Dinos or Diatoms?

[Rovert]

Looking for a best guess ID and recommended remedy. Really don't want to spend hundreds on a microscope at this time.

 

[The_Paradox]

Zoomed out photo might help but looks like it might have strings in it. If so my guess is dinos. Always down and dirty test, what is phosphate/nitrate and does the water smell bad?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Strings do not always verify dino but the level of phos and nitrate is a beginning point as is coverage. These appear to be dino but lets start with those numbers and per your question based on looks, opposed to diatoms and cyano will likely be dino. Its biological deficiencies that causes dino structures.
No light is first key followed by the addition of bacteria to overcome the bad bacteria allowing them to thrive
Prepare by starting by blowing this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles. Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15% IF you have light dependant corals) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons for all 5 nights. If you dont have light dependent coral- turn all lights off. During the day dose 1ml of liquid bacteria (such as micro bacter 7 or XLM) per 10 gallons. Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX
You can feed fish as normal and if doing blackout, ambient light in room will work for them

 

[Rovert]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm guessing dinos also, and have already turned off my lights. However the tank gets a lot of early day sun, per the photo. Might need to work on that. Stand by...

 

[Lavey29]

Dino mess

 

[Rovert]

Strings do not always verify dino but the level of phos and nitrate is a beginning point as is coverage. These appear to be dino but lets start with those numbers and per your question based on looks, opposed to diatoms and cyano will likely be dino. Its biological deficiencies that causes dino structures.
No light is first key followed by the addition of bacteria to overcome the bad bacteria allowing them to thrive
Prepare by starting by blowing this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles. Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15% IF you have light dependant corals) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons for all 5 nights. If you dont have light dependent coral- turn all lights off. During the day dose 1ml of liquid bacteria (such as micro bacter 7 or XLM) per 10 gallons. Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX
You can feed fish as normal and if doing blackout, ambient light in room will work for them

Following up on this, should I turn off the skimmer? I've heard that dosing phytoplankton can help. Any advice on these two things?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Following up on this, should I turn off the skimmer? I've heard that dosing phytoplankton can help. Any advice on these two things?

let it run but empty it daily
Phyto more effective with dino but you can

 

[vetteguy53081]

I noticed some small patches of dark orange-brownish rust coloured stuff growing on my sand. It has small fibrous hairs/stalks growing out of it in some spots but I haven't really noticed any bubbles on the ends of these. It looks like some pictures of dinos I've seen and I already had a phase of diatoms before that were a much lighter shade and look nothing like this.

Dinos dont have to have bubbles which when present are air/gas bubbles trying to escape.

 

[Rovert]

let it run but empty it daily
Phyto more effective with dino but you can

Still trying to get this mess under control. some progress, but not there yet. Wondering if a lack of light and good bacteria is what will do it, if a thin layer of 'active' sand (http://livesand.com/aquarium-sand-natural-white/) to cover the surface might help.

 

[Troylee]

Still trying to get this mess under control. some progress, but not there yet. Wondering if a lack of light and good bacteria is what will do it, if a thin layer of 'active' sand (http://livesand.com/aquarium-sand-natural-white/) to cover the surface might help.

Doesn’t work… that will just add to the surface area the Dino’s will take over.. some live rock from a different tank in your sump with no lights would help thou.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Still trying to get this mess under control. some progress, but not there yet. Wondering if a lack of light and good bacteria is what will do it, if a thin layer of 'active' sand (http://livesand.com/aquarium-sand-natural-white/) to cover the surface might help.

Light is fuel fr dino. Follow precisely. . . No light preferably and addition of bacteria will compete with the cells.
Adding sand as Troylee mentioned will not help and is equivalent to a bandaid

 

[Rovert]

Doesn’t work… that will just add to the surface area the Dino’s will take over.. some live rock from a different tank in your sump with no lights would help thou.

Light is fuel fr dino. Follow precisely. . . No light preferably and addition of bacteria will compete with the cells.
Adding sand as Troylee mentioned will not help and is equivalent to a bandaid

Problem is I have SPS, LPS and clams.

 

[Troylee]

Problem is I have SPS, LPS and clams.

Been there done that! Get a uv light put it online and start dosing silicates and h202 1ml per 10 gallons every night at lights out.. continue to blast the sand with a turkey baster to stir them up in the water Column so the uv can do it’s job while the silicates feed to diatoms that will eventually out compete the Dino’s… take it you have zero nitrates and phosphates? Raise them up also to feed other algae’s that will also compete with the Dino’s… it’s a long hard battle that sucks but you can win..

 

[Rovert]

Been there done that! Get a uv light put it online and start dosing silicates and h202 1ml per 10 gallons every night at lights out.. continue to blast the sand with a turkey baster to stir them up in the water Column so the uv can do it’s job while the silicates feed to diatoms that will eventually out compete the Dino’s… take it you have zero nitrates and phosphates? Raise them up also to feed other algae’s that will also compete with the Dino’s… it’s a long hard battle that sucks but you can win..

Anyone got a UV for rent?

 

[thedon986]

Unless you know these dinos are prone to entering the water column, don't waste money on a UV. I would pick up a kids microscope that will do 1000-1200x for about $40 and find out exactly what they are.

 

[Troylee]

Unless you know these dinos are prone to entering the water column, don't waste money on a UV. I would pick up a kids microscope that will do 1000-1200x for about $40 and find out exactly what they are.

You can always put them in the water column… hence the turkey baster comment.. I fought them for 4 months on my last tank! If I had to do it with my current tank I’d prolly pour bleach in and walk away from all 350 gallons haha! Hate them things with a passion..