NO3/PO4 POSSIBLE DINO ISSUE / CANT KEEP NO3 STABLE

[NeptuneSpear2011]

Hey All,
About a month ago I noticed started to get what I believe is Dino's. Ordered a microscope to verify dinos or diatoms. I'll post that verification tomorrow. I tested levels at that time and NO3/PO4 were at 0 which led me to believe dino's. Purchased NeoNitro and been dosing however very difficult to maintain a stable NO3 level. Bumped up feeding to twice a day using mysis, scallops, shrimp, Nori, Neptune Crossover Diet pellets, garlic, Selcon & Phyto Feast. (made my own food). Cant maintain NO3. Levels currently are the following below. I've recently added silica which about two weeks ago was at 0.0. Just cant figure it out to keep Nitrates level or stable other than feeding to keep Dino's at bay.

I have taken into consideration my bio load possibly being high from all the corals and the 7 fish.

Net, net I dont mind having to either feed or dose Nitro just looking to get to the bottom or root of the issue.

Any help or advice is appreciated!

Gravity - 1.025
PH4 - 0.07
NO3 - 6.0 Dosing 20ml Neo Nitro almost daily
Silica - 0.03
Alk - 9.9 (Using Randy's Alk Recipe 1)
PH - 8.6
Ca - 450
Mg - 1280

 

[Miami Reef]

The only solution to your low nitrate is dosing more. You can outcompete any consumption rate with enough dosing. Purchasing sodium nitrate online is cheaper. Neonitro is very dilute, making it seem like your tank has an especially high demand.

This chart can help with the silicate dosing. You’d want about 1-2 ppm dosed once a week to stimulate good diatom growth.

Silicate Dosing for Reef Tanks

Silicate feeds diatoms and sponges in reef tanks. Diatoms in particular are good at outcompeting dinos, feeding copepods, and might even feed corals and filter feeders when scraping the glass. Diatoms are also less visible than the standard green film algae they replace. There is no need to...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[NeptuneSpear2011]

The only solution to your low nitrate is dosing more. You can outcompete any consumption rate with enough dosing. Purchasing sodium nitrate online is cheaper. Neonitro is very dilute, making it seem like your tank has an especially high demand.

This chart can help with the silicate dosing. You’d want about 1-2 ppm dosed once a week to stimulate good diatom growth.

Silicate Dosing for Reef Tanks

Silicate feeds diatoms and sponges in reef tanks. Diatoms in particular are good at outcompeting dinos, feeding copepods, and might even feed corals and filter feeders when scraping the glass. Diatoms are also less visible than the standard green film algae they replace. There is no need to...

www.reef2reef.com

Thank you for that @Miami Reef !!

Question on the Silicate level. What should it be at as a stable level?
You are correct, the NeoNitro really fools you and is diluted I'm almost through the bottle already. Any links for the Sodium Nitrate?

 

[JonoH]

Cant see any Dino's myself - tank looks good.

Your parameters would envy most!

 

[Miami Reef]

Thank you for that @Miami Reef !!

Question on the Silicate level. What should it be at as a stable level?
You are correct, the NeoNitro really fools you and is diluted I'm almost through the bottle already. Any links for the Sodium Nitrate?

This DIY nitrate recipe has an Amazon link to buy sodium nitrate: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-nitrate-dosing-recipe.1111863/

Silicate doesn’t need to be kept at a specific level. I like dosing 1 ppm once a week without any testing because it isn’t likely to accumulate. I don’t have dinos, but I dose it for the sponges and diatoms.

 

[Miami Reef]

Cant see any Dino's myself - tank looks good.

I agree. I don’t see dinos either. The tank looks great!

 

[NeptuneSpear2011]

I agree. I don’t see dinos either. The tank looks great!

Thanks Guys!!!

 

[FisheRare]

Hey All,
About a month ago I noticed started to get what I believe is Dino's. Ordered a microscope to verify dinos or diatoms. I'll post that verification tomorrow. I tested levels at that time and NO3/PO4 were at 0 which led me to believe dino's. Purchased NeoNitro and been dosing however very difficult to maintain a stable NO3 level. Bumped up feeding to twice a day using mysis, scallops, shrimp, Nori, Neptune Crossover Diet pellets, garlic, Selcon & Phyto Feast. (made my own food). Cant maintain NO3. Levels currently are the following below. I've recently added silica which about two weeks ago was at 0.0. Just cant figure it out to keep Nitrates level or stable other than feeding to keep Dino's at bay.

I have taken into consideration my bio load possibly being high from all the corals and the 7 fish.

Net, net I dont mind having to either feed or dose Nitro just looking to get to the bottom or root of the issue.

Any help or advice is appreciated!

Gravity - 1.025
PH4 - 0.07
NO3 - 6.0 Dosing 20ml Neo Nitro almost daily
Silica - 0.03
Alk - 9.9 (Using Randy's Alk Recipe 1)
PH - 8.6
Ca - 450
Mg - 1280

For one thing do not trust the Hanna ph checker .it always gives me 8.6

 

[NeptuneSpear2011]

View attachment 20251020_154647_14B4DE26-B271-4732-9EF3-77D68FF8FA2E.mov

 

[NeptuneSpear2011]

Hey all apologies for revisiting this again. I added a video for what looks like Dino‘s

 

[NeptuneSpear2011]

Morning All!

I posted a video for your viewing pleasure with all the brown gory stuff that looks like Dino’s. Waiting for the microscope to identify better if someone could take another look

NO3 was at 6.9 this morning so it’s surely getting consumed.