Dino ID?

[141918]

Hi all.

Just reaching out for a dino ID. Would this be large cell amohedinium? It lacks the point like ostreopsis.

 

[141918]

 

[EnterName]

It looks like a less common Amphidinium species with a differently looking epicone (the typical nose/beak of Amphidinium), but I could be wrong. It is hard to tell and there are thousands of marine dinoflagellates. Sometimes even different genera have species that look similar. I wouldn't worry too much about the exact species and instead observe the behavior.

Does the brown mucus disappear when the lights go dim? How old is the tank? What are the current nutrient levels?

 

[141918]

Hi thanks for the response.

Tank is about 1.5 years old. Mostly disappears at night. But I think it goes into the sand and not the water column.

Been in my tank for over a year lol. Finally broke down and got a microscope to try to ID it .

Before, it absorbed all my nutrients. But now, I'm able to keep around 5 no3 and about 0.02 to 0.05 po4. So even with the nutrients, it's still there.

I also believe I lack proper microbiome as this stuff is about to out compete it.

Not that long ago it was almost non existent and thought I had it beat. But kept feeding heavy with pellets and mysis to try to keep nutrients up. Then, even with decent nutrient levels, it just came back again which is odd. I was doing weekly 5 gallon water changes, I think this made the water too clean and gave it a chance to reappear.

I think I need to refrain from water changes and start with some additional pods, possibly some macro alage

 

[EnterName]

Going into the substrate would be typical for Amphidinium iirc.

I would use ammonia and phosphate solutions to increase your nutrients further. I also run an ultra low nutrient system and to get rid of dinos those levels aren't always enough.

DIY Ammonia: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/

DIY Phosphate: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-phosphate-dosing-recipe.1109919/

 

[roberjed]

Anybody know if this is amphidinium?