Dinoflagellates.
- Thread starter DNA
- Start date
bheron
Active member
Hey Billybatz9 my dinos are all but gone. A few strains on the plumbing into my tank. There might be some in my sump but its hard to say. Nothing on the rocks, glass or sand in my tank. Been this way for weeks now. Since I believe they will always be part of my reef system and keeping them in check is my goal...as I'm concerned I have them beat!
Note: Billybatz9, back when I originally posted this picture you responded on 11/24 "My dinoflagellates algae looks just like yours". I meant to respond that I didn't think there were any Dinos in the picture, but rather just green algae and red cyano. But I could be wrong.
Billybatz9
New member
You did dirty method?
And this was the image I was referring too. I see red slime, green algae, and brown mat on sanbed
Fish Keeper82
New member
A cheap microscope will do and using one is not rocket science. DNA simply means that different treatments are working for different people and the only thing that makes any sense is the different types of dinoflagellates. PANTS has id several fellow RC members Dinos and it seems we have 3 major diffrent types.If we could identify which treatments are working for which ones it would make things a whole lot easier.
Jewilson83
New member
I didn't want to go into a long post about causes of your friends SPS loss, but there's so many things at play when using Dino. You have to really dose the right amount, your lighting schedule to little whites/more blues, no water changes, no reactors, no dosing of trace elements, wet skimming, etc. I know when I'm done I will start things back slowly not to stress anything out. I also saw post on fish loss. There could have been many things not done right with a lot of the losses. I'll be on dose 4 tonight. Can't wait until it's all over.
ridetheducati
20 and Over Club
I do not know all the details, he said he followed the instructions on the bottle. He has the worst reef luck.
Quiet_Ivy
New member
@DNA hey, I did your plastic square experiment on the sand with a couple of frag bases. The spots where they were left for a week then removed remain clear of dinos.
@kazalla This is very encouraging, your tank is really rebounding. I don't know what that green algae is either, but I'd like it in my tank.
@acabgd DNA means that if we knew which species people had we could get some real info and give better advice on what methods to use. DNA and I both have Ostreopsis and interestingly our infestations follow the same course; mine is just 'younger'. I've noticed on this thread that people with O's tanks start out the same way mine did. It may be that the problem 'develops' with different (and more annoying) symptoms the longer it goes on and people who nip Ostreopsis in the bud won't see all the problems we've had.
Re microscopes, I certainly understand budget limitations; I'm self employed and can't afford most of the stuff I'd like. You surely know someone who has a 'scope and will let you use it for a couple of minutes. Vet clinics, local high school, tech college, university, your doctor.. You can take pictures through the microscope using an ipod or phone. They look like *** but all we really need is the general shape to narrow it down. See my photobucket for ipod pics.
@ridetheducati SPS are notoriously fickle. As you probably know, the symbiote that powers corals is a dinoflagellate, so dino X very likely weakens corals severely even when used as recommended.
@Jewilson83 Following with much interest! I've forgotten whether you have sps or not but I'd still recommend making sure you have low but detectable n and p after treatment, even if you have to dose.
My tank: major issues, I seem to have hit a critical mass of dinos. Dead conch, half my hammer coral is gone. Alk is unstable again which is a BAD sign, and that funny smell is back. Running tons of carbon and dosing N but levels will not come above 0. Doesn't help that my flakey pump quit again and I'm not getting paid till Monday. Grr.
holy wall o text
ivy
@kazalla This is very encouraging, your tank is really rebounding. I don't know what that green algae is either, but I'd like it in my tank.
@acabgd DNA means that if we knew which species people had we could get some real info and give better advice on what methods to use. DNA and I both have Ostreopsis and interestingly our infestations follow the same course; mine is just 'younger'. I've noticed on this thread that people with O's tanks start out the same way mine did. It may be that the problem 'develops' with different (and more annoying) symptoms the longer it goes on and people who nip Ostreopsis in the bud won't see all the problems we've had.
Re microscopes, I certainly understand budget limitations; I'm self employed and can't afford most of the stuff I'd like. You surely know someone who has a 'scope and will let you use it for a couple of minutes. Vet clinics, local high school, tech college, university, your doctor.. You can take pictures through the microscope using an ipod or phone. They look like *** but all we really need is the general shape to narrow it down. See my photobucket for ipod pics.
