Thinking I might just get a UV sterilizer.

Reef Box · Dec 18, 2020

With my Main tank up and running for the last few years and battling Dinos for a long time before nearly knocking them out I am now holding ground but not winning against a Spirulina Bacteria outbreak, I'm wondering if I should just break down and get a UV Sterilizer. Now before you ask me to "provide tank parameters", just know that I am not having any algae breakouts, issues with fish, coral loss etc. I don't chase numbers (maybe thats my issue) but, I have sent in multiple ICP tests in the past which were within range. We are also talking at least a year or feeding more, feeding less, trying Dr. Tim's, Microbacter, Chemiclean, I do water changes monthly all the while giving the tank months in between to let everything stabilize before trying something else. I'm using the same RODI water for 3 different independent tanks, I feed them all similarly, use the same salt and so on. I do not have the issues in the other systems. My question is this, If you have had these issues and went with a UV Sterilizer, how did it go? If you had these issues and did NOT go with UV what are you doing to eliminate the issue (Spirulina Bacteria with or without Dinos)?

Garf · Dec 18, 2020

What’s a spirulina bacteria outbreak?

Reef Box · Dec 18, 2020

Garf said:
What’s a spirulina bacteria outbreak?

You can google it or search it on here. It looks like cyano sometimes. Looks like tight spirals under a microscope

Garf · Dec 18, 2020

Reef Box said:
You can google it or search it on here. It looks like cyano sometimes. Looks like tight spirals under a microscope

Spirulina is a fresh water algae though, ain’t it?

Reef Box · Dec 18, 2020

Garf said:
Spirulina is a fresh water algae though, ain’t it?

I don’t know, but I can tell you I have confirmed it using a sample under a microscope.

Garf · Dec 18, 2020

Reef Box said:
I don’t know, but I can tell you I have confirmed it using a sample under a microscope.

Definitely not a bacteria then. Well, whatever, I’ve got a uv on my little tank and I love it.

Brooke24 · Dec 18, 2020

Reef Box said:
With my Main tank up and running for the last few years and battling Dinos for a long time before nearly knocking them out I am now holding ground but not winning against a Spirulina Bacteria outbreak, I'm wondering if I should just break down and get a UV Sterilizer. Now before you ask me to "provide tank parameters", just know that I am not having any algae breakouts, issues with fish, coral loss etc. I don't chase numbers (maybe thats my issue) but, I have sent in multiple ICP tests in the past which were within range. We are also talking at least a year or feeding more, feeding less, trying Dr. Tim's, Microbacter, Chemiclean, I do water changes monthly all the while giving the tank months in between to let everything stabilize before trying something else. I'm using the same RODI water for 3 different independent tanks, I feed them all similarly, use the same salt and so on. I do not have the issues in the other systems. My question is this, If you have had these issues and went with a UV Sterilizer, how did it go? If you had these issues and did NOT go with UV what are you doing to eliminate the issue (Spirulina Bacteria with or without Dinos)?

Yeah honestly get a uv sterilizer

Reef Box · Dec 18, 2020

Garf said:
Definitely not a bacteria then. Well, whatever, I’ve got a uv on my little tank and I love it.

I'm interested to know how you can definitively say that what I saw is "definitely not bacteria" This post is not the first to discuss the topic nor is this particular forum. I will provide a couple examples of which I'm sure you will not investigate because you already definitely know so much on the topic... Thank you though for chiming in. I've been honored that you've shared your knowledge

0501265a.pdf you'll need to click on the PDF icon just under the Heading. Please note the illustrations on page 1270 and the multiple examples of Strains reproducing at Salinity levels between 0% and 16% @ 10-35 degrees Celsius (our tanks are typically 3.5% @25 degrees Celsius)

cyanointro.html explains why Cyanobacteria is not considered algae even though it is photosynthetic.

taricha · Dec 18, 2020

Here's a video of spirulina from my tank.

A decent portion of the cyano samples that get posted on the forum have at least some spirulina. A UV would attack water-borne cells, but I don't see spirulina spreading that way in a tank.

Or are you saying you have a "green-water" bloom and it's spirulina? That would be new to me.

Reef Box · Dec 18, 2020

taricha said:
Here's a video of spirulina from my tank.

A decent portion of the cyano samples that get posted on the forum have at least some spirulina. A UV would attack water-borne cells, but I don't see spirulina spreading that way in a tank.

Or are you saying you have a "green-water" bloom and it's spirulina? That would be new to me.

