Diatoms HELP!!

[Fish Styx]

Ok. Got a cheap microscope and unfortunately, I can’t take a picture of what I’m seeing. By looking up what I can find on google, it appears they are unarmed dinos. I really wish I could take a picture, but it just won’t focus or switches to a differnt lens (iPhone)

Okay, cool. I'm not sure what you mean by "unarmed", but use Taricha's guide as a start:

Thread 'Dinoflagellate Identification Guide' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellate-identification-guide.671466/

The very first post has a .pdf that should help you make an ID.

 

[Fish Fan]

Ok. Got a cheap microscope and unfortunately, I can’t take a picture of what I’m seeing.

You can get surprisingly good pictures just by holding your phone's camera up to the eyepiece of the 'scope.

 

[EMP21]

Ok. Got a cheap microscope and unfortunately, I can’t take a picture of what I’m seeing. By looking up what I can find on google, it appears they are unarmed dinos. I really wish I could take a picture, but it just won’t focus or switches to a differnt lens (iPhone)

Diatoms

Okay, cool. I'm not sure what you mean by "unarmed", but use Taricha's guide as a start:

Thread 'Dinoflagellate Identification Guide' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellate-identification-guide.671466/

The very first post has a .pdf that should help you make an ID.

Sorry, spell check got me. It was supposed to say unarmoured dinos. They are round in shape

You can get surprisingly good pictures just by holding your phone's camera up to the eyepiece of the 'scope.

yes, once I put the eye piece on, I was able to focus and zoom in. I’m going to post a picture of what I got

 

[EMP21]

Diatoms

Sorry, spell check got me. It was supposed to say unarmoured dinos. They are round in shape

yes, once I put the eye piece on, I was able to focus and zoom in. I’m going to post a picture of what I got

I’m trying to get a better picture, but I’m having tough time getting it to focus again. It’s definitely a bunch of round things swimming around though

 

[TheReefAbides]

@EMP21 just curious if there is any update on your dino situation

 

[EMP21]

@EMP21 just curious if there is any update on your dino situation

I just recently started using sponge excel. Doing a WC later today. Have hung up some filter floss in the tank and if it keeps coming back, I’m going to blackout the tank for 3-4 days if I’m not seeing a lot of improvement. Also have a UV sterilizer running 24/7.

 

[elmareefer]

Following
Those did look like diatoms on your first pics

 

[EMP21]

Just wanted to update. Not a whole lot has changed. I ended up getting a Hanna nitrate and phosphate checkers. Nitrates were 5.8, but phosphates were .33. Every day I am scrubbing the rocks with a toothbrush and stirring the sand bed. To get the algae into the water column. I’m also using the sponge excel and doing 40 drops every night. I know it’s really only been about a week since starting the routine, but should I see some improvement? Is it going to take a while? Just curious.