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Re: Bacterial bloom

7 SAE's died: 
> 
> Here's the synopsis.
> 
> Tank = 100 Gallons, 2 MH's 10 hrs per day, Eheim 2028 (peat & floss only),
> Temp = 75 F, C02 = Sochting Carbonator,

What is this? If it's yeast/chemical based CO2 there's your problem.

 profile substrate with approx 10
> jobes - half a stick under various plants.

All's fine except that CO2.
> 
> Wednesday 7th November pH = 6.9, N02 = 0, N03 = 0, NH3 = 0, Fe = 0, GH =
> 120 ppm, KH = 30 ppm, P04 = <0.25.

Water's too soft(KH- at least 50 to 90ppm). Sounds like good kits(Brands?)
and concerned owner. NO3 should be 5-10ppm. Fe should be something. PO4
should be higher. You add K+?

*No plant growth will use up O2 rather than produce it.*
  
> Thursday 8th November - water is starting to become cloudy (pH 6.8).  Large
> piece of mopani is covered in a white fungus.  Took it out to scrub it and
> a nasty smell emitted on removal (not like rotten eggs, but nasty just the
> same).  Scrubbed the wood clean (with tank water, then rinsed with tap
> water).  Did a 30% water change, added 15ml MarClor de-chlorinator (we
> don't have chloramine in Calgary).  Added another 15ml TMG.
> 
> Friday 8th November - all 7 SAE's dead (four on the floor), 2 guppies & 1
> tetra dead.  Otto's jumping for surface other fish hanging at surface,
> showing signs of hypoxia.  Water is now very cloudy.  Action - turned out
> the lights, added 2 airstones and set the power head to discharge at water
> surface, cried  a lot & got very angry with myself.

Did you do a  large water change? You should have.
> 
> No further fatalities.
> 
> Saturday 10th November - pH = 6.5 with new Hagen wide range kit.  Low range
> measures between 7.0 & 7.2,

So which is it? 6.5 or 7.1 or so?

 NH3 = 0, N02 = 0, N03 = 0, GH = 120 ppm, KH =
> 40 ppm, P04 (Hagen) = 0.25, P04 with new Seachem kit = 1.0, Fe = Trace.

> The water is not quite so cloudy.  Ran Vortex diatom for eight hours on
> the basis that it would clear an algae bloom, but not necessarily a
> bacterial bloom (right?).

White , yeast bloom/ bacterial bloom. Green- algae.
Yeast do big big water change(s) and reset tank nutrients. Nothing else is
needed for this one.
Bacterial bloom do the same and the Green water also.
For BB and/or GW, run a votex or UV sterilizer. Add mature or more filter
media, old fish filthy mulm etc to the tank. Reset tank nutrients.
Figure out what CO2 problem is. Add KNO3 to 5ppm of NO3 (about 3/4 teaspoon
of KNO3).

  Water almost clear by 11:00pm.  Still haven't
> turned the lights back on.  Lowered powerhead and removed one of the
> airstones.
> 
> By this time I am trying to distinguish between an algae bloom (too much
> P04?),

No. Algae can live on .003ppm of PO4:) And some are storage specialist not
needing any for extended periods. Your not going to do much to them:)

> Sunday 11th November - pH - 7.0, NH3 = 0.2, N02 = 0.3,

Where did this come from? Something died/dying etc.
Your filter or tank became uncycled or was running too low on NO3 from the
start.
Your fish death most likely still revolves around CO2.
   
 N03 = just short of
> 5.0 ppm, P04 = 0.3, Fe = Trace, GH = 120 ppm, KH = 40 ppm.  Water remains
> almost clear, light remains off, 1 airstone bubbling.
> 
> So suddenly I get a rise in amonia, nitrite and nitrate readings.  This
> leads me to thinking that my tank encountered some kind of bacteria bloom
> that killed of the NH3, N02, N03 and sucked out all of the oxygen & killed
> my fish.

Yeast would do that.
> 
> So, what I'd like is your opinions on whether or not I am on the right
> track and what do I do next.

Add a mature filter or media, mulm etc to your tank. Keep up on the KNO3
fish feedings. Make sure your CO2 is set right and figure out what your pH
is and get the KH up higher. At that KH it sounds like your not getting much
plant growth vs your KH. Plants won't grow fast at those CO2 levels. See the
Krib.com for the pH/KH/CO2 relationship. Don't give up:)
Regards, 
Tom Barr   
> 
> Thanks for your time
> 
> Regards
> 
> JC in Calgary