount of certain filter media or a small filter size. In my experience a barren tank needs better consideration in its filtration system and it's media and better consideration of the tanks occupants to help keep the nitrate levels in check. This is because the addition of ornaments and substrate creates more places for the biological filtration that consumes nitrates to establish themselves. One of the reason they help is because nitrate consuming bacteria is unlike bacteria that consumes nitrites and ammonia which like oxygen rich environments, nitrate consuming bacteria thrives in areas of low oxygen. So it will grow and thrive under the sand or under tiles and in the porous parts of ornaments that don't get much water circulation creating a secondary home for the bacteria outside your filter; which of course more is better as more of them can handle a larger bioload.
Sorry if that was long winded, just figured it was worth explaining, which by the way might explains why your other tanks are stable. As for how to fix it we first have to figure out for sure what the problem is instead of me just guessing. Do you think you over feed? How often do you feed? What kind of filters are you running on the 135 and what kind of media are you using? How long do you leave your lights on for? Does the tank get any sunlight?
I am sorry to think dif on this, but a simple water test with a API master fresh water test kit, as all fish keepers should have answer the question. ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, and sorry but high nitrate will never cause a bacteria bloom. water be crystal clear while you killing your fish. Matter of fact crystal clear water has probably killed more fish than anything else because they think water is crystal clear. it can not be that. wrong, its a crystal clear toxic soup.
kolt, no offence, but the only way to remove nitrates is by water changes, you can never have enough plant life in a tank to do this. That would be the holy grail of fish keeping. water changes need to take place at or before 20ppm nitrate reading. DMG starts to occur at 25 ppm to a fishes internal organs. over time the fishes life is shortened and they croak early. if left high? HITH for oscars happen, and other cichlids. all the time the water is crystal clear.
I was feeding 2x a day. Dropped it to once a day. I am running TWO 405 fluval canisters. I had the lights on 6-8 hours a day. Now I don't turn them on at all, only for a few minutes to make sure all fish are there.
if its algae turn the lights off for a little. run the light for like 3-4 hours a day instead just my opinion
