Phytoplankton and Pods to get rid of and or Control Dinoflagellates

[Steve2020]

I have a small case of Dyno's on my sand bed only. Mack's Reef says it looks like SCA with maybe a little LCA. They recommended dosing Silicates to cause a Diatom bloom to outcompete the Dyno's. I have read some threads that many reefers have had success eradicating Dino's using this method. After doing some more research I found on another site that someone recommended dosing Phyto and bacteria and adding more Pods worked for there tank. They got there recommendation from an Aquaculture company who supplied the phyto and pods.
Her tank size was 165gal and was dosing 50ml of phyto every other day on recommendation. Her tank had 1000 times more Dyno's on her sand bed than I do. So here is the kicker, that same company asked for my tank size and nutrient levels (255gal, NO3 9.6ppm and PO4 0.04ppm) and came back with a recommendation of adding more pods to my tank and get this, dosing 1 cup (236ml) DAILY of phyto. That equates to 472ml every other day. Based on my tank size of 255gal and the other girls tank size of 165gal, to match her phyto dosing I should only be dosing 82ml of phyto every other day. What's wrong with this picture? Am I missing something. In my opinion, if I dosed that much phyto I would think most would not be consumed and die off causing a bloom and one heck of a phosphate spike and crashing my tank. Maybe not crash but Deffinantly not good IMO. I was under the impression that the Phyto dosing standard is 5ml per 20gal or something in that range. Am I not understanding something or is dosing 236ml of phyto daily safe for a 255gal reef tank. My opinion is it is not recommended or safe but I have been wrong before.
Any thoughts on this?

 

[GoVols]

Pods do eat dinos

How 15 Answers Changed the Way I Look at My Tank Forever! 10 Months of Biome Cycling 12 Aquariums

In this live presentation at Reefapalooza New York 2022, Ryan shares the results and draws some insightful conclusions from our 10-month investigation of the reef aquarium biome.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Steve2020]

Pods do eat dinos

How 15 Answers Changed the Way I Look at My Tank Forever! 10 Months of Biome Cycling 12 Aquariums

In this live presentation at Reefapalooza New York 2022, Ryan shares the results and draws some insightful conclusions from our 10-month investigation of the reef aquarium biome.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Yes I understand that but 1 cup a day? Sounds like a lot.

 

[gbru316]

Pods do eat dinos

How 15 Answers Changed the Way I Look at My Tank Forever! 10 Months of Biome Cycling 12 Aquariums

In this live presentation at Reefapalooza New York 2022, Ryan shares the results and draws some insightful conclusions from our 10-month investigation of the reef aquarium biome.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I just listened to that today. Coincidentally, I’m dealing with either a cyano or Dino problem. I’ll know tomorrow once my microscope arrives.

I subsequently placed an order for 64 oz of eco pods from algae barn. 28000+ pods for my 40b. I’ve got a small population of tisbe pods, these should supplement them well. And I’m sure my scooter blenny will be thrilled.

 

[Steve2020]

I have a small case of Dyno's on my sand bed only. Mack's Reef says it looks like SCA with maybe a little LCA. They recommended dosing Silicates to cause a Diatom bloom to outcompete the Dyno's. I have read some threads that many reefers have had success eradicating Dino's using this method. After doing some more research I found on another site that someone recommended dosing Phyto and bacteria and adding more Pods worked for there tank. They got there recommendation from an Aquaculture company who supplied the phyto and pods.
Her tank size was 165gal and was dosing 50ml of phyto every other day on recommendation. Her tank had 1000 times more Dyno's on her sand bed than I do. So here is the kicker, that same company asked for my tank size and nutrient levels (255gal, NO3 9.6ppm and PO4 0.04ppm) and came back with a recommendation of adding more pods to my tank and get this, dosing 1 cup (236ml) DAILY of phyto. That equates to 472ml every other day. Based on my tank size of 255gal and the other girls tank size of 165gal, to match her phyto dosing I should only be dosing 82ml of phyto every other day. What's wrong with this picture? Am I missing something. In my opinion, if I dosed that much phyto I would think most would not be consumed and die off causing a bloom and one heck of a phosphate spike and crashing my tank. Maybe not crash but Deffinantly not good IMO. I was under the impression that the Phyto dosing standard is 5ml per 20gal or something in that range. Am I not understanding something or is dosing 236ml of phyto daily safe for a 255gal reef tank. My opinion is it is not recommended or safe but I have been wrong before.
Any thoughts on this?

