Filtering out bacterial blooms?

[Daniel Morrow]

Is it possible to filter out bacterial blooms with a diatomaceous earth
filter or are the bacteria too small (smaller than approximately 1 micron?),
I used my vortex and 10-12 inches into the water there is a hint of
cloudiness (I used that filter for 1 and 1/2 hours)? Should the water be
totally clear (literally)? Thanks and later!

[Elaine T]

Daniel Morrow wrote:
> Is it possible to filter out bacterial blooms with a diatomaceous earth
> filter or are the bacteria too small (smaller than approximately 1 micron?),
> I used my vortex and 10-12 inches into the water there is a hint of
> cloudiness (I used that filter for 1 and 1/2 hours)? Should the water be
> totally clear (literally)? Thanks and later!

Fishtank water can be totally clear. Mine generally is and I've never
used diatomaceous earth filters or anything fancy. I run one Aquaclear
rated one tank size up and plant heavily. I should mention that I've
run fish-only tanks and not had clouding problems either.

Vortex filters are supposed to filter down to the range of 1-5 microns
so you're right on the edge with the smaller bacteria.

Are you sure your tank isn't overstocked? That's the main cause of
cloudy water and nitrogen cycle instability. The other thing that can
cloud a tank is a bacterial bloom from too many water changes with
tapwater that happens to contain nutrients for bacteria in your tank.
Yours may be a combination of both.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Charles]

On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 04:40:35 GMT, Elaine T >
wrote:

>Daniel Morrow wrote:
>> Is it possible to filter out bacterial blooms with a diatomaceous earth
>> filter or are the bacteria too small (smaller than approximately 1 micron?),
>> I used my vortex and 10-12 inches into the water there is a hint of
>> cloudiness (I used that filter for 1 and 1/2 hours)? Should the water be
>> totally clear (literally)? Thanks and later!
>
>Fishtank water can be totally clear. Mine generally is and I've never
>used diatomaceous earth filters or anything fancy. I run one Aquaclear
>rated one tank size up and plant heavily. I should mention that I've
>run fish-only tanks and not had clouding problems either.
>
>Vortex filters are supposed to filter down to the range of 1-5 microns
>so you're right on the edge with the smaller bacteria.
>
>Are you sure your tank isn't overstocked? That's the main cause of
>cloudy water and nitrogen cycle instability. The other thing that can
>cloud a tank is a bacterial bloom from too many water changes with
>tapwater that happens to contain nutrients for bacteria in your tank.
>Yours may be a combination of both.


I've seen them in tanks newly set up. Mine have always cleared by
themselves in a week or so, except for green water, that's something
else.

[Koi-lo]

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
> Is it possible to filter out bacterial blooms with a diatomaceous earth
> filter or are the bacteria too small (smaller than approximately 1
> micron?),
> I used my vortex and 10-12 inches into the water there is a hint of
> cloudiness (I used that filter for 1 and 1/2 hours)? Should the water be
> totally clear (literally)? Thanks and later!
=======================
My Votex DE filter clears everything from the water. I use the DE from
Lowe's made for swimming pool filters. You may not be adding enough to the
filter. The bag must be nicely coated to do the job.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
NEW PAGE: Aquariums:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy/Aquarium-Page4.html
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Elaine T]

Charles wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 04:40:35 GMT, Elaine T >
> wrote:
>
>
>>Daniel Morrow wrote:
>>
>>>Is it possible to filter out bacterial blooms with a diatomaceous earth
>>>filter or are the bacteria too small (smaller than approximately 1 micron?),
>>>I used my vortex and 10-12 inches into the water there is a hint of
>>>cloudiness (I used that filter for 1 and 1/2 hours)? Should the water be
>>>totally clear (literally)? Thanks and later!
>>
>>Fishtank water can be totally clear. Mine generally is and I've never
>>used diatomaceous earth filters or anything fancy. I run one Aquaclear
>>rated one tank size up and plant heavily. I should mention that I've
>>run fish-only tanks and not had clouding problems either.
>>
>>Vortex filters are supposed to filter down to the range of 1-5 microns
>>so you're right on the edge with the smaller bacteria.
>>
>>Are you sure your tank isn't overstocked? That's the main cause of
>>cloudy water and nitrogen cycle instability. The other thing that can
>>cloud a tank is a bacterial bloom from too many water changes with
>>tapwater that happens to contain nutrients for bacteria in your tank.
>>Yours may be a combination of both.
>
>
>
> I've seen them in tanks newly set up. Mine have always cleared by
> themselves in a week or so, except for green water, that's something
> else.

