Dinoflagellates

[zt444a]

Anyone had success in fighting these, and what can I do? I have had an outbreak, never had them before.

Any suggestions? I will test the water again tonight, but two days ago my alk was at 11.5, Ca was 420. PH 8.2, and 0 nitrates. Phosphates not sure about, but I have been running some GFO for quite awhile.

My photo period was 10 hours actinics, and 8 on mh. I reduced that to 8 hours actinics and 6 on the Mh.

I'd appreciate any ideas...

Howard

 

[fazgood]

How long has the tank been going?

Faz

 

[Markk96]

Turn out your lights completely for a couple of days, see what that does for you. I had a long battle with them.

 

[zt444a]

Tank has been going for over a year...

I will try that Mark. Hopefully that will help

 

[fazgood]

My flairup came after adding some new rock. I upped the water changes and used a small paint brush attached to a siphon and manually removed the "boogers". I would guess there must be a food source for you to have a bloom, did you change foods or any additives? When was the last GFO change?
Turning off the lights will certainly help but I fear they will return unless you reduce the food source.



Faz

 

[zt444a]

I have heard that increasing water changes will actually fuel a dinoflagellates.

 

[fazgood]

If you are using RO/DI water with close to -0- TDH it "should" not be a problem. There are no sure fire cures that I know of but this article covers some ideas.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php#11

Go up to the top to read the full text.

Hope that helps. They are nasty things to get rid of.

Faz

 

[Markk96]

I would try the lights out, and run some sort of GFO.

 

[Reggae Fish]

Kick your PH up to 8.4 or 8.5

 

[Angler02]

I just battled them and got rid of them. I added my phosban reactor, a sock of carbon, and brought my nitrates down with a water change. Also during all of that I used a Turkey baster daily to suck them out and put them in a bucket to be dumped. I had great success in doing it like that. I attempted using the syphon method but ended up knocking stuff over so the turkey baster did great for me.