Megabite's 180 Reef - Round 2

[08TRDOFFROAD]

I have another quick question for you or anyone really, what automatic feeder do you use? I see one in your picture but I figure I need one because I travel for work every now and then for a few days. Do you have your pumps turn off when you use the auto feeder as well?

I use Eheim Everyday Autofeeders on both my tanks.

 

[MegabiteOG]

I have micro monsters in my tank.

I suspected I had some dinos on the sandbed so i got a microscope. I'm pretty sure it is Dino (not sure what type yet), but I have a couple of other things in that same water sample that I have no idea what they are.

Any of you guys know? I will likely post it in the pest thread.

Assumed Dino's


Dino's and Unknown


Unknown

From what I’ve read and seen in videos, seems like these are Amphidinium sp. based on how they move around. Can someone confirm?

 

[That Crusso Kid]

From what I’ve read and seen in videos, seems like these are Amphidinium sp. based on how they move around. Can someone confirm?

I would imagine you have already viewed these but, just in case you haven't, the below videos may prove to be helpful. Make sure to read the description for each video.

 

[Reefering1]

I have micro monsters in my tank.

I suspected I had some dinos on the sandbed so i got a microscope. I'm pretty sure it is Dino (not sure what type yet), but I have a couple of other things in that same water sample that I have no idea what they are.

Any of you guys know? I will likely post it in the pest thread.

Assumed Dino's


Dino's and Unknown


Unknown

@EnterName any ideas or thoughts?

 

[EnterName]

I have micro monsters in my tank.

I suspected I had some dinos on the sandbed so i got a microscope. I'm pretty sure it is Dino (not sure what type yet), but I have a couple of other things in that same water sample that I have no idea what they are.

Any of you guys know? I will likely post it in the pest thread.

Assumed Dino's


Dino's and Unknown


Unknown

@EnterName any ideas or thoughts?

The recordings lack clarity to identify with absolute certainty but on a first glance it looks like dinoflagellates.

The movement pattern matches Prorocentrum and Amphidinium, but it's also possible it belongs to a completely different genus. There are thousands of benthic dinoflagellates and also some chrysophytes that can look very similar. It's hard to tell without having a well focused close-up of some cells.

The wormy thing in the last video could be a small planaria species. Not all of them cause trouble. I wouldn't worry about it for now, if they aren't sitting on corals in large numbers. If it has spikes that are just invisible in the video it's probably some polychaete.

There also appears to be a single Ostreopsis cell in the last video, but I could be mistaken. It is moving weird It's not unusual to find a few cells of other dinoflagellates between a dominant species. The exact identification doesn't matter too much in my opinion. I would always include a UV sterilizer in my treatment, even for cells that don't necessarily leave the substrate.

How old is the tank these samples were taken from?

 

[MegabiteOG]

I would imagine you have already viewed these but, just in case you haven't, the below videos may prove to be helpful. Make sure to read the description for each video.

Thanks Chris!

@EnterName any ideas or thoughts?

Thanks Reefering!

The recordings lack clarity to identify with absolute certainty but on a first glance it looks like dinoflagellates.

The movement pattern matches Prorocentrum and Amphidinium, but it's also possible it belongs to a completely different genus. There are thousands of benthic dinoflagellates and also some chrysophytes that can look very similar. It's hard to tell without having a well focused close-up of some cells.

The wormy thing in the last video could be a small planaria species. Not all of them cause trouble. I wouldn't worry about it for now, if they aren't sitting on corals in large numbers. If it has spikes that are just invisible in the video it's probably some polychaete.

There also appears to be a single Ostreopsis cell in the last video, but I could be mistaken. It is moving weird It's not unusual to find a few cells of other dinoflagellates between a dominant species. The exact identification doesn't matter too much in my opinion. I would always include a UV sterilizer in my treatment, even for cells that don't necessarily leave the substrate.

How old is the tank these samples were taken from?

Thank you very much for the very informative and detailed response!

The tank is just shy of nine months old. 60% of the rock and sand is from Gulf live rock and the other rock from a used tank of unknown age. It’s a relatively cheap scope and first time use so will try and take some clearer more defined shots to share.

