Bacteria bloom - npx bioplastics questions

[deepseadan]

I just started a new reef tank four weeks ago. Had high nitrates a couple weeks into so I started a Phosban reactor with NPX bioplastics on the advice of my LFS. A few days later I couldn't figure out why my tank just kept getting gradually more and more cloudy, but I think I've finally figured it out ( I hope). The bioplastic pellets are creating a bacteria bloom. The bloom is very white in color. The questions I have are

1. Anyone use NPX bioplastics or similar in a tank only a few weeks old (like me), and did anyone experience similar issues?

2. I temporaly turned off the reator, but how long can a mild bacteria bloom take to clear. I do have a skimmer running?

3. Should I wait a few more months before attempting bioplastics again so the tank will more inhabitants and be more established?

4. From other with personal experience, should I abandon the use of them?

5. Would the use of a UV sterilizer help elimanate the bacteria blooms and could I still use the NPX bioplastics with no problems?

 

[David S]

I wouldn't use any on such a new tank,why is trates high on a new tank anyway?Thats what I would look at first.What have you in their?
what water for top off
how long did you cycle,did you cycle?
put up your parameters

 

[Mr. Crabs]

Had a similar problem recently. For me, it was a trash can that I bought from Wally World to hold mix water in that caused the problem. The trash can stunk (literally) and I bought it because it was sooo much cheaper than Rubbermaid. I did a 30 gallon mix of saltwater, aerated/heated it for 2 days and went ahead and used the water. Cloudy City for a day. Did some fresh mix and used right away. Cleared it right out. But we are talking on a 30 gallon reef. A large tank would have probably sucked a lot more.


All in all, it took 50% water changes for about a week to get a newer tank back to crystal clear. Just a hunch, but if you step up the WC's, I think you will see it clear. I would stop using what you think possibly caused it.