ID needed possible Dinos.

[Varmette]

I have been battling this for the last couple months. It is a brown algae/dinos that covers the back wall of the tank, rocks and sand. It is much worse during the day and blows off easily with a turkey baster. I have some pictures I took through a microscope, hopefully they are clear enough for a good ID. Would like a positive ID from those of you that are knowledgeable in this area so I know how to proceed. Thank You for any help!!

 

[Formulator]

Its hard to tell with somewhat blurry photos, but FWIW, they look like ostreopsis to me. I would let someone else confirm that or compare yourself to the photos and videos in the PDF guide found in this thread:

Thread 'Dinoflagellate Identification Guide'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellate-identification-guide.671466/

And once you confirm ID, here is a great resource if you haven’t already seen it:

Article: Dino Treatment Guide

 

[Varmette]

Formulator, thank you for the reply. I filmed a video to help with id. Hopefully this helps a bit.

 

[Varmette]

I am still battling this horrible outbreak. It has gotten worse and is obviously toxic. Any definitive identification on what I am battling would be much appreciated.

 

[eliaslikesfish]

I am still battling this horrible outbreak. It has gotten worse and is obviously toxic. Any definitive identification on what I am battling would be much appreciated.

I can’t see the video, could you post it on youtube and share the link?

 

[Varmette]

I dont know how to post it to youtube but I can message you a copy of the video?

 

[fishyjoes]

I can't really say for sure what kind yours are, and it could be more than one type (looks like most are pointy, but some are mostly round).

I'm just getting over a dino outbreak of my own - it's taken six months.

Here's what I've done and maybe some of it will help you.
* turn off my skimmer (it's been completely off for 4 months now)
* reduce my algae scrubber light (from 10 hours to 4 hours)
* start dosing silicates (sodium silicate) - this is recommended for pretty much any type of dino from what I read
* stop dosing trace elements/amino acids
* stop doing water changes (haven't done any water change in 3 months)
* started using reef enhance (2x per week) - not sure if this really helps or not
* started dosing AF life source (1x every other week) - I do think this helped, because the positive changes seemed to accelerate when I started using this product, but it could just be coincidental timing

Prior to the dino outbreak I was battling algae, so I added an algae scrubber and didn't realize how effective those things are. This consumed all my nutrients and allowed the dinos to explode.

 

[Lavey29]

I am still battling this horrible outbreak. It has gotten worse and is obviously toxic. Any definitive identification on what I am battling would be much appreciated.

https://www.reef2reef.com/attachments/dinoflagellateid12_12_2019-pdf.1324729/

 

[leighton.bingham]

After battling mine for almost a year. I dosed silicates and it cleared up but then I had diatoms lol. I tried lights off, I tried dosing nitrates and phosphates, Dino-x etc... nothing worked till I used a little bottle of silicate that cost like $8. I lost all my coral and fish in the process except one clown.

 

[Varmette]

Thank you for the replies. Lavey29, that is a very informative link, unfortunately I cant tell with certainty what I am dealing with. Whatever it is it certainly appears to be very toxic to most livestock.

 

[Formulator]

Thank you for the replies. Lavey29, that is a very informative link, unfortunately I cant tell with certainty what I am dealing with. Whatever it is it certainly appears to be very toxic to most livestock.

You really need to get a microscope in order to properly ID the dino. Some of the more nefarious species will not go away without UV. Battling dinos without a microscope is kind of like going into modern war with a bow and arrow. You might kill some, but you’ll never win.

The cheap kids microscopes you can find on amazon are good enough, or your public library may have them available to borrow.

 

[Varmette]

You really need to get a microscope in order to properly ID the dino. Some of the more nefarious species will not go away without UV. Battling dinos without a microscope is kind of like going into modern war with a bow and arrow. You might kill some, but you’ll never win.

The cheap kids microscopes you can find on amazon are good enough, or your public library may have them available to borrow.

I posted some pictures and a video from the microscope I have earlier in the thread

 

[Formulator]

I posted some pictures and a video from the microscope I have earlier in the thread

Ahh, sorry. The videos aren’t viewable from my phone so I’ll have to get out my laptop later

 

[Troylee]

@taricha i’d guess procureum or how ever you spell it..

 

[taricha]

I filmed a video to help with id. Hopefully this helps a bit.

some prorocentrum, but more ostreopsis in that vid.

 

[Varmette]

Thank you for the feedback and identification. They all kind of look the same to me