How are Dino's at this stage even possible?

wesman42 · Oct 1, 2018

So, I set up a new 75g tank....this tank was mostly dry rock with a few pieces of live from my LFS to seed. The tank is about 2 weeks out of it's initial cycle being complete.

I have a few hardy LPS in the tank, 2 clowns, 2 bengaiis, and a coral beauty.

I've noticed Dino's on the live rocks, and now on the dry rocks. I have also noticed that I'm starting to get my initial diatom bloom as well.

That being said, I'm assuming as the tank matures, the increase in biodiversity will serve to outcompete the Dino's.

Should I chalk this up to new tank uglies, or should I genuinely be concerned that I'm finding them in my new tank so soon? I'm almost positive it's from the live rock from my LFS.

My basic parameters are:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
Phosphates: 0.35

Billldg · Oct 1, 2018

May be a stupid question as I am still a newbie, but r u sure its dinos and not red hair algae, Red hair algae also will produce bubbles as it releases gases. All I did was remove the rock and scrubbed it off and put the rock back, then I used GFO and killed the rest.

wesman42 · Oct 1, 2018

I'm fairly confident these are Dinos.

CivicS14 · Oct 1, 2018

That’s an aiptasia in the first pic. Kill it ASAP.

wesman42 · Oct 1, 2018

CivicS14 said:
That’s an aiptasia in the first pic. Kill it ASAP.

I have some berghia on the way because all of the rock is infested.

wesman42 · Oct 2, 2018

Bump! I'm surprised nobody has had experience with this :/

Joshua2598 · Oct 4, 2018

wesman42 said:
Bump! I'm surprised nobody has had experience with this :/

Bump. Me to

wesman42 · Oct 4, 2018

Bump! Anyone? Third bump! I'll keep them going!

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 5, 2018

Too son to tell from the pics If it’s Dino’s

Did I read this correctly?
It’s a brand new two week old tank with corals in it and a ton of dry rock with a little seed rock and you are having weird alage dino cyano issues ?

Jason mack · Oct 5, 2018

Without getting a sample under the microscope it will be difficult too tell .. it could just be cynobacteria or spirulina... both are very similar .. that being said it could be that the Dino’s were transferred on the live rock you’ve used .. was there Dino’s in that tank ?
Can you list your parameters for us as well !

miyags · Oct 5, 2018

Looks like cyano. If it is dinos,you brought it in with your live rock just like your aiptasia. In most cases it's introduced into the tank.New frags/ fish/coral.

wesman42 · Oct 5, 2018

saltyfilmfolks said:
Too son to tell from the pics If it’s Dino’s

Did I read this correctly?
It’s a brand new two week old tank with corals in it and a ton of dry rock with a little seed rock and you are having weird alage dino cyano issues ?

I know new tanks have uglies....so I am not surprised. I just didn't know that other types of algae/bacteria could produce the number of bubbles.

Jason mack said:
Without getting a sample under the microscope it will be difficult too tell .. it could just be cynobacteria or spirulina... both are very similar .. that being said it could be that the Dino’s were transferred on the live rock you’ve used .. was there Dino’s in that tank ?
Can you list your parameters for us as well !

The parameters I didn't already list:

Calc: 430
Alk: 8.6
Mag: 1250

I understand on the microscope thing, so I'll work on getting my university to analyze it for me.

miyags said:
Looks like cyano. If it is dinos,you brought it in with your live rock just like your aiptasia. In most cases it's introduced into the tank.New frags/ fish/coral.

Thanks. I will continue to monitor them visually.

The LFS here is really getting on my nerves...from selling sick fish kept in hypo, to giving all around terrible advice.

I have found this forum to be a MUCH better resource.

Brew12 · Oct 5, 2018

I would point out that dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria can be found in the upper atmosphere. You could set up a tank 1,000 miles from the ocean with dry rock, sand, and saltwater and you could still get one or both in your system without ever adding anything else.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 5, 2018

Brew12 said:
I would point out that dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria can be found in the upper atmosphere. You could set up a tank 1,000 miles from the ocean with dry rock, sand, and saltwater and you could still get one or both in your system without ever adding anything else.

Bingo.

wesman42 · Oct 5, 2018

And there ya have it. It certainly makes sense...I have some fiji mud on the way from marine Depot...it was the only place I could find where it wasn't discontinued. I'm hoping this adds necessary biodiversity that live rock can't.

Also adding pods. I have chaeto now, and it's growing quite well....so I'll see if the combo of biodiversity + tank maturation out performs this stuff.

Will Wohlers · Oct 5, 2018

If it is dinos you're at a crossroad. Dinos can be extremely hard to wipe out in a mature stocked tank. Right now being a new tank you have the ability to easily (in terms of reefing still not an easy task) break the tank down freshwater dip everything including the live rock bleach and clean the tank and start over with minimal harm done. If you can confirm under a microscope they are dinoflagelettes then it is something to consider and the road I would take having battled dinos in a heavily stocked mature sps tank. Good luck keep us posted
Will Wohlers