Dinoflagellates – Are You Tired Of Battling Altogether?

[mcarroll]

@drawman and @rockstarta78
Target ≥0.10 ppm PO4 and ≥5-10 ppm NO3

Vaccuming out old cells from the dino bloom should have a good effect on making nuitrients more available overall.....so do some gravel vacuuming if you have sand or gravel.

I think I also forgot to ask if either of you are running activated carbon?

If there's any sign of toxins (missing or lethargic cleanup crew, algae they just won't touch, etc) then you should be running carbon. Run small amounts and change frequently to keep it strong. (Usually following package instructions is OK.)

 

[rockstarta78]

@drawman and @rockstarta78
Target ≥0.10 ppm PO4 and ≥5-10 ppm NO3

Vaccuming out old cells from the dino bloom should have a good effect on making nuitrients more available overall.....so do some gravel vacuuming if you have sand or gravel.

I think I also forgot to ask if either of you are running activated carbon?

If there's any sign of toxins (missing or lethargic cleanup crew, algae they just won't touch, etc) then you should be running carbon. Run small amounts and change frequently to keep it strong. (Usually following package instructions is OK.)

I started running Rox Carbon in a reactor as of last night. The water looks lot cleaner. My problem has been the fluctuation of NO3 and PO4. I haven't been able to hit 0.10ppm PO4 yet. NO3 goes from 10ppm to 2.5ppm in day than next day it will hold at 10ppm. There is no consistency with either of these params.

 

[mcarroll]

Keep your dose consistent – the test numbers will follow. Dose at least once per day and don't skip!

 

[rockstarta78]

Keep your dose consistent – the test numbers will follow. Dose at least once per day and don't skip!

for now I am dosing the same amount everyday. I am not going to lie, I've been tempted to increase the dosage amount just so I could hit 0.01ppm PO4. Hopefully one of these days I will hit the number with the current dosing.

 

[mcarroll]

At the rate your tank is consuming it, I don't think increasing the dose will hurt as long as you're still testing/not doing it blind.

Try adding +1 mL of the PO4 solution to the dose each time you dose to see if it makes a difference on the next test.

If you exceed your target, fall back to the previous dose at least until the next test.

If your numbers are still light, then increase your dose another +1 mL and retest next time.

Rinse.

Repeat.

 

[reeferfoxx]

My problem has been the fluctuation of NO3 and PO4. I haven't been able to hit 0.10ppm PO4 yet. NO3 goes from 10ppm to 2.5ppm in day than next day it will hold at 10ppm.

Could be testing error but I experienced similar effects. Dinos or algae were really sucking up nutrients. For the first three days of adamant dosing, I dosed 0.10 ppm worth of phosphorus. Or at least it took 3 days of that to reach 0.07ppm. Then I was able to maintain 0.10 with daily 0.05 dosings. Don't skip a dose or it will go back down. Uptake of NO3 will slow down and by time that happens, dinos should be gone

I did get a lot of algae out of this method, but I stopped dosing n and p a week ago without ill effects.

 

[rockstarta78]

At the rate your tank is consuming it, I don't think increasing the dose will hurt as long as you're still testing/not doing it blind.

Try adding +1 mL of the PO4 solution to the dose each time you dose to see if it makes a difference on the next test.

If you exceed your target, fall back to the previous dose at least until the next test.

If your numbers are still light, then increase your dose another +1 mL and retest next time.

Rinse.

Repeat.

Lately I've been testing daily. Told you, I wanna beat this thing. I will increase the dosage and see what happens. Oh, btw, I see some GHA on one of the powerheads, but no where near the dino. So there's other algae in the horizon. Hasn't got a foot hold yet. I am hoping the GHA will out compete the dino.

Man oh Man! within the last 3 months, I have fought Bryopsis, Dino, Cyano, GHA. I could use a break now. LOL. Hopefully I won't have to continue to dose for too long and finally the corals would start growing.

 

[rockstarta78]

Could be testing error but I experienced similar effects. Dinos or algae were really sucking up nutrients. For the first three days of adamant dosing, I dosed 0.10 ppm worth of phosphorus. Or at least it took 3 days of that to reach 0.07ppm. Then I was able to maintain 0.10 with daily 0.05 dosings. Don't skip a dose or it will go back down. Uptake of NO3 will slow down and by time that happens, dinos should be gone

I did get a lot of algae out of this method, but I stopped dosing n and p a week ago without ill effects.

I just got my new Hanna reagent and new Salifert test kit for NO3. Hoping neither of these are faulty. How long did you dose before you saw improvement? And how are you maintaining the level since you stopped dosing?

