Ostreopsis or Amphidinium (w/pics)

jolt · May 27, 2019

I took a sample of dinos from one of my tanks that has had a persistent outbreak.
I also looked through this thread: http://www.algaeid.com/identification/

Based on that, and looking at a few threads here on R2R, I feel like these are probably the ostreopsis variety, but it's really hard for me to tell the differences versus amphidinium. These guys are about .03mm long, pretty flat like a sesame seed, twirl from the pointy end.

Anybody with a keen eye and a background in ID of dinos willing to confirm or refute these are ostreopsis? Thanks!

jsker · May 27, 2019

Lets see if someone on #reefsquad would have an idea

saltyhog · May 27, 2019

I know those guys. Definitely ostreopsis. When looking at them move they tend to move like they are tethered to a central point...rotating around that point.

UV is extremely effective against ostreopsis. Continue to keep your nutrients up, dose silicates as well.

jolt · May 27, 2019

saltyhog said:
I know those guys. Definitely ostreopsis. When looking at them move they tend to move like they are tethered to a central point...rotating around that point.

UV is extremely effective against ostreopsis. Continue to keep your nutrients up, dose silicates as well.

Thank you, I've been skimming really wet for a couple of weeks and that seems to be helping. Similar mechanism to UV I guess, pull them out of the water while they are mobile at night (versus kill them with UV). I will start dosing silicates too, I assume the idea is to get diatoms to compete?

Jason mack · May 27, 2019

It could be more sorts here .. @taricha @dwest ...what do you think ....?

Jason mack · May 27, 2019

jolt said:
Thank you, I've been skimming really wet for a couple of weeks and that seems to be helping. Similar mechanism to UV I guess, pull them out of the water while they are mobile at night (versus kill them with UV). I will start dosing silicates too, I assume the idea is to get diatoms to compete?

Yes that the idea ...It has worked for me as well as uv ...and also dosing lots of phytoplankton and copepods as well

Marlon C · May 31, 2019

These were mine. 6 hours of light and uv and feeding 4 cubes a day seems to be helping

jolt · May 31, 2019

Yes, looks like the same thing. I've been continuing the wet skimming and have started dosing silcates as suggested. Some are still visible but nowhere near as bad as they were.

Marlon C · May 31, 2019

Yeah I hate these things.

MTBake · May 31, 2019

I've also battled these demons. It took me months to rid my tank of them. No3 and po4 dosing helped. UV really knocked them out though. I also siphoned out as much as I could before lights off.

nbd13 · Jun 16, 2019

jolt said:
Yes, looks like the same thing. I've been continuing the wet skimming and have started dosing silcates as suggested. Some are still visible but nowhere near as bad as they were.

Where did you get silicates to dose? Also how much per gallon?

Thanks

jolt · Jun 17, 2019

nbd13 said:
Where did you get silicates to dose? Also how much per gallon?

Thanks

I'm using Brightwell SpongExcel 1 drop per 20 gallons. I can't say its really helping though, the dinos are still there. I ordered a 40 watt UV sterilizer to take it to the next level!

nbd13 · Jun 17, 2019

jolt said:
I'm using Brightwell SpongExcel 1 drop per 20 gallons. I can't say its really helping though, the dinos are still there. I ordered a 40 watt UV sterilizer to take it to the next level!

Thanks what size tank do you have?