Microscope ID help

[jonelder68]

@jonelder68 I believe these are small cell amphididiums. I have had them....more than I haven't, in my last two systems. They're a B**ch with a capital B. The best course of treatment is balancing your nitrogen to phosphorus and dosing sodium silicate to create a diatom bloom to our compete. Third, adding biodiversity can also help. Thus could be live photo, or just inoculating your tank with aged media from established systems.

To answer your question about water changes - in my experience they can help bitchy corals if they're struggling from the toxins (which are mild compared to other types, but can cause issues none the less, my nassarius were acting drunk, for instance.) The key is to make sure you don't complicate a low nutrient situation, which may mean dosing.


I'm going to attach the Mack's Reef "Dealing with Dinos" file. I'd encourage you to join the Facebook group. We've got a few experts who can confirm your diagnosis and give you suggestions. There is a lot of garbage information out there about dinos (e.g. blackouts.)

That plan is my game plan. Luckily @Miami Reef is hooking me up hopefully. Agree with cuc “acting drunk”. It’s a perfect way to describe it . Lazy and drunk.

 

[Miami Reef]

There is a lot of garbage information out there about dinos (e.g. blackouts.)

I actually almost never suggest blackouts. I dislike them. However, some dinos will not release from the substrate at night, and there are cases where blackouts actually made a significant impact. I agree though, I reserve blackouts once there is sufficient competition and the dinos aren’t readily releasing.