Microscope id?

SolarReefer · Mar 18, 2023

I know they’re bad quality photos, let me know if I should buy a better microscope. Have this brown layer on my sand comes and goes with the lights for the most part. Possibly cyano? Under the microscope the look like a bunch of brown little specs, some looked like they may have been squirming around? White chunks in the photo are grains of sand. Parameters are mostly in check. Phosphate 0.3 and high nitrates 75+

vetteguy53081 · Mar 18, 2023

SolarReefer said:
I know they’re bad quality photos, let me know if I should buy a better microscope. Have this brown layer on my sand comes and goes with the lights for the most part. Possibly cyano? Under the microscope the look like a bunch of brown little specs, some looked like they may have been squirming around? White chunks in the photo are grains of sand. Parameters are mostly in check. Phosphate 0.3 and high nitrates 75+

It dinoflagellates.
Its biological deficiencies that are causing the dino structure and tank is already doomed.
No light is first key followed by the addition of bacteria to overcome the bad bacteria allowing them to thrive
Prepare by starting by blowing this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles. Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15% IF you have light dependant corals) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of 3% 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 micro bacter 7 or XLM) per 10 gallons. Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX
You can feed fish as normal and if doing blackout, ambient light in room will work for them

SolarReefer · Mar 18, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
It dinoflagellates.
Its biological deficiencies that are causing the dino structure and tank is already doomed.
No light is first key followed by the addition of bacteria to overcome the bad bacteria allowing them to thrive
Prepare by starting by blowing this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles. Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15% IF you have light dependant corals) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of 3% 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 micro bacter 7 or XLM) per 10 gallons. Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX
You can feed fish as normal and if doing blackout, ambient light in room will work for them

Hold up did you say my tank is doomed?

bushdoc · Mar 18, 2023

I wonder: If the tank is already doomed, why this recipe to fight Dinos?
Also your phosphates and nitrates are NOT deficient.
I do not think your tank is doomed, but unfortunately there is a long road before you to fight Dinos.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 18, 2023

SolarReefer said:
Hold up did you say my tank is doomed?

LOL- Not tank is doomed- the term meaning its already in progress (dino) and has consumed the nitrate and are multiplying. The plan I gave you does work if followed precisely.

SolarReefer · Mar 18, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
LOL- Not tank is doomed- the term meaning its already in progress (dino) and has consumed the nitrate and are multiplying. The plan I gave you does work if followed precisely.

dang. I was dreading the “long road ahead” solution haha. So a series of water changes won’t solve the issue? You seem very knowledgeable thank you for answering my questions. I’ve only been actively in the hobby for 6 months. I’m trying to learn how to do things the right way as much as possible.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 18, 2023

SolarReefer said:
dang. I was dreading the “long road ahead” solution haha. So a series of water changes won’t solve the issue? You seem very knowledgeable thank you for answering my questions. I’ve only been actively in the hobby for 6 months. I’m trying to learn how to do things the right way as much as possible.

Been in hobby 40 years LOL
Unfortunately, water changes wont. Dino and cyano are both photosynthetic and dwell off of light for reproduction. Reason for Lights off. Bacteria competes with bad bacteria and Peroxide is an oxidizer

SolarReefer · Mar 18, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Been in hobby 40 years LOL
Unfortunately, water changes wont. Dino and cyano are both photosynthetic and dwell off of light for reproduction. Reason for Lights off. Bacteria competes with bad bacteria and Peroxide is an oxidizer

I have a bottle of microbacter7 that I used when I cycled and a bottle of microbacter clean. I should use the 7 right?