Stop Stressing a Bacterial Bloom
- Jul 22, 2023
- Anshika Mishra
- 159 0 0
What is a Bacterial Bloom?
A Bacterial Bloom happens when your heterotrophic bacteria, which are cloud-causing bacteria, start accumulating in mass in your tank. These bacteria can be seen through the make eye, so when they reproduce, you can see them in the tank.
These bacteria cause that cloudy, milky atmosphere in your tank. And they are normal. The heterotrophic feeds on organic matter like fish poop, dead fish, excess food, or anything organic.
They break the organic food down into organic substances. Autotrophic bacteria, which we want in our tank, break down the Ammonia and Nitrate.
But these two bacterias work against each other. So, when you see cloudy water and leave it without any water changes, your beneficial bacteria will eventually start to row as your tank cycles. AS these beneficial bacterias grow, they'll starve out the other cloud-causing bacteria.
Your beneficial bacteria will take over, and your tank will start clearing up.
What to do?
It's important to understand that it's normal. It happens in every brand-new tank. But you don't need to freak out.
Many start doing massive water changes. But when you do that, your tap water contains dissolved organics—every time you change the water. You are that nutrient-rich organic total water back into your tank. You are giving that cloud-causing bacteria more food which starts the bacteria to go over.
So, what you want to do is leave the tank alone. Eventually, your tank will start to clear up.
Crystal Clear Water
Once your tank has cycles and the bacteria colonize in your tank, that bacterial bloom causing bacterial will dissipate to a small amount. They will still be in your tank because you will always add organic, but not in excess.
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