I hadn’t used a scope in this hobby before, but now fascinated with what’s in there that the eye can’t see. Blew my mind looking at all these things moving around.

 

[EnterName]

I would imagine you have already viewed these but, just in case you haven't, the below videos may prove to be helpful. Make sure to read the description for each video.

Thanks Chris!

@EnterName any ideas or thoughts?

Thanks Reefering!

The recordings lack clarity to identify with absolute certainty but on a first glance it looks like dinoflagellates.

The movement pattern matches Prorocentrum and Amphidinium, but it's also possible it belongs to a completely different genus. There are thousands of benthic dinoflagellates and also some chrysophytes that can look very similar. It's hard to tell without having a well focused close-up of some cells.

The wormy thing in the last video could be a small planaria species. Not all of them cause trouble. I wouldn't worry about it for now, if they aren't sitting on corals in large numbers. If it has spikes that are just invisible in the video it's probably some polychaete.

There also appears to be a single Ostreopsis cell in the last video, but I could be mistaken. It is moving weird It's not unusual to find a few cells of other dinoflagellates between a dominant species. The exact identification doesn't matter too much in my opinion. I would always include a UV sterilizer in my treatment, even for cells that don't necessarily leave the substrate.

How old is the tank these samples were taken from?

Thank you very much for the very informative and detailed response!

The tank is just shy of nine months old. 60% of the rock and sand is from Gulf live rock and the other rock from a used tank of unknown age. It’s a relatively cheap scope and first time use so will try and take some clearer more defined shots to share.

I hadn’t used a scope in this hobby before, but now fascinated with what’s in there that the eye can’t see. Blew my mind looking at all these things moving around.

No problem, I'm happy if I can help somehow. Using a microscope sometimes isn't as easy, but this might help to get clearer pictures:

1. You want a very flat sample, so you put a drop on the slide, put a cover glass on it and then you can use a small piece of paper towel to absorb excessive water by carefully moving it towards the sample and holding still for a moment.

If the sample is flat there isn't much space specimen can swim back and forth out of focus.

2. Somewhere on your scope should be way to close the "iris diaphragm". Closing this diaphragm will give you a greater depth of field, so it is even less likely for your specimens to swim completely ok out of focus.

This might help: https://microscopy4kids.org/compound-microscope-parts-function/

If you try again with a decently flat sample and a bit more closed iris diaphragm I'm sure we will be able to see more detail

Of course I have to advertise my microscopy thread at this point: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/microscopy-thread.1138845/
You will find photos of Amphidinium, Ostreopsis, and Prorocentrum there. Don't be confused that they look a little bit different, I'm using a different illuminaton technique to get more detail.

 

[skey44]

Man your AD is taking off!

 

[MegabiteOG]

No problem, I'm happy if I can help somehow. Using a microscope sometimes isn't as easy, but this might help to get clearer pictures:

1. You want a very flat sample, so you put a drop on the slide, put a cover glass on it and then you can use a small piece of paper towel to absorb excessive water by carefully moving it towards the sample and holding still for a moment.

If the sample is flat there isn't much space specimen can swim back and forth out of focus.

2. Somewhere on your scope should be way to close the "iris diaphragm". Closing this diaphragm will give you a greater depth of field, so it is even less likely for your specimens to swim completely ok out of focus.

This might help: https://microscopy4kids.org/compound-microscope-parts-function/

If you try again with a decently flat sample and a bit more closed iris diaphragm I'm sure we will be able to see more detail

Of course I have to advertise my microscopy thread at this point: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/microscopy-thread.1138845/
You will find photos of Amphidinium, Ostreopsis, and Prorocentrum there. Don't be confused that they look a little bit different, I'm using a different illuminaton technique to get more detail.

Thanks again. I will try that and will definitely frequent your microscopy thread and post on there.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Man your AD is taking off!

Thanks Scott. I do a weekly update of the AD on Thursday's here, so it will be up shortly. The AD is doing so well for me.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Weekly update of the Aqua Delight. Changed format a bit with just first and last pic along with changes from previous week. What these pictures do not capture is how much the other side is growing as well.

