Documenting my fight with Dino's

Miller535 · Mar 27, 2020

So my PO4 was back down to .01 ppmand NO3 back down to 4 ppm. I had been daily dosing microbacter7, I'm going to stop that now. And go to the weekly dosing of the low system dose. I dosed 5ppm NO3 and .06ppm PO4. Will re-test tomorrow before I vacuum the sand.

dwest · Mar 27, 2020

I’ve never used mb7. But some folks believe that was one of their main tools to fight off dinos. I would personally keep using it. I had to add phosphates every day when I was in my battle. When does your scope come in?

Miller535 · Mar 27, 2020

dwest said:
I’ve never used mb7. But some folks believe that was one of their main tools to fight off dinos. I would personally keep using it. I had to add phosphates every day when I was in my battle. When does your scope come in?

Comes in on Sunday

Miller535 · Mar 28, 2020

So I wanted to vaccum the sand, which normally I would do this with a water change. But with dinos I obviously didn't want to do a water change. So I vacuumed the sand, with the water going into a 5 gallon bucket. When it was full, I took another 5 gallon bucket at dumped the water into it, filtering it through a 10 micron filter sock. I scrubbed the dinos off of the overflows and glass. And then put that 10 micron filter sock in my sump. I have 2 more for when they clog. Hoping to remove a lot of the dinos since they are stirred into the water column. I know this is not a permanent removal, but it should knock them back enough that the other methods finish them off.

Miller535 · Mar 28, 2020

Tank is visibly much cleaner.

Miller535 · Mar 28, 2020

Amazon says my microscope is out for delivery, so maybe I can get an id today.

Miller535 · Mar 28, 2020

I apologize for the crappy video, but this is what I can see under the scope. Ant ideas?

Miller535 · Mar 28, 2020

Best picture I could get

Miller535 · Mar 28, 2020

Another video

ScottB · Mar 28, 2020

Miller535 said:
I apologize for the crappy video, but this is what I can see under the scope. Ant ideas?

Struggling a little with confirmation. Video is hard to capture I know. Can you use the zoom on your camera phone? I am leaning toward Amphidinium.

dwest · Mar 28, 2020

I can’t play the video on my iPad. Likely someone on a PC can.

dwest · Mar 28, 2020

This might help.

Dinoflagellate Identification Guide

I've had this laying around for a while. Had some recent interest, so I tweaked it a bit and am posting it. Not really about cures just ID pictures, videos, and a few short facts. Hope it can be helpful.

www.reef2reef.com

Miller535 · Mar 28, 2020

I cant see to get a good focused video or pic on my phone.

Miller535 · Mar 28, 2020

I have to say that based on taricha's I'd guide, I think they are Amphidinium small cell

Miller535 · Mar 28, 2020

They are SUPER fast, and very small. And that guide says the small cell ones in addition to being small are very fast.

saltyhog · Mar 28, 2020

Try turning down the light a little. Hard to say for sure but you may be right. Definitely can rule out ostreopsis and coolia by the movement. I have not seen amphidinium move that fast.

If you can get a better video post it in the Nuisance Algae forum and tag taricha.

Miller535 · Mar 28, 2020

What are the long strands that are moving

Miller535 · Mar 28, 2020

dwest said:
I can’t play the video on my iPad. Likely someone on a PC can.

It should play. For some reason it spins and takes a few mins to load when you click it

dwest · Mar 28, 2020

Miller535 said:
It should play. For some reason it spins and takes a few mins to load when you click it

I still can’t from my iPad. Saltyhog has good advice.

ScottB · Mar 28, 2020

Miller535 said:
What are the long strands that are moving

I see them on every slide. Most often with cyano. They are feeding on the trapped stuff in the matts (cyano) or the snot of dinos. Microfauna I would call them generically.