Bacterial bloom with AS

SPL-311 · 04-16-2008, 06:06 PM

I have a 90cm tank set up for around 2 months now, heavily planted with glosso and micro-sword. The plants are doing great, as are the 10 or so ottos I have in there. The problem is an extremely persistant bacterial bloom badly clouding the water. All parameters test out in check so I am quite sure the tank is completely cycled.

I feel like I've waited long enough for it to clear, and now I'm ready to go on the offensive. I have a UV I'll put in when I get home from work, and maybe stop by the fish shop for some purigen. Any other suggestions short of a diatom filter (which is not far off if the UV doesn't work). Thanks.

**aquanut415** · 04-16-2008, 06:24 PM

wanna borrow my diatom filter?

SPL-311 · 04-16-2008, 06:29 PM

Thanks for the offer - but I just moved to Portland

I'll change my profile. Dang that would have really helped me.

**aquanut415** · 04-16-2008, 06:39 PM

wow, I see. hope everything works out for you. and remember, don't drink the tap water!

SPL-311 · 04-17-2008, 03:50 PM

So I did a 90% water change and started the UV last night. Think I'm on the right track? I'll go to the DE filter in a week or so if I have to.

honor · 04-17-2008, 03:55 PM

top off with distilled water? walmart sells a gallon for a few bucks.

SPL-311 · 04-21-2008, 05:06 PM

Well, I've had the UV running all weekend and it didn't make a lick of difference. The water looks sort of white/brown cloudy not green, so I'm thinking it's either a problem with the Aquasoil or a bacterial bloom.

I've had this cloudy water problem for around 2 months now. That's way too long for just a standard bacterial bloom correct? Any ideas on how to clear up the water? I don't really want to spend the money for a diatom filter just to find out that doesn't work either...

**MrJG** · 04-21-2008, 05:53 PM

Are you using AS I or the new AS II?

The reason I ask is this sounds eerily similar to the problems that folks with very alkaline water were having with the original product. This is why the II type was developed. There is a gargantuan thread around here somewhere about it.

SPL-311 · 04-21-2008, 10:19 PM

It's mostly original Type I with 1 bag of Type II. I've tested the tap water and it's pretty close to neutral, and very soft. I'll try to find the other thread you mentioned and see what I can dig up.

In the meantime I'm going to try setting up a second canister filter I've got packed to the gills with filter floss and carbon. Also a 50% water change tonight.

SPL-311 · 04-23-2008, 04:42 AM

Here's what I'm lookin at tonight. 75% water change yesterday, 50% change today. Added additional canister filter with a bunch of floss and carbon. Think a bag of purigen will take care of this or should I go with a vortex?

edit: it looks better in the photos than in reality. The tank gets so cloudy I can't see the back after a couple days.

04-16-2008, 06:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
SPL-311 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PDX Posts: 94	Bacterial bloom with AS I have a 90cm tank set up for around 2 months now, heavily planted with glosso and micro-sword. The plants are doing great, as are the 10 or so ottos I have in there. The problem is an extremely persistant bacterial bloom badly clouding the water. All parameters test out in check so I am quite sure the tank is completely cycled. I feel like I've waited long enough for it to clear, and now I'm ready to go on the offensive. I have a UV I'll put in when I get home from work, and maybe stop by the fish shop for some purigen. Any other suggestions short of a diatom filter (which is not far off if the UV doesn't work). Thanks.

04-16-2008, 06:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
aquanut415 planted tank sickness (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Marin County, CA Posts: 733	wanna borrow my diatom filter? __________________ http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/

04-16-2008, 06:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
aquanut415 planted tank sickness (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Marin County, CA Posts: 733	wow, I see. hope everything works out for you. and remember, don't drink the tap water! __________________ http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/

04-21-2008, 05:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
MrJG 'member that cow? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (48) Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lancaster, S.C. Posts: 566	Are you using AS I or the new AS II? The reason I ask is this sounds eerily similar to the problems that folks with very alkaline water were having with the original product. This is why the II type was developed. There is a gargantuan thread around here somewhere about it. __________________ 2.5G nano 10G Hex 20G long CRS 40G Breeder

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04-16-2008, 06:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
SPL-311 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PDX Posts: 94	Thanks for the offer - but I just moved to Portland I'll change my profile. Dang that would have really helped me.

04-17-2008, 03:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
SPL-311 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PDX Posts: 94	So I did a 90% water change and started the UV last night. Think I'm on the right track? I'll go to the DE filter in a week or so if I have to.

04-17-2008, 03:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
honor Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Los Angeles California Posts: 379	top off with distilled water? walmart sells a gallon for a few bucks.

04-21-2008, 05:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
SPL-311 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PDX Posts: 94	Well, I've had the UV running all weekend and it didn't make a lick of difference. The water looks sort of white/brown cloudy not green, so I'm thinking it's either a problem with the Aquasoil or a bacterial bloom. I've had this cloudy water problem for around 2 months now. That's way too long for just a standard bacterial bloom correct? Any ideas on how to clear up the water? I don't really want to spend the money for a diatom filter just to find out that doesn't work either...

04-21-2008, 10:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
SPL-311 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PDX Posts: 94	It's mostly original Type I with 1 bag of Type II. I've tested the tap water and it's pretty close to neutral, and very soft. I'll try to find the other thread you mentioned and see what I can dig up. In the meantime I'm going to try setting up a second canister filter I've got packed to the gills with filter floss and carbon. Also a 50% water change tonight.

04-23-2008, 04:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
SPL-311 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PDX Posts: 94	Here's what I'm lookin at tonight. 75% water change yesterday, 50% change today. Added additional canister filter with a bunch of floss and carbon. Think a bag of purigen will take care of this or should I go with a vortex? edit: it looks better in the photos than in reality. The tank gets so cloudy I can't see the back after a couple days.

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