Hi Jimi
Listen, I don't want to start a heated debate over this issue, but to just say that a bacterial bloom is not a good thing may not be 100% accurate. I need to retract a statement I made before and should've been more specific as to say if the fish where still healthy, then the bloom seems to be one of beneficial bacteria. I hold a masters in microbiology and trust me, there is a symbiotic relationship between good bacteria and bad organisms competing-not for food-but for basic nutrients-which is drastically different than what i said and may have been misinterpreted the wrong way!! How do you think humans stay infection free from superficial skin infections. We to have bacteria on 99% of our body competing for nutrients thus holding most other bacterias at bay. I may not have as much fish experience as you do but the basic principles apply. I've been doing this for 2 years and helping my friends for the past 4 and ever since we've been using this PROBIOTIC MARINE FORMULA-we've NEVER seen any problems w/the tank-bacterial or parasitic-w/only 1 exception(my 55 gallon infected w/hostile strain of ick). If this bloom was that of a hostile strain, the fish would be dead already. Also keep in mind, Probiotic bacteria is different than other species that may cause disease, ie. Pseudomonis sp.-which proliferates much much slower than probiotic bacteria-I should've made this clearer. Most of the time, if this condition becomes chronic and irritating, then a mild antibiotic can be used to clear up the tank water-not recommended. I find that most of the time it just goes away w/ mult. water changes along w/ using some tank clarifier and decreasing additional lighting/nutrients in the tank. I hope what i've said clarifies everything.