Identifying bacterial bloom - should I use water clarifier? (API Accu Clear)

[jonnyc88]

Is there a way to tell if it's floating particles or bacterial bloom?

My tank is very slightly cloudy and I can see some very tiny particles and also some micro bubbles. I've done almost daily water changes but it's still not crystal clear.

I'm thinking of using a water clarifier (API Accu clear) to see if it makes any difference but not too sure if this would be a good idea. Will using water clarifier during bacterial bloom make it worse?

Some say bacterial blooms should only last 2-3 days max. Is this true? My tank has been slightly cloudy for a few weeks now.

 

[HoldenOn]

Is it brand new? Could just be dust and debris if its a new tank.

 

[jonnyc88]

Is it brand new? Could just be dust and debris if its a new tank.

Nope, its few months old but I did a big maintenance about 2-3 weeks ago so started a mini cycle.

 

[HoldenOn]

Nope, its few months old but I did a big maintenance about 2-3 weeks ago so started a mini cycle.

Hmmmm, I'm not sure, but maybe @AdoraBelle Dearheart will know?

 

[jonnyc88]

It'll be interesting to hear from members who has experience with water clarifiers on an established tank too.

I suppose the question is, if I can see some of the particles with naked eye shouldn't it be removed by the filter anyway?
If it's bacterial bloom and could take longer time to go away I suppose I will just be patient.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Hmmmm, I'm not sure, but maybe @AdoraBelle Dearheart will know?

Thank you, but believe me, I'm far from a fish expert! I'm just a newbie who researches a lot.

wouldn't use a chemical water clarifier, especially when you don't know the cause. Add some filter floss to your filter to trap fine particles, and if it's a bacterial bloom, you might have drawn out the process with all the water changes, and that's why it's lasted for weeks instead of days. Make sure you're not overfeeding too.

You needed to do the water changes of course if you were having a mini cycle, has that passed now? Do you know what caused it? If your ammonia/nitrites/nitrates are okay, then leave it to settle, just add the filter floss to the filter, and monitor for a few days.

 

[Essjay]

Water clarifiers can harm the fish's gills. I wouldn't use one.

 

[jonnyc88]

Cheers, sounds like it's not worth it so I will leave the water clarifier alone. I've just been reading threads from another forum and some were reporting good results with water clarifier.

@AdoraBelle Dearheart : Water parameters are ok (0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, about 25ppm Nitrate).
I only feed once a day and all food is finished. Sometimes I do a second feeding if I notice the barbs or tetras start to nip at the plants.
Since I started the tank back in June it's gone through 2-3 major changes which probably restarted the cycle each time. I think the cloudiness is going away as it's not as cloudy as 2 weeks ago (when I did large water change + filter clean which probably triggered mini cycle) so I will just be patient and hope the cloudiness goes away.

Sitting about 15 foot away from the tank the water ooks really clear, it's just when I right in front it looks slightly cloudy.

 

[jonnyc88]

and if it's a bacterial bloom, you might have drawn out the process with all the water changes, and that's why it's lasted for weeks instead of days.

Interesting, I have been doing regular water changes even if the water parameters are ok. Perhaps I should stop doing that.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Interesting, I have been doing regular water changes even if the water parameters are ok. Perhaps I should stop doing that.

Not what I meant. Weekly water changes are still a vital part of maintenance. I meant not to try to clear the bacterial bloom by doing daily water changes or something, which a lot of people try. Just leave it for a few days for the bacteria to eat all they're gonna eat and start dying back, unless ammonia/nitrites/nitrates dictate that you need a water change sooner than that.

Some tanks, nitrates rarely get above 20ppm. One of mine is heavily planted and nitrates tend to stay around 5-10ppm, zero ammonia or nitrites. I would probably only 'need' to water change it once a month or less if I went solely by ammonia/nitites/nitrates, but that's not the only reason we do water changes, so it gets 50% changed weekly, just like the others.

 

[jonnyc88]

Not what I meant. Weekly water changes are still a vital part of maintenance. I meant not to try to clear the bacterial bloom by doing daily water changes or something, which a lot of people try. Just leave it for a few days for the bacteria to eat all they're gonna eat and start dying back, unless ammonia/nitrites/nitrates dictate that you need a water change sooner than that.

Some tanks, nitrates rarely get above 20ppm. One of mine is heavily planted and nitrates tend to stay around 5-10ppm, zero ammonia or nitrites. I would probably only 'need' to water change it once a month or less if I went solely by ammonia/nitites/nitrates, but that's not the only reason we do water changes, so it gets 50% changed weekly, just like the others.

Yes sorry, should've said I should stop doing daily changes unless the parameters are out. I was doing 50% water changes every day or every 2 days trying to clear the cloudiness.

My tap water comes with about 15ppm so it will be very difficult for me to go below that unless I go RO which is not viable for me.

 

[jonnyc88]

I’ve created a video gif the particles which is beet viewed in 1080p. Millions of tiny white particles floating around.
Barbs kept getting into the frame which messes up the focus a little but the particles are visible to eye.

 

[seangee]

You could add a surface skimmer or floss to your filter if it bugs you but it looks fine to me. Its very fine particles (dust?) - you can see some on the surface as well. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[jonnyc88]

You could add a surface skimmer or floss to your filter if it bugs you but it looks fine to me. Its very fine particles (dust?) - you can see some on the surface as well. I wouldn't worry about it.

I think my Fluval comes with a floss pad (it's called a polishing pad : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001D070N6/?tag=)
To me they are like fine dust in the water floating around the tank, not too many of them on the surface though.
They make the water look slightly cloudy hence why I was considering something like API Accu Clear which supposedly clumps them so the filter can sort them out.