Ugly Stage Slapped He Hard Very Quickly

[omar jawad]

The Ugly Stage Slapped Me Hard
I could use some advise. My system was introduced to water on October 26th. Added fish a few weeks later and put a mangrove tree in the tank. I used a kessil light to to keep the mangrove healthy. I slowly added fish and have had at least 10 fish in the system for 4 months. Last week, I completed the install of my canopy and added some radion lights with t5-s. My par average through out the system is roughly 225. Of course, algae took off, as expected. A few days later, the algae became covered with what appears to be dino’s. Corals were added around the same time as the lights in most of the system but I did have quite a few LPS and Softies in part of the system below the kessil light. I’ve been dosing two little fishies sea elements and Bright Well alk 8.3. I’ve also added some acropower to keep the corals fed. Recently, I’ve played with Red Sea Coral Nutrition ab+.
The thing that blew my mind was last Thursday, I was measuring phosphates at .11 and have consistently been above .1 After I turned the new lights on and lowered feeding from 4 to 2 times a day, I gotten 0 readings on three different test days. I’m using Hanna Phosphate checker.
I knew I would experience some sort of ugly phase but it happened so fast. From all that I read, dinos can be a hard, long and ugly road. Can anyone make me feel better? Is there a chance that it can pass on its on? What approach should I take. I’ve been all over the place researching and there are so many solutions, I can’t decide what to do.

 

[shred5]

First off calm down take a breath.
How big is the tank I didn't see it list so I can not tell if you have too many fish.
Don't add any additives to the tank when you have algae issues except those that keep alk and Calcium levels where they need to be. Also do not add them unless testing for alk and calcium.
You may not even have dinos both diatoms and cyno can grow almost as fast.

 

[omar jawad]

First off calm down take a breath.
How big is the tank I didn't see it list so I can not tell if you have too many fish.
Don't add any additives to the tank when you have algae issues except those that keep alk and Calcium levels where they need to be. Also do not add them unless testing for alk and calcium.
You may not even have dinos both diatoms and cyno can grow almost as fast.

I’ll post some pictures when I get home.

 

[omar jawad]

This tank is unique with three tanks sharing filtration and sump. Trident measures alk 4 times a day. Had a slight swing as I just turned on the calcium reactor on Monday. Went from 8.1 to 8.9 over three days. Slowly dialing it down to get beach to 8.2 range. Yesterday, I dosed Chemiclean hoping it would help. Most likely a mistake as some of my fish don’t seem to am happy and are showing signs of stressed breathing. I would love to think and believe that this is simply diatoms or cyano but it doesn’t look like it to me. I’ve dealt with both in prior systems and neither were a challenge.

 

[omar jawad]

Phosphates read 0, Nitrates read 2. Am I getting false readings because algae is definitely growing?

 

[SCReef'n]

No you’ve got dinoflagellates. You need to get your Nutrient levels UP not down and start removing as much as you can via siphon or blowing it off the rocks with a power head and letting the filter socks catch it.

 

[SCReef'n]

Also some beneficial competing bacteria. Like dr Tim’s or vibrant or live rock enhance. Something to try and outcompete the dynos

 

[omar jawad]

I’ve had the system running with water since October but only a small amount of light on one corner. After installing the permanent light solution, phosphates went from .13 to 00 in two days. Nitrates went from 10 to 2-5 in the same time period. Algae went from minimal to all over the tank in the same period. Red Cyano is growing and it appears that I’m dealing with Dino’s as well. Not sure what to make of this. Dino’s were heavy at first but seem to be subsiding a bit.

 

[Semper.Reefing]

Raising Nutrients alone wont always be a resolution for Dino's. If you're still having troubles with Dino's and Cyano, check out the Dinoflagellate Support Group on Facebook. There are a lot of people that can give excellent advice. Ill post a picture of the 1 week regime that has worked for me twice. This regimen basically helps you establish a solid bacteria colony in your tank. Once established and you complete the routine, keep those nutrients up! I failed to do so and the Dino's came back. Good luck!

 

[omar jawad]

Raising Nutrients alone wont always be a resolution for Dino's. If you're still having troubles with Dino's and Cyano, check out the Dinoflagellate Support Group on Facebook. There are a lot of people that can give excellent advice. Ill post a picture of the 1 week regime that has worked for me twice. This regimen basically helps you establish a solid bacteria colony in your tank. Once established and you complete the routine, keep those nutrients up! I failed to do so and the Dino's came back. Good luck!

Thanks for the advise. I used Dr. Tims Dino routine and haven't seen much Dino's since. Immediatly after the Dino's, I had a green hair algae for roughly two weeks. Since then, I've been basically algae free with a few areas that show up but do not last. I am currently dealing with Diatoms but it's not that bad. I get a few pockets of Cyano as well. I'm just going through the motions of establishing a reef tank. The tank's birthday is in a few months.

 

[Semper.Reefing]

Thanks for the advise. I used Dr. Tims Dino routine and haven't seen much Dino's since. Immediatly after the Dino's, I had a green hair algae for roughly two weeks. Since then, I've been basically algae free with a few areas that show up but do not last. I am currently dealing with Diatoms but it's not that bad. I get a few pockets of Cyano as well. I'm just going through the motions of establishing a reef tank. The tank's birthday is in a few months.

Man I’d much rather be dealing with GHA and Diatoms. These Dinos have been a pain in the a**. I’m Starting another regimen to follow the one I posted that requires me to dose Live Rock Enhance and NuAlgi. Also adding Miracle Mud to the refugium. Hoping this establishes the ecosystem I need!