Dino ID + Treatment

[Mas0n]

Hey R2R friends,

Welp… I got caught up chasing numbers and tried to lower my nitrate via vodka dosing and have instead caused a Dino outbreak.

My nutrient levels are currently elevated, and I’m no longer dosing vodka. .05 po4 and 33 ppm no3.

Here is what I found under the scope:

I am having a hard time distinguishing between Amphidinium and Prorocentrum. The little protrusions are not “beak like” as seen on the ID guide for Amphidinium and the body shape isn’t as point as many of the prorocentrum ID pictures I’ve seen.

The behavior matches Amphidinium in that they are only on the sand, not affecting coral/fish health and “retreat at night and slowly increase daily over the photo period.

Thoughts??

I’ve got some silicates and a test kit coming, along with some 1-5 micron socks to aid in manual removal.

 

[EnterName]

The community would refer to them as "Amphidinium", correct. There are a few genera that can't necessarily be distinguished from Amphidinium with light microscopy, so I'm careful with that name. But for all intents and purposes when it comes to treatment, you can go ahead with that ID.

In my opinion, seeing these cells is no reason not to use UV sterilizers. If you use a very fine plankton sieve (fine enough to catch them) at the water surface, you will catch plenty of cells, so they are absolutely leaving the substrate, even during the day.