The Aquaculture company just emailed me back and gave me a better understanding, They were basing there dosage recommendation on my tank size and because I have a large filtration capacity. Also told me that I can add less if I want and work up. Also said they dose a half of cup daily on some of their 50gal tanks and the pods consumed it all with no increase in nutrients. Think I will give this a try.

 

[GuppyHJD]

I can't find a local souce for pods and phyto...working now on culturing both for the tank and then I can feed as much as it wants.

 

[Reef Puncher]

Pods do eat dinos

How 15 Answers Changed the Way I Look at My Tank Forever! 10 Months of Biome Cycling 12 Aquariums

In this live presentation at Reefapalooza New York 2022, Ryan shares the results and draws some insightful conclusions from our 10-month investigation of the reef aquarium biome.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Hi! just to add to your post.

To date there is only HARD evidence of one species eating dinos. Acartia copepods. There are a couple sites that sell acartia pods. There is video evidence of this, and a study!
There is alot of anecdotal evidence that apoc pods will eat dinos, but i have yet to find video of it, or any studies. There is also tisbe and tiger, but again, i havnt found concrete evidence. Id say the safest route is just get acartia and maybe apoc pods for anyone going down that route.

 

[Mwatts12]

I tried this phyto route. I was adding 250ml a day to my 225 gallon. I stocked up and dosed enough for 2 weeks. The Dino’s cleared for a day or so and came back.

When it comes to these extreme measures. Remember the Dino thread has 12,500 posts of nothing really curing it.

 

[Reef Puncher]

t

I tried this phyto route. I was adding 250ml a day to my 225 gallon. I stocked up and dosed enough for 2 weeks. The Dino’s cleared for a day or so and came back.

When it comes to these extreme measures. Remember the Dino thread has 12,500 posts of nothing really curing it.

here is a facebook group, macks dino flaggelate support, that has 100s of success stories. The thing is there is no one step cure all. They come in with an imbalance and it takes several steps over time to get rid of them. It requires decreased lighting, balanced nutrients, increased microbiome, not just phyto and the correct types of pods, but also proper bacterial cycling. There is a reason well cycled tanks with live rock and phyto and pods being introduced from the start rarely if ever, get dinos. dinos usually come when nutrients bottom out, or dead rock is used, or the tanks get too much lighting before cycle is complete. I personally defeated dinos, well mostly, after battling for 6 months, i found the group, and eventually reduced them down to just a tiny tiny portion on one rock now. before they were EVERYWHERE. so the methods do work.

 

[Mwatts12]

t

here is a facebook group, macks dino flaggelate support, that has 100s of success stories. The thing is there is no one step cure all. They come in with an imbalance and it takes several steps over time to get rid of them. It requires decreased lighting, balanced nutrients, increased microbiome, not just phyto and the correct types of pods, but also proper bacterial cycling. There is a reason well cycled tanks with live rock and phyto and pods being introduced from the start rarely if ever, get dinos. dinos usually come when nutrients bottom out, or dead rock is used, or the tanks get too much lighting before cycle is complete. I personally defeated dinos, well mostly, after battling for 6 months, i found the group, and eventually reduced them down to just a tiny tiny portion on one rock now. before they were EVERYWHERE. so the methods do work.

If you waited the 6 months and did nothing, would that have also cured the Dino’s?