3 Day Black Out

[Ober_Reef]

I’m thinking about giving a 3 day black out a try for my dinos, just wondering if anyone has any tips to ensure everything makes it through ok. I currently have euphylia, zoa’s, Montipora, acan, and a candy cane coral. Thanks for any advice!

 

[ReefChasers]

That is a band-aid at best, so you should know that going in. 3 day black out not likely to kill anything, unfortunately not even the dinos. It seems over-zealous in my opinion. If you want to 'calm them down' try reducing the over-all photo period and especially cut short any 'ramp up' and 'ramp down'.

The best method for dealing with Dino's is really the dirty tank method. If you can stabilize phosphate and nitrate in the 0.05-0.1 phos, 5-10 nitrate) tested daily, then combine that with reduced photo periods inside the display (with perhaps increased ones down in the sump) you should encourage healthy competition.

Although it seems counter-intuitive, I would recommend bacteria dosing perhaps a good bit to start and then a more standard dose over the next 2 weeks to help increase that competition with something like Microbacter7 or Vibrant, but NOT nopox or organic carbon.

Be advised bacteria will consume resources, so even though you are adding some bacteria into the mix, you still have to get your nitrates/phosphates up (slowly, and then stabilized.)

I would personally start a program like the one I am suggesting and get started on your first day of the program with a 24 hour black-out followed by a reduced photo period there after. I would also aggressively "mechanically clean" the display on that first day. (Hit it with a brush, fan your hand, take a power head, etc.) Don't let it just set up shop and do whatever it pleases. That should get you back on track on a few weeks time~

You didn't mention what species of dino's you're dealing with, but I'm assuming it's the kind that doesn't die from UV. Keep in mind when dealing with animals from the ocean, most systems have dino's inside them, the difference between your tank and theirs is that the dino's are being out-competed by a variety of other organisms. In your case, the nutrients likely got so low that the other organisms could not compete and the dino's became dominate. Then you get the blooms and the uglies. The good thing is YOU CAN tip that environmental balance back out of the Dino's favor and other organisms will start to win out.

 

[Ober_Reef]

That is a band-aid at best, so you should know that going in. 3 day black out not likely to kill anything, but seems over-zealous in my opinion. If you want to 'calm them down' try reducing the over-all photo period and especially cut short any 'ramp up' and 'ramp down'.

The best method for dealing with Dino's is really the dirty tank method. If you can stabilize phosphate and nitrate in the 0.05-0.1 phos, 5-10 nitrate) tested daily, then combine that with reduced photo periods inside the display (with perhaps increased ones down in the sump) you should encourage healthy competition.

Although it seems counter-intuitive, I would recommend bacteria dosing perhaps a good bit to start and then a more standard dose over the next 2 weeks to help increase that competition with something like Microbacter7 or Vibrant, but NOT nopox or organic carbon.

Be advised bacteria will consume resources, so even though you are adding some bacteria into the mix, you still have to get your nitrates/phosphates up (slowly, and then stabilized.)

I would personally start a program like the one I am suggesting and get started on your first day of the program with a 24 hour black-out followed by a reduced photo period there after. I would also aggressively "mechanically clean" the display on that first day. (Hit it with a brush, fan your hand, take a power head, etc.) Don't let it just set up shop and do whatever it pleases. That should get you back on track on a few weeks time~

You didn't mention what species of dino's you're dealing with, but I'm assuming it's the kind that doesn't die from UV.

Thank you for such an in depth response. I am doing everything you have mentioned so far other than adjusting my lighting schedule. I did receive my microscope today but it did not come with slides like it stated it would so I am waiting until Wednesday to post a picture and verify the type of Dinos. I guess I’m just being impatient.

 

[ReefChasers]

Well if you stick to it you will beat it I am sure of it! Don't be discouraged if after the first week you arn't seeing results, or even if you think it's getting "worse" just keep up the mechanical cleaning and the nutrients and you will see results in time. Then one day, a month or two from now you'll be posting about that one time you totally crushed the dino's