Hello! Just wanted to see if this is bacterial bloom?

[Ms.nothing]

I ran this tank for about 4 weeks with it on the verge of cycling we had to suddenly add our fish into the tank, due to issues with our 10 gallon being too small. We are both new to the hobby and have yet to see a bacterial bloom in action, its been like that for 2 days and they have been in there for about a week or two. Could it be something else? We have no dead fish or snails in the tank. If it is a bloom are the fish okay to live in it?

 

[kwi]

Looks like it, will clear in time, iirc it will not directly harm the fish but can use up O2 so up your surface agitation a bit.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Definitely look like a bacterial bloom to me.

Increasing water surface agitation will certainly assist in oxygen exchange as kwi mentioned in earlier post.

And no, bacterial bloom will not harm livestock although bacterial blooms are more common in newly starting cycles than in later stages of cycling process.

While I see you say you’ve been running the tank for 4 weeks and you mentioned on the verge of cycling, just want to be sure that you have been dosing the tank with 3ppm ammonia and doing regular testing of the water parameters before adding the fish?

Or have you used cycled media from the 10 gallon tank?

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

On an unrelated note while I like the fun decor, is it all aquarium safe?

Like the glowy pumpkin - is that a real aquarium decoration?

 

[Retired Viking]

I agree it appears to be a bacterial bloom, more aeration would be a good thing for your fish until it clears up. While I enjoy the look of your tanks @AdoraBelle Dearheart does raise a valid point. Some items that are not meant to be underwater can have chemicals on them that can harm fish as do some plastics.

 

[Colin_T]

do a big water change to help dilute it

 

[Barry Tetra]

do a big water change to help dilute it

Welcome back! We been missing you.

 

[jonnyc88]

I certainly have experience with bacterial blooms and it does look like one, although it's quite severe.
I'd test your water parameters daily just to ensure it's not something else.
If it's bacterial bloom it should clear in 2-3 days. Again from experience if it's bacterial bloom and your water parameters are ok I'd refrain from a water change.

 

[kwi]

It took 9 days for my initial "pea soup" bloom to clear so don't panic if it takes a bit longer than 1 or 2 days

 

[jonnyc88]

It took 9 days for my initial "pea soup" bloom to clear so don't panic if it takes a bit longer than 1 or 2 days

If by “pea soup” do you mean algae bloom (green-ish water)? They are different to bacterial bloom though.

I shouldn’t take longer than few days for a bacterial bloom to clear on it’s own, unless there’s other factors involved. I would really recommend testing the water parameters.

 

[kwi]

If by “pea soup” do you meant algae bloom (green-ish water)? They are different to bacterial bloom though.

I shouldn’t take longer than few days for a bacterial bloom to clear on it’s own, unless there’s other factors involved. I would really recommend testing the water parameters.

No I meant as in like pea soup fog, it wasn't an algae bloom.
Water clouded by the end of the day I did my first ammonia dose, by the third day I couldn't see anymore than 3-4cm through the water, was 5 days before it started to clear and 9 before it was totally clear.

 

[jonnyc88]

No I meant as in like pea soup fog, it wasn't an algae bloom.
Water clouded by the end of the day I did my first ammonia dose, by the third day I couldn't see anymore than 3-4cm through the water, was 5 days before it started to clear and 9 before it was totally clear.

Ah I see. If you are dosing with ammonia I’m guessing there’s no livestock in your tank during the bloom?

Again, from experience, with livestock in tank I’d definitely keep an eye on water parameters if there’s bacterial bloom.

 

[kwi]

Ah I see. If you are dosing with ammonia I’m guessing there’s no livestock in your tank during the bloom?

Again, from experience, with livestock in tank I’d definitely keep an eye on water parameters if there’s bacterial bloom.

Not even plants at the moment. I expected a bloom to happen, just not as suddenly and not for as long, but at least I know my dechlorinator works........