I Think I have Dinos...

[Iinux]

Howdy All!
My tank is about 8 months old (this time around), and I noticed my water get VERY clear... and then something popped up. I just vaccumed it all up, but, I should have taken a picture. Was brown with a bubble coming out of the top of the string on the sand and lower rocks... so I took to google, saw to verify its dinos I needed to put it under a microscope. Luckily I had one, took a sample and this is what I see (two videos) :


Looks a lot like dinos, specifically possibly Prorocentrum.

Right now I just tested my water with Hanna Checkers and got the following :

1-28-26 @ 330PM
Nitrates 0.0 || Phosphate .02 PPM

Wondering what are the next steps? I grow my own Phyto and Copepods, and the first batches are ready now. I also have purchased the following :
Microbactre 7
NeoPhos
NeoNitro
Lots of Activated Carbon.

I do NOT want to use DINO-X. Last time I did it worked... but every coral died too.
Would like to raise my Nitrates and Phosphates, add beneficial bacteria, add copepods (tisbe) and phyto (nannochloropsis) and fight this the right way so they don't come back.

Thank you all for reading, and please help me!

 

[JTP424]

What type of livestock do you have in the tank and are you feeding them?
You can dose the two Neo to raise your Nitrates and Phosphates.
Only put in the carbon you need for your tank size (IMO)
Microbacter7 is said to help (on threads here and there on this forum)

You seem to have a plan in place!

 

[Idoc]

I do believe you have some dinos in those pictures. The clarity isn't the greatest, but I would guess small cell amphidinium vs prorocentrum. I think you are on the right track to increase your nitrates/phosphates and keep them from bottoming out as well as phyto/microbacter7/Etc...

It's not a fast or easy road ahead of you, though. It took me about 8-10 months to clear out small cell amphidinium dinos many years ago.

 

[BryanM]

Definitely raise nutrients. But beyond that, do they go away at night (in to the water column)? If they do UV is a very viable treatment option.

 

[Iinux]

Definitely raise nutrients. But beyond that, do they go away at night (in to the water column)? If they do UV is a very viable treatment option.

Sadly they do not, but ill verify again tonight.

I do believe you have some dinos in those pictures. The clarity isn't the greatest, but I would guess small cell amphidinium vs prorocentrum. I think you are on the right track to increase your nitrates/phosphates and keep them from bottoming out as well as phyto/microbacter7/Etc...

It's not a fast or easy road ahead of you, though. It took me about 8-10 months to clear out small cell amphidinium dinos many years ago.

Yeah... its going to be a long fight, but I feel its better to do it the right way, being in the hobby for 20+ years has taught me only one thing, dont rush.

What type of livestock do you have in the tank and are you feeding them?
You can dose the two Neo to raise your Nitrates and Phosphates.
Only put in the carbon you need for your tank size (IMO)
Microbacter7 is said to help (on threads here and there on this forum)

You seem to have a plan in place!

Right now just a goby, pistol shrimp, corals, and snails. Tomorrow though a Tomini Tang gets delivered!
How high should I raise Phos and Nitrates?

 

[BryanM]

Then the next best plan is likely a 3 day blackout period.

 

[Iinux]

Then the next best plan is likely a 3 day blackout period.

I was told blackout is really just a temporary bandaid until I solve the issue.

I do believe you have some dinos in those pictures. The clarity isn't the greatest, but I would guess small cell amphidinium vs prorocentrum. I think you are on the right track to increase your nitrates/phosphates and keep them from bottoming out as well as phyto/microbacter7/Etc...

It's not a fast or easy road ahead of you, though. It took me about 8-10 months to clear out small cell amphidinium dinos many years ago.

Better ish video

 

[dvgyfresh]

What really helped me is dosing silicates / installing a UV

 

[Iinux]

What really helped me is dosing silicates / installing a UV

I have a redsea all in one the max nano xxl g2, hard to find one that will work

 

[dvgyfresh]

I bought an aqua shield Uv that fits in my back chamber 20g AIO

 

[Iinux]

I bought an aqua shield Uv that fits in my back chamber 20g AIO

i cant seem to find one small enough for a 50 gallon

 

[Idoc]

I was told blackout is really just a temporary bandaid until I solve the issue.


Better ish video

A couple of them look like they have the Amphidinium "beak" but most do look more like Prorocentrum. I have not had this kind before. But, a blackout does seem to only be a bandaid, but it will pull them into the water column where a UV sterilizer will assist with their demise....while the other nutrient issues and biodiversity issues are improved.

 

[dlee3814]

It's definitely dinos.