Dinos?

[Denver45]

Hi All,

Ive had some issues with what I thought was Dino’s due to undetectable nutrients in a newer tank. About a month ago I did a 5 day blackout and added UV. My sand bed cleared my sand for about two weeks, however it slowly started coming back again. I’m attaching some pics of the sand bed as well as the best one I could get with a crappy microscope at 1200x. Would really appreciate some help with ID if possible. I can also try to get another sample and microscope pics if these aren’t helpful for ID. Thanks all!

Watet parameters just in case
pH-8.0
Nitrates

 

[Leadfooted]

Diatoms maybe? Google some images of them under microscope and see if that's what you have.

 

[The WaterSide Fishing]

How big is the tank, how new, what kind of tank is it, and what fish do you have

if you answer these it will probably help me find the problem

 

[Denver45]

How big is the tank, how new, what kind of tank is it, and what fish do you have

if you answer these it will probably help me find the problem

Tank is a JBJ 45 gal all in one setup. It’s been up and running for about 3 months and currently has a Banggai Cardinal, a fire fish, and I added a watchman gobi about a week and a half ago. I’ve also got a handful of snails, a couple hermit crabs, and a cleaner shrimp. No deaths, since a few snails with the original outbreak that was at the 1.5 ish month mark.

 

[Denver45]

Diatoms maybe? Google some images of them under microscope and see if that's what you have.

My biggest concerns are the brown ovals visible if you zoom in a bit. They look very similar to the pictures I’ve seen of ovals with translucent heads indicative of Dinos.

 

[Reef.]

Think you cut off your parameters as they are not listed, also what tests are you using for nitrates and po4, also what filtration are you using, skimmer etc.

Dinos do tend to come back after a couple of weeks, but much weaker, if you keep on top of removing them, and upping your nutrients, then they will go for good.

 

[Denver45]

Think you cut off your parameters as they are not listed, also what tests are you using for nitrates and po4, also what filtration are you using, skimmer etc.

Dinos do tend to come back after a couple of weeks, but much weaker, if you keep on top of removing them, and upping your nutrients, then they will go for good.

Sorry those got cut off!

Salanity-1.025
pH-8.0
Nitrates-10 (API kit)
PO4-Between .1 and .25 (salifert kit)
Temp-80F

Filtration
2 200 micron filter socks, 1 bag chemipure elite, 1 1lb bag activated carbon, 2 lbs pours Verena bio media, no skimmer currently trying (to keep nitrates and PO4 up), UV sterilizer running 24/7

Thanks!

 

[Leadfooted]

My biggest concerns are the brown ovals visible if you zoom in a bit. They look very similar to the pictures I’ve seen of ovals with translucent heads indicative of Dinos.

Yes, I was looking at those too, but couldn't confirm. Maybe another sample picture for us might help as well, if possible a higher magnification.

 

[Troylee]

Luckily it doesn’t look like them to me.. my buddies tank looks like yours and it turned out to be a hair algae of some sort… I just beat those nasty sand dwellers in my last tank.. mine looked like this.

 

[Denver45]

Yes, I was looking at those too, but couldn't confirm. Maybe another sample picture for us might help as well, if possible a higher magnification.

Unfortunately that was the highest magnification I had. I’ll try to check with my LFS and see if they’ve got a better scope I can take a look through!

 

[Denver45]

Luckily it doesn’t look like them to me.. my buddies tank looks like yours and it turned out to be a hair algae of some sort… I just beat those nasty sand dwellers in my last tank.. mine looked like this.

They definitely don’t look quite like that, really appreciate the pictures! I’m hoping it’s not Dinos because I know they can be Hell!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi All,

Ive had some issues with what I thought was Dino’s due to undetectable nutrients in a newer tank. About a month ago I did a 5 day blackout and added UV. My sand bed cleared my sand for about two weeks, however it slowly started coming back again. I’m attaching some pics of the sand bed as well as the best one I could get with a crappy microscope at 1200x. Would really appreciate some help with ID if possible. I can also try to get another sample and microscope pics if these aren’t helpful for ID. Thanks all!

Watet parameters just in case
pH-8.0
Nitrates

Looks like dino and diatom combo. White light reduction will help. siphon the surface and reduce white or turn off whites a few days and during the day. . . add 1.5ml of liquid bacteria per 10 gallons during the day and 1ml of hydrogen Peroxide per 10 gallons at night , both for 7 days
DO NOT add any coral foods or use Nopox or similar during this period as its fuel for dino.

 

[Reef.]

Sorry those got cut off!

Salanity-1.025
pH-8.0
Nitrates-10 (API kit)
PO4-Between .1 and .25 (salifert kit)
Temp-80F

Filtration
2 200 micron filter socks, 1 bag chemipure elite, 1 1lb bag activated carbon, 2 lbs pours Verena bio media, no skimmer currently trying (to keep nitrates and PO4 up), UV sterilizer running 24/7

Thanks!

Your po4 is high, so I doubt they are dinos, more likely diatoms, which will burn out, if they keep coming back you can check your rodi for silicates as diatoms fed on them, within time your tank will b able to deal with diatoms no problem.

 

[Denver45]

Thanks for all the replies, always appreciate the help everyone on here provides!