Dealing with beginning of Dino help!

[ReefStarCoast]

ive noticed what looks like dino covering some of my Macro Algae.

parameters:

DALK 5.2
pH 8.0
PHOS 0.0
Ca 446
Mg 1242
AMMO 0.0
Nitrate12

My lfs told me to add Carbon and try and reduce nitrates, as well as feed more to produce more Phos.

life stock is one Clown fish, a peppermint shrimp, a few hermits and snails, some macros, a leather and elegance coral.

pics of dino? attached

 

[castellanamattia]

ive noticed what looks like dino covering some of my Macro Algae.

parameters:

DALK 5.2
pH 8.0
PHOS 0.0
Ca 446
Mg 1242
AMMO 0.0
Nitrate12

My lfs told me to add Carbon and try and reduce nitrates, as well as feed more to produce more Phos.

life stock is one Clown fish, a peppermint shrimp, a few hermits and snails, some macros, a leather and elegance coral.

pics of dino? attached

How new / established is the tank? If you set it up recently, then just wait it out and try to keep the lights low. The problems often are silicates (the dinos feed on them).

To this, your alkalinity is extremely low. Aim for 7 to 9 dKH. Magnesium is also rather low, try increasing it a bit to 1350 ppm (works best for me). Note: adjust / dose very slowly and over the time of a few days / weeks!

 

[Asm481]

Age of tank is important. Your alk is low, nitrates are not bad. Your phos needs to not be 0.0, over .04 to .10 is a good range. This means good test kits NOT API. Besides dosing phosphates you could feed a bit of reef roids if you have corals already.
Diatoms feed on silicates not Dinos. Dosing silicates is a way to increase diatoms in order to beat dinos.
A microscope is going to be needed to diagnose properly.

 

[Fish Fan]

ive noticed what looks like dino covering some of my Macro Algae.

parameters:

DALK 5.2
pH 8.0
PHOS 0.0
Ca 446
Mg 1242
AMMO 0.0
Nitrate12

My lfs told me to add Carbon and try and reduce nitrates, as well as feed more to produce more Phos.

life stock is one Clown fish, a peppermint shrimp, a few hermits and snails, some macros, a leather and elegance coral.

pics of dino? attached

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#WelcometoR2R

If you posted a picture, it did not come through, but may be helpful

First, what are you using for testing kits?

When I see both Alk and Calc low, it makes me think that your salinity is low. If your salinity is low, all other parameters will be low too. I would definitely suggest that you calibrate your salinity tester using a DIY standard solution made easily from table salt. We've seen issues with calibration fluids that are purchased, so making your own is preferable:

Reef Aquarium Salinity: DIY Calibration Standards

Reef Aquarium Salinity: DIY Calibration Standards By Randy Holmes-Farley One of the most important issues facing marine aquarists is providing a suitable environment for their aquaria's inhabitants. Among the important properties for a marine...

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Many here at R2R do not advise testing magnesium at all because it's notoriously difficult to test accurately at home. This thread may help with that:

Just say NO to magnesium testing: RMM is born

OK, this thread has been many years in the making, and I'm posting it here since folks in the chem forum are probably already tired of all the threads relating to problematic magnesium testing. I'm going to propose a method, let's call it the Randy Magnesium Method, or RMM for short. All good...

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If your N&P numbers are accurate, I would try to increase phosphate by feeding more, feeding something like Reef Roids that is high in phosphate, or by dosing phosphate.

I do not agree with the advice to lower your nitrate, it's already quite low.

Here's Randy Holmes-Farley's guidelines for nutrient levels:

Randy’s Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges

Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges by Randy Holmes-Farley Almost nothing in the world of reef aquarium chemistry causes as much discussion as selecting and maintaining ranges for nitrate and phosphate. Some aquarists want low targets, some want...

www.reef2reef.com

From the above thread:
"4. What targets seem reasonable? Of course, that depends on all the other factors at play, such as types of corals, availability of ammonia, particulate foods, etc. However, for a mature mixed reef, this would be how I personally would run it:

• Let nitrate float between 5 ppm and 50 ppm. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above 50 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by organic carbon dosing, turf or macroalgae, etc.
• Below 5 ppm, I’d begin to dose ammonia or feed more. The target level might drop lower if dosing ammonia, just like the heavy in/heavy out scenario where nitrate may not be as needed.
• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up."

Generally, when a tank is very new you often see an outbreak of diatoms, which feed on silicates in the water. Once those silicates are depleted, the diatoms typical die out.

But, you could have dinoflagellate algae, which is a tougher pest to deal with. Having either nitrate or phosphate or both "bottomed out" to zero is often thought to invite dinos, which is why I'd get the phosphate up and I wouldn't try to lower nitrate further.

I hope this helps and good luck!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Can we see pictures? How is the flow in the tank? Algae grew on my macro algae until I added a second powerhead, then it was fine.

 

[castellanamattia]

Age of tank is important. Your alk is low, nitrates are not bad. Your phos needs to not be 0.0, over .04 to .10 is a good range. This means good test kits NOT API. Besides dosing phosphates you could feed a bit of reef roids if you have corals already.
Diatoms feed on silicates not Dinos. Dosing silicates is a way to increase diatoms in order to beat dinos.
A microscope is going to be needed to diagnose properly.

"Diatoms feed on silicates not Dinos": True my bad!