How do you know when your dinos are actually gone?

Keko21 · Jan 31, 2023

I've been dosing Dino X (4 doses over 8 days so far last one being today) and I'm very happy to say I can't see any more amphidinium dinos in my sand- even more happy that my only loss was one small hammer coral and all fish inverts and other coral are ok.

I can still see some dino cells in my sand under a microscope, but honestly pretty hard to find- like I have to take a couple samples of sand to even find them.

When should I stop the Dino X? DO I need to make sure I absolutely can't see anything under the microscope before I stop?

Now I actually have to get my nutrients back in order: NO3: 12-15ppm Phos .2ppm. Steady skimming, revamp the clean up crew (some were lost in a rip clean along the way), and I assume once I stop the dino x which is ostensibly an algaecide, I'll get other growth back to consume the nutrients.

Tlledsmar · Jan 31, 2023

That's the fun part! You dont!!

Keko21 · Jan 31, 2023

Tlledsmar said:
That's the fun part! You dont!!

WELL S***! LOL!

Tlledsmar · Jan 31, 2023

In all reality, if the parameters are back in check, and it's not too unsightly anymore,I'd quit dosing. Then again I'm very conservative with additives.

reeftivo · Jan 31, 2023

They are never gone. Just held in check by the copepods and detectable nutrients in the water column.

Mikedawg · Jan 31, 2023

Yep, present in just about every body of water. We mere humans can help manage their growth through maintaining water parameters, biodiversity, etc., etc.

Good luck

gbroadbridge · Jan 31, 2023

Keko21 said:
I've been dosing Dino X (4 doses over 8 days so far last one being today) and I'm very happy to say I can't see any more amphidinium dinos in my sand- even more happy that my only loss was one small hammer coral and all fish inverts and other coral are ok.

I can still see some dino cells in my sand under a microscope, but honestly pretty hard to find- like I have to take a couple samples of sand to even find them.

When should I stop the Dino X? DO I need to make sure I absolutely can't see anything under the microscope before I stop?

Now I actually have to get my nutrients back in order: NO3: 12-15ppm Phos .2ppm. Steady skimming, revamp the clean up crew (some were lost in a rip clean along the way), and I assume once I stop the dino x which is ostensibly an algaecide, I'll get other growth back to consume the nutrients.

Dinos are never gone.

They exist in every healthy system. They only become a problem when they outcompete other organisms.

Provided that you have fixed whatever issue that allowed them to become dominant, you should be good to go.