@ridetheducati SPS are notoriously fickle. As you probably know, the symbiote that powers corals is a dinoflagellate, so dino X very likely weakens corals severely even when used as recommended.
@Jewilson83 Following with much interest! I've forgotten whether you have sps or not but I'd still recommend making sure you have low but detectable n and p after treatment, even if you have to dose.
My tank: major issues, I seem to have hit a critical mass of dinos. Dead conch, half my hammer coral is gone. Alk is unstable again which is a BAD sign, and that funny smell is back. Running tons of carbon and dosing N but levels will not come above 0. Doesn't help that my flakey pump quit again and I'm not getting paid till Monday. Grr.
holy wall o text
ivy
Billybatz9
New member
One thing to mention. When I dose cal and alk, dinos increase next day
DNA
New member
Can you be more specific.
I think it's possible that dilution of the toxins in the water column can cause an icrease in dinos.
Jewilson83
New member
@DNA hey, I did your plastic square experiment on the sand with a couple of frag bases. The spots where they were left for a week then removed remain clear of dinos.
@kazalla This is very encouraging, your tank is really rebounding. I don't know what that green algae is either, but I'd like it in my tank.
@acabgd DNA means that if we knew which species people had we could get some real info and give better advice on what methods to use. DNA and I both have Ostreopsis and interestingly our infestations follow the same course; mine is just 'younger'. I've noticed on this thread that people with O's tanks start out the same way mine did. It may be that the problem 'develops' with different (and more annoying) symptoms the longer it goes on and people who nip Ostreopsis in the bud won't see all the problems we've had.
Re microscopes, I certainly understand budget limitations; I'm self employed and can't afford most of the stuff I'd like. You surely know someone who has a 'scope and will let you use it for a couple of minutes. Vet clinics, local high school, tech college, university, your doctor.. You can take pictures through the microscope using an ipod or phone. They look like *** but all we really need is the general shape to narrow it down. See my photobucket for ipod pics.
@ridetheducati SPS are notoriously fickle. As you probably know, the symbiote that powers corals is a dinoflagellate, so dino X very likely weakens corals severely even when used as recommended.
@Jewilson83 Following with much interest! I've forgotten whether you have sps or not but I'd still recommend making sure you have low but detectable n and p after treatment, even if you have to dose.
My tank: major issues, I seem to have hit a critical mass of dinos. Dead conch, half my hammer coral is gone. Alk is unstable again which is a BAD sign, and that funny smell is back. Running tons of carbon and dosing N but levels will not come above 0. Doesn't help that my flakey pump quit again and I'm not getting paid till Monday. Grr.
holy wall o text
ivy
Yes I have an SPS dominated tank with zoas/palys and 2 maze corals.
Billybatz9
New member
Billybatz9
New member
I have a high nitrate reading and lots of dinoflagellates. Does anyone know if dinoflagellates are affected by nitrates and if nitrates help them thrive
Quiet_Ivy
New member
They aren't concerned with nitrate. Remember a lot of us have absolute 0 N and massive dino problems. The trick to the 'dirty method' is to have measurable N and *also* have high phosphate. (0.03 high, not like 4) With both N and P high the green algae start to grow, and they take over, crowding the dinos out. That's why I keep asking you what your phosphate is, it's not just to be annoying.
Interesting that your dinos are worse after dosing. I don't see that effect, and my alk drops like a rock. (It was 6 this morning for heaven's sake, down from close to 8 2 days ago) Does alk/ca get very low the day before you dose?
hth
ivy
Billybatz9
New member
They aren't concerned with nitrate. Remember a lot of us have absolute 0 N and massive dino problems. The trick to the 'dirty method' is to have measurable N and *also* have high phosphate. (0.03 high, not like 4) With both N and P high the green algae start to grow, and they take over, crowding the dinos out. That's why I keep asking you what your phosphate is, it's not just to be annoying.
Interesting that your dinos are worse after dosing. I don't see that effect, and my alk drops like a rock. (It was 6 this morning for heaven's sake, down from close to 8 2 days ago) Does alk/ca get very low the day before you dose?
hth
ivy
Phosphates are not detectible. 0
And nope, no real change in alk or calcium next day
Billybatz9
New member
Massive amounts of red slim or brown slime on sand bed. What to do? Dose chemi clean?
