New tank bloom cycle

[fancyafancy20]

Hey so im new to the forum but have some experience from an old job in an aquatics centre.
Long = short, new tank all water parameters were great for 2/3 weeks , fish added a few days ago and I think I'm in the middle of the bacteria bloom , cloudy water nitrites and nitrates higher than id like. I did a partial 25% water change which brought it down a touch but not as much as I'd like. My concern is the two babies ( oranda and blackmoor) although they are still bopping about around the bottom and generally swimming about they're now both spending alot more time than I'd like 'gulping' at the top water line. My filters spray arm is out the top as much as I can to try and oxygenate the water a bit but I'm a at a loss that I may have 2 floaters in the morning how long can I leave it before I need to do something.

[Rocksor]

The fish added enough organic matter from fish waste to produce a heterotrophic bacteria bloom. Do a larger water change 50%, and add an airstone. Do not feed for several days.

How large is this tank?

[fancyafancy20]

The fish added enough organic matter from fish waste to produce a heterotrophic bacteria bloom. Do a larger water change 50%, and add an airstone. Do not feed for several days.

How large is this tank?

Its a 50L tank with just the two in there. Have my airstones on amazon order for this week hopefully. Since changing the spray arm to the top to make some water motion they've been substantially more active in the tank apposed to the surface. Will stay off the food for a few days and see if it clears. Thank you

[Rocksor]

Its a 50L tank with just the two in there. Have my airstones on amazon order for this week hopefully. Since changing the spray arm to the top to make some water motion they've been substantially more active in the tank apposed to the surface. Will stay off the food for a few days and see if it clears. Thank you

I would considering upgrading that tank in the future to at least twice that size for those 2 goldfish.

[fancyafancy20]

We are hoping to upgrade once we can sort where a larger tank will go. Theyre not even 2" big at the minute so should be done before they're too big for the small one.

[Slaphppy7]

Welcome to the AC.
Did you cycle the tank before adding the fish?

[fancyafancy20]

Welcome to the AC.
Did you cycle the tank before adding the fish?

Thank you
Yes it was running for 2/3 weeks before the fish came. I checked the water parameters couple times a week before hand and since first few days was fine then today suddenly a shoot in levels and cloudy water which was what made me think bacterial bloom ?

[fancyafancy20]

Welcome to the AC.
Did you cycle the tank before adding the fish?

I've had a read through the forum files on here and I think I can see where ive gone wrong maybe I added fish in the middle of the initial cycle and this is why my levels are so high. I done a part water change today and levels are better and fish seem more active and spending less time at the surface.

[Slaphppy7]

A cycled tank will have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrItes, and some nitrAtes.

Just running a tank for a few weeks won't cycle it, cycling is a process that will take weeks, sometimes months.

What kind of test kit do you use? What kind of water conditioner? Do you use tap water as your source water, and is it chlorinated?

And yes, I do believe you are seeing a bacterial bloom, which is another indicator the tank isn't fully cycled.

[fancyafancy20]

Yes was our tap water with api tap safe , filter with a bacti insert thing that came with it. I have a 6 parameter test strips kit just a dip and read job ( hardness , chlorine, Ni,Na,carbonate and ph) left it around 2 weeks with nothing then tested 3 times the following week before the fish came, all reading were ok Na not 0 but not in the high section. Added the fish on Saturday and today the levels of Ni&Na have rocketed along with cloudy water. Just done a test now and Ni is about 75ppm and Na 20ppm all other levels are good. Is there anything I should or could do to help in the bloom process?