Bacterial bloom after installing reactors?

[CHEMCHEF]

My buddy has a 34 solana that has been running for about 3 years. He has only had it for about 4 months.
I added a BRS dual reactor on Monday. While starting the reactor I stirred up the carbon pretty good due to the fact that the reactor is much lower than the pump supplying it, and just basically brain farting while I was doing it.
Yesterday I noticed a little cloudiness in the water. Today its worse. Not the worst I've seen. But its not tomorrow yet .LOL.
Also did a 5 gallon water change after reactor was running properly, and added a bunch of floss to the rear chamber to clean up any floating carbon.
Could the running of phos and carbon cause this,,, what looks like a bacterial bloom?
Could there have been some dormant bacteria in the (used) reactor tubing?
I feel like I should just leave it be, at least for a few days.

 

[skene]

did you rinse the media prior to?

 

[jedimaster1138]

Is the cloudiness white or black? If it's black, it could certainly be due to fine from the carbon.

If it's white, it very likely could be bacteria. At least, that's what happened to me. Started out just a little cloudy, then looked like milk poured in my tank. I had been running a reactor with GFO and carbon which did nothing to the bloom, even after 2 media changes. Water changes slowed it down but it was a temporary band aid and the cloudiness would dial up hours later. Wound up getting a UV which nuked it clear in less than 18 hours.

Lost 2 clowns before I could get it under control though.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

did you rinse the media prior to?

Yes. Rinsed like a madman.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Cloudiness is white.

 

[jedimaster1138]

Cloudiness is white.

Not to alarm you, but this sounds familiar to me.

I think if I were you I'd keep a close eye on it (take pictures and post them too) but not for much more than a couple days. In the meantime, keep a round in the chamber for a UV unit. Even if you have to borrow one ... it could be what you need. Even if you have to get a cheapo drop in like a Green Killing machine, it might do it (amazon, petco) I have a Coralife TurboTwist now inline.

Nothing I did fixed my bloom except UV...and it did it in under 18 hours.

 

[LongIslandAndy]

It's bacteria, I experienced the same exact thing with my BRS reactor. Give it some time and I bet it will clear itself up

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Thanks Andy.
I'm just gonna keep my eye on it for now.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Not to alarm you, but this sounds familiar to me.

I think if I were you I'd keep a close eye on it (take pictures and post them too) but not for much more than a couple days. In the meantime, keep a round in the chamber for a UV unit. Even if you have to borrow one ... it could be what you need. Even if you have to get a cheapo drop in like a Green Killing machine, it might do it (amazon, petco) I have a Coralife TurboTwist now inline.

Nothing I did fixed my bloom except UV...and it did it in under 18 hours.

Every thing except the water looks normal. I'm a little worried about the UV killing too much good bacteria on such a small tank.

 

[Decalf]

Just make sure you keep you O2 levels very high or all the bacteria using it will lower your levels and possible kill fish or cause ich in the tank from stress.

 

[rambler67]

make sure the flow isn't to high in the reactor i had that once i didn't notice it but it dumped a bunch of gfo in the tank and it was cloudy i turned it down and the socks took care of the water afterword.