 

[reeferfoxx]

I just got my new Hanna reagent and new Salifert test kit for NO3. Hoping neither of these are faulty. How long did you dose before you saw improvement? And how are you maintaining the level since you stopped dosing?

Great question! I had to look back. Instead of making this sound confusing due to off and on N and P dosing prior to adamant dosing, lets say dosing began June 23rd. That is when I pushed PO4 above 0.10. Took maybe a few days after to get things consistent. About two weeks later, dinos appeared worse. THEN not long after, they disappeared.

Refer to this post here.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/page-16#post-3883330

 

[Lowefx]

Might be a random question but what po4 and no3 product can I buy from BRS, that works best for raising these parameters?
Also I run zeovit. Should I stop dosing zeostart and turn off my zeolite reactor?

 

[rockstarta78]

Great question! I had to look back. Instead of making this sound confusing due to off and on N and P dosing prior to adamant dosing, lets say dosing began June 23rd. That is when I pushed PO4 above 0.10. Took maybe a few days after to get things consistent. About two weeks later, dinos appeared worse. THEN not long after, they disappeared.

Refer to this post here.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/page-16#post-3883330

Thanks a lot. Guess I got a long way to go. Even my wife called my tank ugly. Now that hurts.

 

[rockstarta78]

Might be a random question but what po4 and no3 product can I buy from BRS, that works best for raising these parameters?
Also I run zeovit. Should I stop dosing zeostart and turn off my zeolite reactor?

I don't know a whole lot about zeovit, but I believe they lower your NO3 and PO4 to undetectable level. I bought Spectracide Stump remover to make my KNO3 and Seachem Flourish Phosphorus.

This is the link I used to make my NO3 dosing
http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/calculator.htm

And for PO4 I use the below calculater
http://www.seachem.com/calculators.php

 

[Lowefx]

I JUST tested po4 and no3. Po4 .08ppm no3 +4ppm via red sea test.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Thanks a lot. Guess I got a long way to go. Even my wife called my tank ugly. Now that hurts.

Aww .. Best to get used to it for the time being. In fact, try to leave the ugly alone while dosing. Meaning, dont stir the sandbed or heavy turkey basting. If anything, keep dinos off the coral and let the rest ride. It will eventually go away. You then might be left with other algae or cyano or both.

Once dinos are gone and you are left with other algae, leave that be for a couple weeks as well. Keep dosing for that time. Once you are sure dinos haven't come back, then start normal maintenance and cleaning. And really, try to use best judgement during that time. You might be able to quit dosing N and P. Since I stopped dosing, I'll keep this thread posted on any reoccurance.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I bought Spectracide Stump remover to make my KNO3 and Seachem Flourish Phosphorus.

This is the link I used to make my NO3 dosing
http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/calculator.htm

And for PO4 I use the below calculater
http://www.seachem.com/calculators.php

This is what I did as well.

 

[mcarroll]

Seachem also has a set of apps on the IOS App Store.....there are three and I can't remember which one contains the Flourish products, but I'd bet they're not under Reef or Marine. The apps are good and simple though.

 

[jolt]

Been watching this thread and learning. I had a bad dino outbreak about a 6 weeks ago in my 67 gallon frag setup...

Another week and still no dinos returning. Keeping N and P stable and did another water change. No additional siphoning required so far.

 

[drawman]

@drawman and @rockstarta78
Target ≥0.10 ppm PO4 and ≥5-10 ppm NO3

Vaccuming out old cells from the dino bloom should have a good effect on making nuitrients more available overall.....so do some gravel vacuuming if you have sand or gravel.

I think I also forgot to ask if either of you are running activated carbon?

If there's any sign of toxins (missing or lethargic cleanup crew, algae they just won't touch, etc) then you should be running carbon. Run small amounts and change frequently to keep it strong. (Usually following package instructions is OK.)

I can tell things are changing in the tank as cyano is really cohabitating with my dinos. Turkey basting doesn't dislodge all dinos and I've let the cyano go for now. Need to retest PO4 tonight.

 

[drawman]

@reeferfoxx I feel like my situation is closely mirroring yours in terms of dosing. PO4 is getting sucked out of the water but I haven't been able to test every day so I don't dose every day. I have added a lot of PO4. I may try light H202 dips on my coral tonight to see if I can give them some relief and I need to get carbon going that's been something I've been slacking on.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I may try light H202 dips on my coral tonight to see if I can give them some relief

I've never found h202 dips to ever give any kind of stress relief. In fact, I've lost coral doing that.
You could try microbubbling to trigger a more natural slim coat. That would help the coral alleviate anything stuck to it.