No green water bloom. Just mats. Mostly on rock work, back glass and a little in the sand. I’ve tried chemiclean @4x recommended dosage twice and it doesn’t seem to do much. A sample taken directly off the rock confirmed spirulina as seen in your video and videos posted by humblefish

Jeffo.it · Dec 18, 2020

It is not spirulina imho. I think it belongs to Nostocales.

vetteguy53081 · Dec 18, 2020

Looks like bryopsis and spirulina is a turn for greens or vegetation.
UV will help as would Fluconasal (flux) and reduction of white light intensity

Reef Box · Dec 18, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Looks like bryopsis and spirulina is a turn for greens or vegetation.
UV will help as would Fluconasal (flux) and reduction of white light intensity

I'm going to look into turning my whites down and see if that makes a difference. If I remember correctly, I did try Reeflux earlier on with no relief. I will plan to get some Microscopic pics up here in a few when I have a minute to pull a sample

taricha · Dec 18, 2020

Jeffo.it said:
It is not spirulina imho. I think it belongs to Nostocales.

Interesting. Gonna have to check that out.

Reef Box · Dec 18, 2020

Jeffo.it said:
It is not spirulina imho. I think it belongs to Nostocales.

Mine doesn't look any thing like the Nostocales. I will post pics tomorrow, I didn't have a chance to get to the workbench tonight

Reef Box · Dec 18, 2020

Now that I am looking at another sample tonight, I'm noticing a shift back toward Dinos so I may consider a few weeks of nightly H2O2 treatments. However, there is still some Spirulina hanging on.

DeniableArc · Dec 19, 2020

Reef Box said:
Now that I am looking at another sample tonight, I'm noticing a shift back toward Dinos so I may consider a few weeks of nightly H2O2 treatments. However, there is still some Spirulina hanging on.

There are a few bad reviews on Dino x but for me it was a life saver. I had Dino’s and bryopsis, I ran a oversized uv and dosed phosphate. It did seem to help the Dino’s quite a bit but then I tried fluconazole for bryopsis and it seemed to work for the first few days then corals looked horrible and I lost a few. It was my fault to begin with trying to push nitrates and phosphates lower and lower but I was ready to try anything so I ordered fauna Marin Dino x. Before using Dino x I struggled with maintaining detectable phosphate I dosed every second day to get 0-10ppb on Hanna. I stopped dosing p04 and on the 3rd dose of Dino x my p04 shot up to 95ppb And my best guess was phosphate release from Dino or bryopsis because it was very visible that it was working. I am now on my 8th dose and not a Dino in sight and bryopsis is all but perished. Phosphate has slowly dropped to 50ppb and I am left with a hair algae bloom that I have never had and my tang has welcomed. My plan is to do the full 21 day dose then add fauna Marin rebiotic. It may not work for everyone but it was a lifesaver for me! Well so far.

taricha · Dec 19, 2020

Jeffo.it said:
It is not spirulina imho. I think it belongs to Nostocales.

yeah, I can find spirulina that looks a lot like these pics/vids that we post: spirulina subsalsa for instance.
I can't find any examples in nostocales that look like the right ballpark. But I'm open to other interpretations, Nostocales is a big group.

John08007 · Dec 19, 2020

Garf said:
What’s a spirulina bacteria outbreak?

Was thinking same thing, think spirulina is in the frozen food that my fish love.

Reef Box · Dec 19, 2020

DeniableArc said:
There are a few bad reviews on Dino x but for me it was a life saver. I had Dino’s and bryopsis, I ran a oversized uv and dosed phosphate. It did seem to help the Dino’s quite a bit but then I tried fluconazole for bryopsis and it seemed to work for the first few days then corals looked horrible and I lost a few. It was my fault to begin with trying to push nitrates and phosphates lower and lower but I was ready to try anything so I ordered fauna Marin Dino x. Before using Dino x I struggled with maintaining detectable phosphate I dosed every second day to get 0-10ppb on Hanna. I stopped dosing p04 and on the 3rd dose of Dino x my p04 shot up to 95ppb And my best guess was phosphate release from Dino or bryopsis because it was very visible that it was working. I am now on my 8th dose and not a Dino in sight and bryopsis is all but perished. Phosphate has slowly dropped to 50ppb and I am left with a hair algae bloom that I have never had and my tang has welcomed. My plan is to do the full 21 day dose then add fauna Marin rebiotic. It may not work for everyone but it was a lifesaver for me! Well so far.

I may look into the Dino X and see what it's about. Thanks

John08007 said:
Was thinking same thing, think spirulina is in the frozen food that my fish love.

Spirulina is offered in frozen and dry form. My tang has been seen pulling pieces off from time to time but I am unsure if its exactly this stuff or if there are patches of other algae here and there that it may be picking at. either way my rock work is currently pretty ugly