Dino and UV Adjustment

Siberwulf · Jun 17, 2023

So I've been battling Dinos for a while now. I'm certain they're the Prorocentrum (I believe I had the Ostreopsis before.

This would explain why the UV isn't working, right? Based on what I've read, these need a moderate blackout in order to get them to go into the water column and get hit?

Am I reading all this right?

Reefer Matt · Jun 17, 2023

I not familiar with all the types of dino, but have beaten Ostreo in a couple tanks. I used a 3-5 day complete blackout. (Turned lights on to feed fish, then off again). I did that as required for about three months. Then to keep them away, I made sure my nutrient weren't bottomed out, and installed a uv light. Here is a thread on dino as well that may help. Good luck, and don't give up!
Thread 'Dinoflagellates – Are You Tired Of Battling Altogether?' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/

taricha · Jun 18, 2023

Siberwulf said:
This would explain why the UV isn't working, right? Based on what I've read, these need a moderate blackout in order to get them to go into the water column and get hit?

Those are still Ostreopsis. Which means that UV will still be effective - if working properly.
May need to check bulb working and the UV is pulling water in-out of the display. You can push more cells into the water with a short blackout like you mentioned.

Siberwulf · Jun 18, 2023

taricha said:
Those are still Ostreopsis. Which means that UV will still be effective - if working properly.
May need to check bulb working and the UV is pulling water in-out of the display. You can push more cells into the water with a short blackout like you mentioned.

Confirmed the bulb is new. Def have flow going. I know exposure time matters, but can it be too slow?

taricha · Jun 18, 2023

mostly no. 200-300 gph has been a number that people have generally reported worked for them.
If a working UV in this range is not doing much to the dinos, then the dinos must have conditions that they like in the substrate and few cells are going into the water. That's what the blackout is meant to change.

doubleshot00 · Jun 18, 2023

Siberwulf said:
Confirmed the bulb is new. Def have flow going. I know exposure time matters, but can it be too slow?

Is the uv directly plumbed to the display? The pump is in the display?

Siberwulf · Jun 18, 2023

doubleshot00 said:
Is the uv directly plumbed to the display? The pump is in the display?

It's in the DT, yeah. Input and output both.

Siberwulf · Jun 18, 2023

I wanted to double check my flow math, too. Reading these posts here:

Aqua UV 25 Watt flow rates

Does anyone know the suggested flow rate for a Aqua UV 25 watt Sterilizer for a 125g reef tank to sterilize dinos?

www.reef2reef.com

UV Sterilizer too big?

Hi all, Just ordered a UV sterilizer online to combat my dino outbreak and after doing some very quick researching I ended up with (Aqua Twist 25w). Originally I was going by the 1w per 3 gallon rule I saw noted around the place and total tank being approx 69gal (rounded to 70) that would be...

www.reef2reef.com

And comparing the specs of my Aqua UV 25 here:

I'm not sure exactly what my flow rate should be for my 90 gallon (it says tghe UV25 is good up to 150). One person says 1,200 GPH, another says 400. That's a wild swing.

I tested this out by filling a five gallon bucket.

It took 42 seconds to fill it.

42 seconds for five gallons = 8.4 seconds per gallon

One hour = 3,600 seconds

3,600 / 8.4 = 428 gallons per hour.

Based on the instructions, this doesn't seem nearly fast enough, but I'll be honest that the flow through this seems incredibly fast. I don't have a basis for this opinion, but it definitely is moving things in the tank.

Am I doing this right? I don't want to kill the phyto I'm dosing, just the dinos.

Siberwulf · Jul 12, 2023

Just wanted to bump this back up? I'm starting to see Dinos pop up again, despite running UV. Is there a risk slowing the UV flow down by like...25-50%? Do they possibly need more exposure time?

Siberwulf · Nov 6, 2023

So quick update.... I left the lights off for a week, dosed H2O2 and MB7, just like I had in the past. When it came to turning the lights back on, I was running only the blues (no white) for a few months. Turned back on the white to 20%, and within three days, dinos were already back. This is pretty maddening, all in all. Looking for advice on this...UV doesn't seem to be helping

mermaid_life · Nov 6, 2023

Sorry to hear you're going through this. I know it's quite frustrating. I never used UV to get rid of my dinos so I can't help you there, but I can share how I got rid of mine

I vacuumed my tank into a 10 micron sock the first few days to get the majority of crap out. I added microbactr7 and PHYTO. Never bothered with dimming the lights because it just ticked off my corals more. I also clipped a piece of filter gloss next to the power heads. Dinos love clinging to it and the pumps pulled water in. I was visually dino free in less than a week.

Hope this helps.