Can you help me identify these dinos?

[maxemorris]

I’ve looked through numerous posts and guides, and I am not sure which dinos I have. Any thoughts?

 

[Idech]

I don’t know what they are, but I think we can rule out prorocentrum.

 

[maxemorris]

They’re moving in short bursts, and are not rotating on a fixed point.

 

[Uncle99]

Look like very common golden Dino’s in the pics,
Ostreopsis to me, however there are a few similar ones.

Do they come off the sand in darkness, only to reappear in light or stay put?

 

[maxemorris]

@Uncle99 After looking at the identification guide they look like Coolia to me. Yes, they lessen at night, but do not disappear entirely.

 

[maxemorris]

I have kept my hands out of the tank, I have my nitrates and phosphates well above zero, and I just began to dose silicates. Is there anything else I can do?

 

[Lavey29]

https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/dinoflagellateid12_12_2019-pdf.1324729/

 

[Idech]

I have kept my hands out of the tank, I have my nitrates and phosphates well above zero, and I just began to dose silicates. Is there anything else I can do?

I think peroxyde works against coolia. Look it up.

 

[Uncle99]

@Uncle99 After looking at the identification guide they look like Coolia to me. Yes, they lessen at night, but do not disappear entirely.

So I’m thinking that some move into the water column at night. That would be a plus if you can apply UV during night.

I do not use peroxide as I believe it’s counterproductive in as much as it does kill Dino’s, but takes good guys as well. These are the guys that in part, feed our corals. I want to keep those.

Dino’s is a numbers game like many pests. Your job is to daily lower the Dino’s while boosting the good guy stuff.

UV at night, daily sock or filter change as soon as lights are on, light vacum of the surface bed into a sock, then return that water. These lower populations of Dino’s. Be relentless.

Keeping Salinity and Alk absolutely pinned at all times, ensuring nitrate and phosphate in trace amounts, adding bacteria and weekly splash of live phyto favour all the good guy stuff.

There comes a point where the good guys just overtake the bad (Dino’s in the case) and they just vanish seeming overnight.

Then Dino’s will only reappear if environmental conditions like water chemistry go south.

These guys are doable, just be diligent daily, you should get some relief in say two-three weeks.

It may look like you’re not winning. Don’t be fooled. Be relentless. Lower their populations daily.

Good luck.

 

[maxemorris]

So I’m thinking that some move into the water column at night. That would be a plus if you can apply UV during night.

I do not use peroxide as I believe it’s counterproductive in as much as it does kill Dino’s, but takes good guys as well. These are the guys that in part, feed our corals. I want to keep those.

Dino’s is a numbers game like many pests. Your job is to daily lower the Dino’s while boosting the good guy stuff.

UV at night, daily sock or filter change as soon as lights are on, light vacum of the surface bed into a sock, then return that water. These lower populations of Dino’s. Be relentless.

Keeping Salinity and Alk absolutely pinned at all times, ensuring nitrate and phosphate in trace amounts, adding bacteria and weekly splash of live phyto favour all the good guy stuff.

There comes a point where the good guys just overtake the bad (Dino’s in the case) and they just vanish seeming overnight.

Then Dino’s will only reappear if environmental conditions like water chemistry go south.

These guys are doable, just be diligent daily, you should get some relief in say two-three weeks.

It may look like you’re not winning. Don’t be fooled. Be relentless. Lower their populations daily.

Good luck.

Great advice, thank you so much! I’m running UV 24/7, but I can definitely up my water changes (into a sock), sock changes, and add phyto. Right now I’m trying to dose Silicates as recommended from a popular guide on here.

 

[Uncle99]

Great advice, thank you so much! I’m running UV 24/7, but I can definitely up my water changes (into a sock), sock changes, and add phyto. Right now I’m trying to dose Silicates as recommended from a popular guide on here.

People freak on these pests.
Really not that hard, but a bit of work upfront.
Keep us posted!

 

[maxemorris]

People freak on these pests.
Really not that hard, but a bit of work upfront.
Keep us posted!

What are your thoughts on scraping the glass and basting the rocks? I haven’t vacuumed or anything since people say not to touch them they will just come back

 

[Uncle99]

What are your thoughts on scraping the glass and basting the rocks? I haven’t vacuumed or anything since people say not to touch them they will just come back

Not bad thinking IMM if you’re using UV.
That would force some into the column where the UV light can hit them. Some will also get trapped in filter which is exchanged each day. I did a daily, when lights on, very light vacumn of the sand, get them there too.

Anyway you remove them lowers their population, this is key cause they multiply faster than the good stuff.

I like your thinking.

 

[maxemorris]

Not bad thinking IMM if you’re using UV.
That would force some into the column where the UV light can hit them. Some will also get trapped in filter which is exchanged each day. I did a daily, when lights on, very light vacumn of the sand, get them there too.

Anyway you remove them lowers their population, this is key cause they multiply faster than the good stuff.

I like your thinking.

Thank you!