Tank restart ? Getting nowhere with corals

[Patx]

Nitrates went up to 24 with a half dose. Is that too much for LPS ?

Not a problem.

 

[ElementReefer]

It sounds like your tank is in dysbiosis. That’s when the microbiome is unhealthy. It would explain why you keep getting dinos and why your coral die.

I did the Dr Tim’s protocol for dinos last year on my 20 gallon. It worked.

 

[ninjamyst]

How often do you do water change?

In my 200g, I have to dose trace elements and amino acid to keep up with my coral uptake because I rarely do water change.

Also, I know you said your nitrate are between 10-20 and phosphate between 0.03 - 0.09 but with a margin of error and fact that you are dealing with dino, you need to INCREASE nutrients.

A very very simple fix is to get more fish and feed more often.

Remember the golden rule of reefing. Big import, big export. Many ways to do it but the rule stays the same. You need to provide lots of nutrients to grow coral while removing waste.

I would also stop vodka dosing as that's the opposite of what you need right now.

One last thing, lower your alk to 7-8. 10-11 is playing with fire.

A lot of stuff is being thrown at you. Don't do them all at once. Slow and steady wins the race.

 

[bossman818]

I’m no expert but it has to be the vodka dosing. I had same issue when I was doing the same thing. Completely stopped and added macro algae to my tank. Fixed a lot of problems. Good luck!

 

[Idech]

How often do you do water change?

I very rarely do, as it fuels dinos big time. Last time (2-3 months ago) I did a 20 gallons WC and it was horrible. When dinos go away, I will start doing WC.

Also, I know you said your nitrate are between 10-20 and phosphate between 0.03 - 0.09 but with a margin of error and fact that you are dealing with dino, you need to INCREASE nutrients.

Last time I stopped dosing vodka, nitrates went up to 43 so I started again. I tested this morning and nitrates were at 12,8. I stopped the vodka and will see how the tank does with elevated nitrates.

A very very simple fix is to get more fish and feed more often.

I feed twice a day, frozen + sometimes pellets. I can’t increase or nitrates will be very high. Especially with stopping the vodka.

I would also stop vodka dosing as that's the opposite of what you need right now.

I stopped this morning. I will update.

One last thing, lower your alk to 7-8. 10-11 is playing with fire.

I don’t like it but I need to do WC to change it. This will have to wait until the dinos are gone. What can happen with high alk ?

I’m no expert but it has to be the vodka dosing. I had same issue when I was doing the same thing. Completely stopped and added macro algae to my tank. Fixed a lot of problems. Good luck!

I hope it does for me too. Thank you !

 

[Idech]

It sounds like your tank is in dysbiosis. That’s when the microbiome is unhealthy. It would explain why you keep getting dinos and why your coral die.

I did the Dr Tim’s protocol for dinos last year on my 20 gallon. It worked.

I’ll look into that. I’m open to anything that can help !

 

[Science/G]

Siphon out as much as possible, continue to run your UV. Continue with your carbon dosing, but add a bacterial supplement like microbacter 7 along with a slurry of coral snow. Be patient your reef looks nice!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/extreme-water-clarity-and-cyano-eradication-made-easy.916381/

 

[Idech]

Siphon out as much as possible, continue to run your UV. Continue with your carbon dosing, but add a bacterial supplement like microbacter 7 along with a slurry of coral snow. Be patient your reef looks nice!

Thank you ! I’ve been waiting 3 years so I am very patient, lol !

I added microbacter in starting doses, twice, and the second time it made it worse. This thing is really maddening…

 

[Reefering1]

Did you hang some filter floss in high light/ flow and stir the sand yet? If it's going to help you will start to see the difference by the next day... I just about cleared my dinos in about a month. But your nutrients are already off the floor, I suspect it will be fast, assuming correct id.

 

[ElementReefer]

I’ll look into that. I’m open to anything that can help !

It worked for me.

https://www.drtimsaquatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Dinoflagellates_prescription_recipe.pdf
Sometimes you gotta put this kid back on the bike several times before they are cruising.

 

[Idech]

Did you hang some filter floss in high light/ flow and stir the sand yet? If it's going to help you will start to see the difference by the next day... I just about cleared my dinos in about a month. But your nutrients are already off the floor, I suspect it will be fast, assuming correct I'd.

Today I took apart my skimmer because its performance was lacking and I did stir the sand, yes. I haven’t put up filter floss in the DT but I put a brand new strip of it in the sump (it’s about 15 inches long X 4 inches wide).

I read about the trick in the dinos protocol but they say it’s for another type of dinos, not Prorocentrum. So I wasn’t sure. Were yours Prorocentrum too?

 

[Idech]

It worked for me.

https://www.drtimsaquatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Dinoflagellates_prescription_recipe.pdf
Sometimes you gotta put this kid back on the bike several times before they are cruising.

It would cost me about 90$ CAD for the two bottles required but one is not available on Amazon. That’s a lot of money too so I’m not sure.

 

[Reefering1]

Today I took apart my skimmer because its performance was lacking and I did stir the sand, yes. I haven’t put up filter floss in the DT but I put a brand new strip of it in the sump (it’s about 15 inches long X 4 inches wide).

I read about the trick in the dinos protocol but they say it’s for another type of dinos, not Prorocentrum. So I wasn’t sure. Were yours Prorocentrum too?

Honestly, I don't remember and I didn't put under scope this time. This is just what I do if I see brown stringy slime with bubbles, it always goes away.
Is the strip you added under a light? Any dinos sticking to it? If so, then it "should" work if you keep removing it. And if it is sticking, a bigger piece will collect it faster. I notice them sticking to the floss within minutes of changing..

 

[Idech]

Is the strip you added under a light? Any dinos sticking to it?

It’s only under indirect (refugium) light at night. The filter floss gets really nasty and brown, but I can’t say if it’s or just tank crap.

 

[b.clark]

OP said he had 4 ai prime 16 on a 75 gallon and had low par readings. I think 4 ai primes on a 150 may not be enough light. I had 4 prime 16 on my 75 and it worked. 150 is a big tank for those 4 lights. May be why corals don’t grow or thrive.

 

[Idech]

OP said he had 4 ai prime 16 on a 75 gallon and had low par readings. I think 4 ai primes on a 150 may not be enough light. I had 4 prime 16 on my 75 and it worked. 150 is a big tank for those 4 lights. May be why corals don’t grow or thrive.

The situation was pretty much the same with the 75 gallons. Both tanks are 48 inches but the 150 gallons (with sump) is deeper and a bit higher.

But you’re right, it might not be enough. I will do a par reading soon.