Help - Bacteria or Algae?

Yeah just rinse them off with RO water.

Jimbo wrote: I wouldn't be in a big rush to start pulling out some of the pellets. Just slow the flow down and see if that helps. The bacteria isn't going to harm anything so give it a couple of days. Put the output of the reactor as close to the skimmer intake as you can

Jimbo wrote: The bacteria isn't going to harm anything so give it a couple of days.

I disagree (although I don't like any sudden reaction in a reef tank either). Bacteria can give off toxins, which need to be removed by AC and/or skimming. Additionally, some studies have shown that even beneficial bacteria can cause coral tissue loss when the populations increase.

And If I don't see an improvement I'll slowly decrease pellets.

Last night I plumbed my output of the reactor right next to the skimmer input. I am skimmimg much wetter now, I reduced the flow of the reactor and went from 80% to 60% with the required pellets. Thinking about it a little more, when I increased the pellets, I did have to turn the reactor up a bit to get them to tumble.

Edited by love2skiutah - January 14 2014 at 7:53am

ReefdUp wrote: I'd go with it's a bacteria bloom. Again...I'm not familiar with biopellets, but I'd suggest cutting back on your carbon source.

I agree. It is bacteria and reducing the carbon source will allow it to die back. Carbon is bacteria food. Dosing carbon via pellets, sugar, vinegar or vodka increases the amount of bacteria to eat pollution. Since there is relatively little bioload creating relatively little pollution in this tank, an overgrowth of bacteria is the result of the excess carbon.

Aloha,
Mark

So does anyone actually know how to get rid of this stuff?  I'm doing basic water changes, reduce lighting, lighter feedings, etc.  

Yes it will take time.
Lighter feedings are good because it will mean less pollution to feed the bacteria.
I believe that if water changes are curtailed for a while it will help starve the bacteria. New salt water has all kinds of nutrients/food.
I believe reduced lighting will actually benefit the bacterial slime. Reduced lighting curtails algae growth. Algae is one of the major pollution eaters. Slowed algae growth makes more pollution available to grow the bacterial slime. There is logic here. It's the interplay of biological processes. So what this means is that an increased photoperiod will then grow more algae, reducing the pollution and starving the bacteria that much faster.
I don't describe things too well. I hope this is making sense?

Aloha,
Mark


Edited by Mark Peterson - January 20 2014 at 4:04pm

It depends... If it is a photosynthetic bacteria (see if it is worse on the brightly lit rocks versus dimly light rocks...keep in mind that more detritus settles on the tops of rocks, which will also fuel it), reducing the light period will affect the algae and bacteria. If it's not, then the bacteria may increase while the algae decreases.

I would keep doing water changes since I assume you're still going to feed the tank somewhat. That means you're adding nutrients... Even if you don't do water changes, you're still removing water through skimming (which has to be replaced with saltwater anyway).

Are you not running any carbon? If not I'd run some as it may help. Biopellets are not a replacement for carbon and GFO.

Their main function is to control Nitrates. Some people have luck dosing some beneficial bacteria ( MB7, Zeobak etc) to out compete the nuisance bacteria. My bet is that it will go away on its own with what you have been doing .