Contunie to have issues with dino flagellates

Lou Raffael · Oct 9, 2017

My tank is under a year old, 90 gallon with 10 or so snails and a few hermits with some fish and a couple shrimp. I ran into an issue with dino about a month ago which I've had for awhile but got to be too much recently. Had my LFS come in for some help. He scrubbed the rocks, cleaned the sand and we treated with dino-x with lights out for 4 days. Seemed to be OK but it came back, this time I scrubbed the two rocks that were getting covered and cleaned up the sand then treated again. It is now coming back again. I have 0 nitrates & nitrites, got a carbon reactor running, Radion lights running at 55% power for 6-7 hours and I'm feeding frozen mysis just enough to keep the fish full. Can anyone give me suggestions of what else I can do or a possible reason this keeps coming back?

Thanks in advance

Crabs McJones · Oct 9, 2017

Are you using RO/DI water for your water changes? How much and how often are you feeding?

Lou Raffael · Oct 9, 2017

Hi, Yes I'm using RO/DI water with TDS of 0 so the filters are in good shape. Water change of 20-25 gallons once a week. Close to needing to be changed but not there yet. I'm feeding once a day sometimes even skip a day.

Beardo · Oct 11, 2017

Are you sure it is dinos and if so do you know which type?

Lou Raffael · Oct 11, 2017

That's what I was told by the owner of the local fish store. Initially it covered the sand and rocks but it was mostly a brown film with spots where it would look hairy. After cleaning it up it came back faster and more like strings with bubbles at the end, still brown. Now it's film again and I'm hoping to find out what I'm doing to cause this so I can change it.

landlubber · Oct 11, 2017

there are a few ongoing threads regarding dinos on R2R that might help you along.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-dinos-a-possible-cure-follow-along-and-see.253917/
you'll need to track down a microscope so you can identify them and start the battle and in almost every case i've read about the problem started at having zero nitrates and zero phosphates which is bad. you'll probably be encouraged to boost them to .10ppm phos and 10ppm nitrate.
good luck!

Fr4nkthet4nk · Oct 11, 2017

Check my video I hope will help you with this.

Beardo · Oct 11, 2017

Here is another great thread I would encourage you to read.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/

In summary dinos seem to thrive in very low nutrient systems and out compete other beneficial organisms. Maintaining adequate nutrients can allow other microfauna to thrive and out compete the dinos.
For me personally I didn't have success using that to battle dinos, my tank was in pretty bad shape. Also different species of dinos respond to different treatment methods, that is why identifying with a microscope is beneficial.
From my experience:
For species such as Ostreopsis that go into the water column at lights out , I have found a UV sterilizer to be beneficial. For Amphidinium I have been using Dino-X with success. Your treatment period though was too short. It took me 8 doses over 16 days (dose every 2 days with reduced light period) to see results. I was checking samples under the scope every few days.