Dinoflagellates Plan

[sailfish1095]

I belive I have identified the Dino's in my tank as small celled amphidinium, photo's attached for second opinions.
Through research and reading the Dino thread on this forum it seems the best approach is many, and I wanted to outline my plan for some feedback from those more experienced.

The latest test values from yesterday:
Tank: 65G
pH: 8.3
Temp: 78
Ca: 420 (Salifert)
Kh: 9.5 (Salifert)
Mg: 1260 (Salifert)
Phosphate: 0 (Salifert)
Nitrate: 0 (API)

What I'm doing now:
- Running a 10w Innovation Marine UV at low flow (this is probably underpowered)
- Stirring up sand/blowing off rocks nightly
- Continue running skimmer with cup drain open to put skimmate back into tank (Using co2 scrubbing to raise the pH and don't want to discontinue to raise nutrients)
- Discontinuing weekly 10% water changes

What I'm planning to do:
- Getting a Hanna Phosphate ULR to confirm 0 PO4 level
- A blackout of some duration (3 days?)
- Raising temp to 83 over the course of the next few days
- Increased flow on wavemaker to max that corals will tolerate
- Start running carbon in the tank to remove toxins
- If unable to raise nutrients by dumping skimmer start dosing
- Once nutrients are raised, start dosing Microbactr7
- Possibly Hydrogen Peroxide dosing

What do you all think?

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

Your plan looks good. Having went through a Dino outbreak myself back in 2023 I would add to your to do list

- manual removal

Also I have a question about your MB7 plan, why wait for nutrients to go up? Why not now?

 

[sailfish1095]

Your plan looks good. Having went through a Dino outbreak myself back in 2023 I would add to your to do list

- manual removal

Also I have a question about your MB7 plan, why wait for nutrients to go up? Why not now?

Great point! Tbh for some reason I had in my head that they needed Posphates/Nitrates to consume but your comment made me rethink that assumption.

 

[sailfish1095]

Your plan looks good. Having went through a Dino outbreak myself back in 2023 I would add to your to do list

- manual removal

Also I have a question about your MB7 plan, why wait for nutrients to go up? Why not now?

Through the amount of things I've researched I've forgotten some stuff and just came across this again:

Brightwell Aquatics - Microbacter7

• Reduces nitrates and phosphates

Additionally, Mack's dino support group document recommends waiting until nitrate/phosphates actually rise before beginning to dose as an objective is to get them > 0.

 

[dwest]

IMO the photos are inconclusive.

I would do what Jason Mack suggests however. If that doesn’t work I would do 2 things. One is make the UV go in and out of the tank directly and second is to remove sand. Both of these can be temporary. I did both a few years back and it was the big turning point of my SCA dino battle. It was almost like a switch after a year long battle.

Good luck. Oh, and a piece of live rock or just some rubble from an established tank can’t hurt.