 

[MegabiteOG]

So today I vacuumed some of the Dino's out of the sand (about 4.5 gallons worth). I figured I'd get a sample from the water I took out and was amazed how much life is in the water I had no idea was there. It's truly cool to see. If stuff like this freaks you out, don't get a microscope.

Videos aren't great as I'm a complete noob,, but still pretty cool.

Grasshopper looking thing moving around.


Something that drank WAY too much expresso zooming around.


Blob like sea creature.


A hairy looking thing and a worm thing.


@EnterName - Is this kind of stuff okay to post on your thread? The quality is not great, so wasn't sure.

 

[EnterName]

So today I vacuumed some of the Dino's out of the sand (about 4.5 gallons worth). I figured I'd get a sample from the water I took out and was amazed how much life is in the water I had no idea was there. It's truly cool to see. If stuff like this freaks you out, don't get a microscope.

Videos aren't great as I'm a complete noob,, but still pretty cool.

Grasshopper looking thing moving around.


Something that drank WAY too much expresso zooming around.


Blob like sea creature.


A hairy looking thing and a worm thing.


@EnterName - Is this kind of stuff okay to post on your thread? The quality is not great, so wasn't sure.

Everyone is welcome to post in the thread, no gatekeeping! Just a shared passion for microscopy and discovering the microbiology in our tanks

 

[MegabiteOG]

Although I have what seems like a million pieces of equipment attached to my tank, I did not have a UV. Went and purchased an Aqua UV 57W stubby and installed to help in combating the Dino's. I did what I consider a quick install to get thing started while planning how I'd like to have it plumbed in permanently.

Designed and printed some hangers for the front of the sump for easy maintenance. Hopefully it helps with the Dino's. Here are some pics before running the 3/4" hoses.

 

[MegabiteOG]

As a person with little patience, I went full on Mad Max on a temp closed loop setup for the UV. My UV setup yesterday was super inefficient as it was going in and out in the sump so only a percentage of the water from the DT was getting processed through the UV.

I put together this contraption with what I had on hand. Even if the Dino's don't go through the UV, I think this ugly setup will scare them to death. Anyway, onto the traditional pictures I always include.

 

[skey44]

As a person with little patience, I went full on Mad Max on a temp closed loop setup for the UV. My UV setup yesterday was super inefficient as it was going in and out in the sump so only a percentage of the water from the DT was getting processed through the UV.

I put together this contraption with what I had on hand. Even if the Dino's don't go through the UV, I think this ugly setup will scare them to death. Anyway, onto the traditional pictures I always include.

My LFS has a uv he moves from tank to tank as needed much like this!

 

[MegabiteOG]

My LFS has a uv he moves from tank to tank as needed much like this!

Cool.

I have a few ideas of what I want to do. I want the UV to be stand alone/ self contained. I will likely plumb it with black PVC, a flow meter, and external pump. Design a bracket to hang on the tank glass with only the inlet and outlet pipe in the tank. I will use a DC pump to control flow for whatever I’m trying to do using the flow meter for easy dial in.

I think I have room behind the tank so it’s out of sight. This will be a fun project.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Updated picture of my reefing buddy.

 

[08TRDOFFROAD]

Cool.

I have a few ideas of what I want to do. I want the UV to be stand alone/ self contained. I will likely plumb it with black PVC, a flow meter, and external pump. Design a bracket to hang on the tank glass with only the inlet and outlet pipe in the tank. I will use a DC pump to control flow for whatever I’m trying to do using the flow meter for easy dial in.

I think I have room behind the tank so it’s out of sight. This will be a fun project.

Im still on the lookout for some reasonably priced used UVs to add to my systems. I like this idea! Interested to see it come together!

 

[Jasonak]

In my quest to continue finding ways to organize while trying to make the most of out of the limited cabinet space, I came across these small shelves/ trays on Amazon. They are 15" X 4" with a lip on them. I'm putting a couple on them on the cabinet door. Fits a more than I thought. There were only 6 for $20.

How are these shelves holding up ? Its a cool idea.