Yes, the bloom in newly set up tanks is from a cloud of bacteria
consuming the nutrients in tapwater. Everyone wants to keep changing
the water and the clouding never goes away. Green water is algae but a
vortex filter should remove that just fine.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Sky-Catcher]

i had a problem with both a bacterial bloom and an algae bloom in a new set
up - the diatomaceous earth filter cleaned it up but if you dont treat the
cause it may return - the filter only treats the symtom!

i had to removed phosphates from the tap water and put a uv on it for the
green water - now no probs


"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
> Is it possible to filter out bacterial blooms with a diatomaceous earth
> filter or are the bacteria too small (smaller than approximately 1
> micron?),
> I used my vortex and 10-12 inches into the water there is a hint of
> cloudiness (I used that filter for 1 and 1/2 hours)? Should the water be
> totally clear (literally)? Thanks and later!
>
>

[Larry]

On Mon, 9 Jan 2006 19:55:27 -0800, "Daniel Morrow"
> wrote:

>Is it possible to filter out bacterial blooms with a diatomaceous earth
>filter or are the bacteria too small (smaller than approximately 1 micron?),
>I used my vortex and 10-12 inches into the water there is a hint of
>cloudiness (I used that filter for 1 and 1/2 hours)? Should the water be
>totally clear (literally)? Thanks and later!
>


I changed my filters in two tanks (dumbbbbbbbb on my part) and had
cloudy water for about one to two weeks. Finally cleared up after the
good bacteria fighters gained momentum.

[Daniel Morrow]

Bottom posted.
Elaine T wrote:
> Daniel Morrow wrote:
>> Is it possible to filter out bacterial blooms with a diatomaceous
>> earth filter or are the bacteria too small (smaller than
>> approximately 1 micron?), I used my vortex and 10-12 inches into the
>> water there is a hint of cloudiness (I used that filter for 1 and
>> 1/2 hours)? Should the water be totally clear (literally)? Thanks
>> and later!
>
> Fishtank water can be totally clear. Mine generally is and I've never
> used diatomaceous earth filters or anything fancy. I run one
> Aquaclear rated one tank size up and plant heavily. I should mention
> that I've run fish-only tanks and not had clouding problems either.
>
> Vortex filters are supposed to filter down to the range of 1-5 microns
> so you're right on the edge with the smaller bacteria.
>
> Are you sure your tank isn't overstocked? That's the main cause of
> cloudy water and nitrogen cycle instability. The other thing that can
> cloud a tank is a bacterial bloom from too many water changes with
> tapwater that happens to contain nutrients for bacteria in your tank.
> Yours may be a combination of both.

You are probably right. I always get that milky-like water after doing a lot
of water changes or some big water changes - that definitely seems to be the
trigger. It never fails but stays away after using the vortex - at the very
least until the next big water change or a bunch of smaller ones. Harmless I
guess but worthy of a vortex cleaning for aesthetical reasons (nice to look
at clear water). Good luck and later!

[Koi-lo]

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
> You are probably right. I always get that milky-like water after doing a
> lot
> of water changes or some big water changes - that definitely seems to be
> the
> trigger. It never fails but stays away after using the vortex - at the
> very
> least until the next big water change or a bunch of smaller ones. Harmless
> I
> guess but worthy of a vortex cleaning for aesthetical reasons (nice to
> look
> at clear water). Good luck and later!
==========================
Maybe you can try hooking it to your tank as soon as you start to refill it
next time. We don't get hazy water after a change but there are fine
particles that were stirred up by the gravel vaccing I like to remove. Pool
DE is cheap so I use my Vortex every time.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
NEW PAGE: Aquariums:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy/Aquarium-Page4.html
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>