How to tell the difference between Cyno and Dinos

twiddledog · Nov 29, 2012

I have been reading a lot of threads about dinoflagelette (Dinos) and I am confused. Some say that a coating on your sand and rocks with bubbles is Cyno and others say it is Dinos. I am guesing both need a different course of action to eradicate.
I have read that Dinos live on Silicates. I have been using a Silicate removing DI along with regular DI with my RODI, running GFO and Carbon as well. My prameters are all decent and also dosed with Hydrogen peroxide.
But whatever it is..cyno or dino keeps coming back after a week or so although not bad that it is causing a problem, I just can't stand dirty looking sand!
Maybe I am trying to fight dinos when its not the problem?
I'd post a pic but currently in Lights out mode for a few days.

coldhybrid · Nov 29, 2012

If it seems to go away when the lights go out and then reappear when the lights come on and multiply through the day its dinos. Cyano is usually green black red or bluish green blanket slime looking stuff.

returnofsid · Nov 29, 2012

Dynoflaggalets die each night, removing oxygen from the water, as they die. Cyanobacteria doesn't die each night.

So, the best way to tell the difference is to observe your tank, first thing in the morning, and then throughout the day.

If, first thing in the morning, the problem seems to be gone and the tank looks great...then the problem algae quickly grows throughout the day, having snotty strings all over, by mid afternoon...it's Dynos.

If the tank appears the same in the morning, as it does mid afternoon, it's Cyano.

It is important to correctly identify the difference because treatment of the two is completely different.

twiddledog · Nov 29, 2012

It's Dinos..now what!!!
I have tried Hydrogen Peroxide, limiting silicates, and lights out. Currently doing another round of lights out for 3 days with a slightly higher Hydrogen peroxide dose.

bjledbetter · Nov 29, 2012

What are some of the best treatments for both once properly identified?

returnofsid · Nov 29, 2012

twiddledog said:
It's Dinos..now what!!!
I have tried Hydrogen Peroxide, limiting silicates, and lights out. Currently doing another round of lights out for 3 days with a slightly higher Hydrogen peroxide dose.

I've never tried Hydrogen Peroxide so can't comment on that.

The two most successful solutions are raising pH (most effective but most difficult) and lights out, (slightly less effective but much easier).

When I've done lights out, I do a complete lights out for 5 days. On day 6, lights on for 4 hours. Day 7 lights on for 6 hours, and so on, until you've returned to your full photo period.

The option to raise the pH is most difficult because it requires testing and dosing, with baking soda, several times per day, but it is the most effective.

bjledbetter said:
What are some of the best treatments for both once properly identified?

Cyano can usually be treated by increasing flow to the effected area.

Sahin · Nov 29, 2012

Cyanno is easier. Siphone out what you can each day. Run GFO and GAC. Replenish regularly. Increase water flow. 3 day blackouts help too. Stop organic carbon dosing especially Vodka dosing.

Dinos....beat me twice. I lost my SPS due to trying to treat them before. I eventually restarted the tank. Hydrogen Peroxide does work for some poeple. 5-7 day blackouts work for others. Again, GFO and GAC used frequently. Fauna Marins Ultra Algae X worked for some people.

With Dinos: this is what I would try:

1. At its highest point, siphone out as much of the Dinos as possible using an airline tubing or similar.
2. Run GAC and GFO.
3. Dose a commercial bacteria supplement - eg Dr Tims etc. You want these bacteria to outcome the Dinos for nutrients.
4. Lights out for 7 days. Completely blacked out. If you have SPS corals then go for 4 days at a time.
5. Look up Hydrogen Peroxide dosing. Dose this too.
6. Run an old canister filter with as much filter floss as you can. This will hopefully pick up some of the free swimming Dinos. Replenish the filter floss each day.
7. You can also try and raise your pH as per Randys article. Search it up.
8. After the specific lights out period, start your lights again, but at no more than 3 hours each day.
9. Let the corals recover for 5 days and start again if the Dinos start to come back. Repeat until they die off.

The thing is you can get rid of them. But it is tiring mentally and physically. Thats why a lot of people just restart their tanks. There is a bacterial imbalance in your tanks; by doing the above, you will shift the bacterial balance. With time there will be less Dinos.

I had Cyanno. In haste, I used Chemiclean. It killed them off ok. But that left a void. That void was taken over by Dinos. As they say; nothing good happens quickly in reefkeeping. If I had taken the time and slowly fought the Cyanno, over time they would have died out.

I shut down my tank during the summer due to illness, but just restarted. I got a bit of Cyanno a few weeks ago. But I beat it easily this time because I had some experiance and a bit more patience.

Can I ask both of you:

What rocks did you start your tanks with?

Sahin · Nov 29, 2012

FWIW: those in the states can send a sample of their Dinos to a member called "Pants". He is on RC and I think on this forum as well. I identified my Dinos (had two different ones) by viewing them under a microscope. I even took photos and posted on the thread on RC for confirmation.