Dino ID and how to remove

[cgr124]

Hello all

I recently have a pretty bad case of Dino’s. My phosphate and nitrate are zero which is what I think caused this. Tank is about 6 months old using live rock from my old tank of 5+ years. I’ve read there are different types of Dino’s, some
Toxic and some that go in the water column. I’m feeding more now to try and boost nutrients. They seem to be there all day and night. Manual removal doesn’t seem to help at all. I’m dosing more bacteria and reef phytoplankton. I’m considering checking them out using a microscope I have to see what kind they are. They look more yellow than brown in the attached pics. Should I get a UV sterilizer or just keep dosing bacteria and plankton to try and get nutrients up? It’s a 23 gallon nano. Any advice is appreciated. I don’t want these to end up killing all my corals and anemones. Thanks

 

[cgr124]

Here is a pic under a microscope. Is this Ostreopsis?

 

[EnterName]

Here is a pic under a microscope. Is this Ostreopsis?

It's hard to see on the image, so I will give you a few images to compare:

Here is an image of Ostreopsis, as you can see it has a "pointy" end, when moving it "rolls around" basically circling some "fixed" point instead of moving forward/backward.

This is a prorocentrum dinoflagellate. As you can see it has a flat end instead of a pointy one and moves in straight lines, turns, etc.

Here is a small amphidinium species which has a "beak" or "nose" (bottom right) and moves similar to prorocentrum.

 

[cgr124]

Thanks. Super helpful. Nothing seems to be moving under the Microscope but based on your photos I think it is Ostreopsis. Thanks again

 

[EnterName]

Thanks. Super helpful. Nothing seems to be moving under the Microscope but based on your photos I think it is Ostreopsis. Thanks again

Yeah Dinos are not always active, it depends on various factors. If you haven't already, installing a UV sterilizer might help.

I would try to siphon the stuff from the walls, etc. Water changes and Dinos are always a bit "controversial", but you could just let all the water run through some cotton to filter out the slime and don't use any new water if you don't want to add trace elements which might in the end also help the dinoflagellates to grow.