Hi all, I wanted a challenge so I decide to do 90% dry start tank-only live sand, snails, pods were added (plus a feisty sapphire damsel after the cycle).
I’m having what appears to be a dino outbreak.
History after the cycle and stock add:
-nitrate rose to 20ppm (while I had chemipure blue) so decided to scrap the blue and added a skimmer to run if needed and carbon if I needed that.
-after about a month or so of regular 10% water changes and skimmer running every so often I’m down to 5ppm nitrates. (Don’t know how well the skimmer worked as it was in the break in period and never really had much collection) Can’t test for phos as the meter is in shipping lol
-the last week or so I’ve been feeding phyto to try to outcompete whatever this is to no avail.
Currently I’m blowing these off at the end of the day, it’s getting caught in the floss and I’m removing it. Also running pellet carbon in case of any toxicity. It definitely retreats in the dark and the tank looks great in the mornings. Lights run 12pm to 8pm with a 2 hour ramp. Attached a pic of what gets caught in the filter throughout the day (not just when I blow off the rocks).
Sometime between those two points I managed to get the pictured bacteria or algae. I’m getting conflicting reports. Half day Dinos happen when nutrients bottom out to zero (like cyano) which never happened and the “cure” is to raise nutrients. The other half says dinos happen when there’s nutrient overload (like hair algae or the sort) which has also not happened. That cure is to eliminate nutrients. I’ve ran tanks with 15ppm or so with no issue.
The only thing I’m sure of at the moment is that the all dry approach probably caused this as it led to an imbalance between nitrate and phosphate. I’m just not sure how much yet.
I ordered a microscope out of curiosity so we shall see what comes of it.
What has been your experience? Are these caused by too much or not enough nutrients? The tank isn’t overrun by any means, but it would be if I didn’t keep on top of it daily. Little stringy brown/rusty bits within the photos.
I’m having what appears to be a dino outbreak.
History after the cycle and stock add:
-nitrate rose to 20ppm (while I had chemipure blue) so decided to scrap the blue and added a skimmer to run if needed and carbon if I needed that.
-after about a month or so of regular 10% water changes and skimmer running every so often I’m down to 5ppm nitrates. (Don’t know how well the skimmer worked as it was in the break in period and never really had much collection) Can’t test for phos as the meter is in shipping lol
-the last week or so I’ve been feeding phyto to try to outcompete whatever this is to no avail.
Currently I’m blowing these off at the end of the day, it’s getting caught in the floss and I’m removing it. Also running pellet carbon in case of any toxicity. It definitely retreats in the dark and the tank looks great in the mornings. Lights run 12pm to 8pm with a 2 hour ramp. Attached a pic of what gets caught in the filter throughout the day (not just when I blow off the rocks).
Sometime between those two points I managed to get the pictured bacteria or algae. I’m getting conflicting reports. Half day Dinos happen when nutrients bottom out to zero (like cyano) which never happened and the “cure” is to raise nutrients. The other half says dinos happen when there’s nutrient overload (like hair algae or the sort) which has also not happened. That cure is to eliminate nutrients. I’ve ran tanks with 15ppm or so with no issue.
The only thing I’m sure of at the moment is that the all dry approach probably caused this as it led to an imbalance between nitrate and phosphate. I’m just not sure how much yet.
I ordered a microscope out of curiosity so we shall see what comes of it.
What has been your experience? Are these caused by too much or not enough nutrients? The tank isn’t overrun by any means, but it would be if I didn’t keep on top of it daily. Little stringy brown/rusty bits within the photos.
