Dinoflagelates. A disruptive treatment

Beuchat · Mar 30, 2023

Yes, Xepta is more effective. I am not complete sure why. The only ingredient "different" related to other carbon sources is toluene. The traditional recipe is also effective. The difference in composition of vodka, vinegar, sugar with NP-Out is mainly the sugar. But probably the concentrations ratio among constituents also play a role in the efectiveness

Karliefish · Mar 30, 2023

Beuchat said:
Yes, Xepta is more effective. I am not complete sure why. The only ingredient "different" related to other carbon sources is toluene. The traditional recipe is also effective. The difference in composition of vodka, vinegar, sugar with NP-Out is mainly the sugar. But probably the concentrations ratio among constituents also play a role in the efectiveness

Ok I’ll have to start to raise my phosphate and nitrates first as they are in the right ratio but a low ratio. Sure hope this helps because up-to-now nothing seems to be conquering my Dino’s - they have been winning ever fight I throw at them! Tank sand looks like crap!

Karliefish · Mar 31, 2023

Karliefish said:
Ok I’ll have to start to raise my phosphate and nitrates first as they are in the right ratio but a low ratio. Sure hope this helps because up-to-now nothing seems to be conquering my Dino’s - they have been winning ever fight I throw at them! Tank sand looks like crap!

just for clarity…should I do my carbon dosing (per your suggested mixture) at night when all the lights are off or first thing in the morning when the lights are coming on?

stoney7713 · Mar 31, 2023

Karliefish said:
just for clarity…should I do my carbon dosing (per your suggested mixture) at night when all the lights are off or first thing in the morning when the lights are coming on?

Lights off, after an hour or two. The thought is the dinos won't uptake the carbon and the good bacteria will outcompete the dinos.

Troylee · Mar 31, 2023

If you got the sand dwellers this works.. knock the population down with low blue lights only while dosing h202 and mb7 at night.. once you have them under control find a local reefer or store and grab some live rock.. I just went through this whole ordeal and got a new tank and I put like 3-5 pounds of fresh rock in my sump and they were gone in a couple days! I was fighting them for 3 months ugh… 70 gal system if that helps.

stoney7713 · Mar 31, 2023

Troylee said:
If you got the sand dwellers this works.. knock the population down with low blue lights only while dosing h202 and mb7 at night.. once you have them under control find a local reefer or store and grab some live rock.. I just went through this whole ordeal and got a new tank and I put like 3-5 pounds of fresh rock in my sump and they were gone in a couple days! I was fighting them for 3 months ugh… 70 gal system if that helps.

I tried that method, and it didn't work for me. Even adding the live rock to both sump and DT while dosing.

One thing I notice now is if I lower my tank temp to 78 I have had minor outbreaks. Once I creep back to 82 they go away. I still carbon dose too.

The carbon dosing seemed to work for me on my first outbreak that nothing else helped.

I've read a few things online that temperature can help with some dinos.

Unfortunately dino eradication seems to be really a hit and miss.

beesnreefs · Mar 31, 2023

I’ve been battling SCA for a few months. Was beating them but got bad cyano. Tried to stay the course for two months and finally got fed up and dosed Chemiclean. Cyano is gone! Now I have horrible GHA…and the dinos are back. Thinking about trying carbon dosing. Some questions:

1) I have TM Bacto Balance. Ok to try that?

2) Bacto Balance instructions suggest also adding K+ and A-. Should I do that? Or just stick with Bacto Balance alone?

3) Bacto Balance suggests dosing in AM just after lights turn on but I see lots of people here dosing at night after lights out. Thoughts?

Thanks!

Beuchat · Apr 1, 2023

Hi beesnreefs,

I would go better with TM Elimi-NP, it is more effective for dino control. I guess they recommend dosing during day due to oxygen consumption, but for dinos to recede, it is better to do at the beginning of the night.

beesnreefs · Apr 1, 2023

Beuchat said:
Hi beesnreefs,

I would go better with TM Elimi-NP, it is more effective for dino control. I guess they recommend dosing during day due to oxygen consumption, but for dinos to recede, it is better to do at the beginning of the night.

Thank you!

Elimi-NP will likely cause a significant reduction of N and P. Is it OK to dose NeoNitro and NeoPhos during the process?

I typically have relatively low N (1-3) and P (0.01-0.05) which is why I was thinking of trying Bacto-Balance.

Beuchat · Apr 1, 2023

Yes, but bear in mind that if there is an excesive increase in nitrate and phosphate (over the levels you alreday have) , it will benefit dinos. Pleae kindly check also amonia levels during the treatment

beesnreefs · Apr 1, 2023

Beuchat said:
Yes, but bear in mind that if there is an excesive increase in nitrate and phosphate (over the levels you alreday have) , it will benefit dinos. Pleae kindly check also amonia levels during the treatment

Can you help me understand why testing for ammonia is important during this treatment?

Beuchat · Apr 1, 2023

Two aquarists using high doses of TM Elimin-NP reported total ammonia readings of around 2 ppm during the treatment. I guess it is probably because of a too much increase in the dose, but just in case...