Help with dinoflagellate identification

gatorhippie · Jan 13, 2021

Hi, I've been battling dinos for several months now and I am trying to identify them with a microscope. I'm not sure I know what to look for. Does anyone know what kind of dino I'm dealing with here? Thanks in advance.

ZoixDark · Jan 13, 2021

you running UV? Should take care of them.

gatorhippie · Jan 13, 2021

ZoixDark said:
you running UV? Should take care of them.

Yeah, I've got an AquaUV hooked up to the return pump. I think it helped, but they are still there. Any idea what kind of dino this is?

vetteguy53081 · Jan 13, 2021

Its dinoflagellates and needs to be address quickly as is fairly easy. First- Check phosphates and nitrates to assure theyre not elevated.
Blow loose with a turkey baster. It will capture and clean more surface area. Here is full program:
Prepare by starting with a water change and blow this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles.
Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15%) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of 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 bacter 7) per 10 gallons.
Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX as it is food for dinos.
Day 5,, you can start with blue lights - ramping up and work your white lights up slowly

gatorhippie · Jan 13, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
Its dinoflagellates and needs to be address quickly as is fairly easy. First- Check phosphates and nitrates to assure theyre not elevated.
Blow loose with a turkey baster. It will capture and clean more surface area. Here is full program:
Prepare by starting with a water change and blow this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles.
Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15%) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of 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 bacter 7) per 10 gallons.
Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX as it is food for dinos.
Day 5,, you can start with blue lights - ramping up and work your white lights up slowly

Thanks for the tips! I'm currently doing all those things except for the hydrogen peroxide dosing at night. Do you dose it just by pouring it directly into the display?

Also, any idea what type of dino this is? Like is it coolia or amphidinium?

vetteguy53081 · Jan 13, 2021

gatorhippie said:
Thanks for the tips! I'm currently doing all those things except for the hydrogen peroxide dosing at night. Do you dose it just by pouring it directly into the display?

Also, any idea what type of dino this is? Like is it coolia or amphidinium?

Looks like amphidinium and I did add direct to display

lelandmarine · Jan 13, 2021

Im guessing coolia, but not certain, where are they in the tank? Do they disappear at night?

lelandmarine · Jan 13, 2021

gatorhippie said:
Hi, I've been battling dinos for several months now and I am trying to identify them with a microscope. I'm not sure I know what to look for. Does anyone know what kind of dino I'm dealing with here? Thanks in advance.

Nice video, what microscope r u using?

lelandmarine · Jan 13, 2021

I would go with vette, much more experience than i

taricha · Jan 14, 2021

large cell amphidinium (green cyano background)

1guydude · Jan 14, 2021

Lol this blows my mind. Is it brown and stringy with bubbles at the ends? Its dino. As said. Blow with the turkey baster. Wcs till its gone. Hths.
D

gatorhippie · Jan 14, 2021

lelandmarine said:
Im guessing coolia, but not certain, where are they in the tank? Do they disappear at night?

I feel like some of it disappears at night, but I definitely still see a good chunk of it even hours after lights out. It likes to cover my sand and tank walls as well as a bit on the rocks.

gatorhippie · Jan 14, 2021

lelandmarine said:
Nice video, what microscope r u using?

https://www.amscope.com/compound-microscopes/medical-lab-vet-compound-biological-microscope-40x-2000x.html

gatorhippie · Jan 14, 2021

taricha said:
large cell amphidinium (green cyano background)

That's what I was afraid of. My UV probably won't do anything to kill these, right?

lelandmarine · Jan 14, 2021

Amphidinium Dinoflagellate Treatment Methods

you’ve probably already seen this thread, lots to read

lelandmarine · Jan 14, 2021

Amphidinium Dinoflagellate Treatment Methods

I have continued dosing Water Glass at a rate of 1ppm daily, I’m about 3 weeks into SI dosing but started slow. The Salifert test still only shows cloudy water (not blue) and the Hannah Checker is on back order. I sent off an ATI/ICP on Friday so I should get an idea where I’m at on SI. I will...

www.reef2reef.com

lelandmarine · Jan 14, 2021

Identification

If you currently have pest algae in your aquarium and would like help identifying your pest, please consider mailing me a sample. I can provide an ID, and if your pest isn’t already pictured h…

algaeid.com

nice website with great video’s of different species

ScottB · Jan 14, 2021

gatorhippie said:
That's what I was afraid of. My UV probably won't do anything to kill these, right?

Correct. LC Amphids don't leave the sand bed at night unfortunately.

These creatures have very good defenses and are hard to get rid of, so be patient. On the bright side -- assuming you can keep nutrient available -- they should not kill off coral, fish or inverts.

You could take what @vetteguy53081 wrote and add some dosing of Sponge Excel to get diatoms competing and you will be doing the best you can. Keep track of your efforts and results and share your experiences.