Dino or diatoms or cyano?

[Gchen]

hi guys I have this issue for several weeks now. They came back some quick after I cleaned the sandbed and do the water change. that is to say they will back like 2 to 3 days. What is that And how to get rid of it? my 2 tanks are half years old both have the same problem.

 

[sixty_reefer]

Look’s like dinoflagellates, how’s your nitrates and phosphates?

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Hard to tell on sand both come and go fast dinos tend to be longer and fill with air bubbles. I'm thinking its Dinos I would try getting some copepods and test your nitrate or phosphates. Also what's the flow like do you have anything that turns over the sand? If nutrients bottom out feed a little more and get some copepods.

 

[landlubber]

the choice of intervention is completely dependant on which strain of dinos you have and in order to start making moves you first have to ID them.
If anyone you know has a microscope, borrow it and if not toy grade scopes aren't terribly expensive... far less than the cost of the corals the dinos will snuff out.

 

[landlubber]

Hard to tell on sand both come and go fast dinos tend to be longer and fill with air bubbles. I'm thinking its Dinos I would try getting some copepods and test your nitrate or phosphates. Also what's the flow like do you have anything that turns over the sand? If nutrients bottom out feed a little more and get some copepods.

the issue with just buying things to fix the problem is between the strains the solution isn't the same. copepods aren't always going to be the fix. The next guy will suggest a uv sterilizer which may or may not work and another guy will suggest outcompeting them by growing algae.
its best to just confirm a strain and act accordingly.