Dinos and GHA

[jacobcoral]

I am having some issues with dinos and hair algae. I’ve done all preventative measures other than dose more bacteria, but I can’t seem to figure out what the problem is or how to solve it.

I’ve done weekly water changes and sometimes even doing it twice a week. The Coral is healthy and opening, other than when it’s covered by green hair algae. I’ve brushed the plugs thoroughly with a toothbrush to get rid of nuisance hair algae and it just seems to keep coming back

I added the UV sterilizer for dinos and they seem to still be present in the system.

My water chemistry has been pretty steady, so I’m not sure what the issue is
11/19

Alk 9.2

Nitrate 5.4

Phos .08

 

[Rhetoric]

Good morning,

How old is the tank?

What does your clean up crew look like? Sound like whatever the answer is.... you need more.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I had this exact same issue in my tank! My advice would be to make sure your CUC is stocked up, stay on top of water changes, and stay on top of brushing your rock.

 

[jacobcoral]

Good morning,

How old is the tank?

What does your clean up crew look like? Sound like whatever the answer is.... you need more.

I have about 7 snails and 4-5 hermit crabs I put more in there but I can only see that many. The tank is about one month old but it was instant cycled with live rock from a friend in an established tank and live sand.

 

[jacobcoral]

I had this exact same issue in my tank! My advice would be to make sure your CUC is stocked up, stay on top of water changes, and stay on top of brushing your rock

I had this exact same issue in my tank! My advice would be to make sure your CUC is stocked up, stay on top of water changes, and stay on top of brushing your rock.

What’s a good way to brush it? Just a toothbrush? I’ve heard Dino don’t go away from a cleanup crew, so I’m not sure what to do about them. I’m going to start dosing some bacteria on Friday, but I heard a UV sterilizer will kill it as I have that on for 24 hours a day. I was also thinking about adding Copepods.

 

[Rhetoric]

What’s a good way to brush it? Just a toothbrush? I’ve heard Dino don’t go away from a cleanup crew, so I’m not sure what to do about them. I’m going to start dosing some bacteria on Friday, but I heard a UV sterilizer will kill it as I have that on for 24 hours a day. I was also thinking about adding Copepods.

I know there are a million ways to "reef" but I'd suggest slowing down and doing nothing from the dosing/equipment stand point.

Add a few more snails, maybe a little bigger herbivore like a Turbo snail, urchin, Conch. Adding pods is always a good idea (in my opinion) A more diverse crew will help. I didn't catch the tank size if its big enough a herbivore fish.

Keep picking off for now, you are the best clean up crew around.

Ive never added chemicals to my aquarium to resolve algae. Not once, take the natural approach.. CuC.

Pic of my tank for reference. Its only 20 gallons and took awhile to dial in the right clean up crew (cant use a tang /sigh)

 

[jacobcoral]

I know there are a million ways to "reef" but I'd suggest slowing down and doing nothing from the dosing/equipment stand point.

Add a few more snails, maybe a little bigger herbivore like a Turbo snail, urchin, Conch. Adding pods is always a good idea (in my opinion) A more diverse crew will help. I didn't catch the tank size if its big enough a herbivore fish.

Keep picking off for now, you are the best clean up crew around.

Ive never added chemicals to my aquarium to resolve algae. Not once, take the natural approach.. CuC.

Pic of my tank for reference. Its only 20 gallons and took awhile to dial in the right clean up crew (cant use a tang /sigh)

I have a 13.5 gallon so what do you recommend for a more diverse cleanup crew with that size tank. You don’t think dosing bacteria could help?

 

[Tommy B]

Do you have photos?

Can you describe your system filtration, lighting, dosing, etc?

 

[jacobcoral]

Do you have photos?

Can you describe your system filtration, lighting, dosing, etc?

I dose AB plus round 3 to 4 times a week. It is the fuel 13.5 gallon set up. It has a protein skimmer and then it goes into the second chamber, which is just a filter block with filter floss and then into the return pump with a wave maker and UV sterilizer. Lighting is a AI prime on from 8 AM to 8 PM with a two hour ramp up when lights are at full power it’s at about 104%

 

[Rhetoric]

I have a 13.5 gallon so what do you recommend for a more diverse cleanup crew with that size tank. You don’t think dosing bacteria could help?

I'd suggest an MVP CuC member. Maybe a smaller emerald crab or a big Trochus snail. Nothing happens fast in the hobby, add one bigger CuC and see how it does

Edit: after seeing the photos and id add real small Conch or 2 Nassarius snails also.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

What’s a good way to brush it? Just a toothbrush? I’ve heard Dino don’t go away from a cleanup crew, so I’m not sure what to do about them. I’m going to start dosing some bacteria on Friday, but I heard a UV sterilizer will kill it as I have that on for 24 hours a day. I was also thinking about adding Copepods.

The toothbrush is fine. What I would do is do during a water change. When you brush the algae off, siphon the algae out during a water change

 

[jacobcoral]

I'd suggest an MVP CuC member. Maybe a smaller emerald crab or a big Trochus snail. Nothing happens fast in the hobby, add one bigger CuC and see how it does

Okay I’ll try that out, I may add a small lawnmower blenny when I can get to it.

 

[jacobcoral]

The toothbrush is fine. What I would do is do during a water change. When you brush the algae off, siphon the algae out during a water change

Okay I usually brush it and let it go and hope the filter catches it maybe that will help

 

[jacobcoral]

I'd suggest an MVP CuC member. Maybe a smaller emerald crab or a big Trochus snail. Nothing happens fast in the hobby, add one bigger CuC and see how it does

Edit: after seeing the photos and id add real small Conch or 2 Nassarius snails also.

Where do you get the mvp clean up crew and what do you recommend for the sand bed

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Reefcleaners is a good place to get CUC from, just be aware the shipping fee is quite high

 

[Florida_Man]

I am having some issues with dinos and hair algae. I’ve done all preventative measures other than dose more bacteria, but I can’t seem to figure out what the problem is or how to solve it.

I’ve done weekly water changes and sometimes even doing it twice a week. The Coral is healthy and opening, other than when it’s covered by green hair algae. I’ve brushed the plugs thoroughly with a toothbrush to get rid of nuisance hair algae and it just seems to keep coming back

I added the UV sterilizer for dinos and they seem to still be present in the system.

My water chemistry has been pretty steady, so I’m not sure what the issue is
11/19

Alk 9.2

Nitrate 5.4

Phos .08

Here’s what worked for me when dealing with Dino’s:
Post in thread 'I won against Prorocentrum Dinos, here is how.'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/i-won-against-prorocentrum-dinos-here-is-how.1081920/post-13028790