Help. Dinoflagellates?

[Kayman]

I think I need some help. So for a month I have been dosing Tech M up to around 1750 to 1800 to finish off bryopsis. I finally think I have it taken out and am in the process of bring my MG levels back down via water changes. I know a few snails died during this treatment but water parameters always seemed stable. About a week ago I noticed the glass in my sump was covered in some brown algae, I decided it was time to clean out the sump and it has looked good since. Three days ago I did my last water change and the back glass and overflow had some of this algae on it and I cleaned it off and did my water change. I also noticed my tailspot blenny was looking a bit skinny and hiding more than usual so I was going to keep any eye on him. Sadly the next morning I found my hermit crab finishing off what was left of him in the sand. I thought maybe he starved to death but he had seemed like a good eater for the few months I had him.

Well I went out of town that afternoon (1/14) and just returned(1/17) and the fish and corals look great but the front glass now is covered in a fine brown stringy algae and it appears to have air bubbles on it as well. I also found a dead cerith snail in the sand. Is this the start of dinoflagellates and if it is could it be what killed my blenny? What do I do to combat it as well?

Thanks!

Temp: 80

Salinity: 1.026

PH: 8.2

Ammonia: 0

Nitrates: less than 5

Phosphates: 0 on Hanna checker and maybe 0.015 on salifert.

Magnesium: 1700

Calcium: 420

dKH: 9

 

 

Best picture I could get...

 

[RIP Sebastian]

Prayers and a flamethrower.

[Kayman]

Haha well this is just great. Going from bryopsis to dinos lucky me! I just cleaned the glass and siphoned a few gallons through a filter sock. I'm going to go lights out for 72 hours as well and pick up some pods to add to the system to hopefully eat some of it. Might as well try a few things I've read that have helped people right off the bat. I don't see any on the rocks or in the sand so maybe it's not dinos but figure this can't hurt me while I deal with whatever it is.

Should I do a 30% water change after the 72 hours? I plan on doing a few days at least of just blues after I turn the lights back on as well.

[dandelion]

Make sure you cover the tank up completely when you black out. If things aren't working try DinoX as a last resort. Can't hurt to try if things don't like like they'll be making it, right?

[Kayman]

Yeah I have it covered up real good. Okay thanks, I'll look into that.

 

I'm hoping that since I'm getting to it real early and it didn't seem that bad even on the front glass that covering it for 72 hours, paired up with some increased pods, running carbon, phosgaurd and purigen I should be able to knock it out before it gets a real hold on the tank.

If all else fails I may end up trying Vibrant as well.

[Kayman]

So actually the more I read online the more I think it could just be diatoms. Can a new rock added about 2 months ago trigger diatoms? Also every case I see with dinos they seem to always be in the sand and on the rocks. The only place I've ever noticed this brownish, bubbly algae has been on the glass. Has anyone ever seen that before?

[RIP Sebastian]

So actually the more I read online the more I think it could just be diatoms. Can a new rock added about 2 months ago trigger diatoms? Also every case I see with dinos they seem to always be in the sand and on the rocks. The only place I've ever noticed this brownish, bubbly algae has been on the glass. Has anyone ever seen that before?

Oh! On the glass? I get those all the time. I think they're just hydroids. I scrape em off. If they aren't spreading like wildfire, I wouldn't worry about it. Pics always help, too.

[dandelion]

The most for sure way was to get a microscope. They aren't that expensive on Amazon. That said I do not own one either.

 

Another way to tell is to scrap off some, put iron a vial and shake vigorously until it disintegrated, pass through a coffee filter or something similar, and let the filtered water sit. If the "stuff" forms back into shape shortly after it's most likely Dino. It was someone's old post on another forum I can't remember where. Just not trying to take credit for myself.

 

So actually the more I read online the more I think it could just be diatoms. Can a new rock added about 2 months ago trigger diatoms? Also every case I see with dinos they seem to always be in the sand and on the rocks. The only place I've ever noticed this brownish, bubbly algae has been on the glass. Has anyone ever seen that before?

[Kayman]

Oh! On the glass? I get those all the time. I think they're just hydroids. I scrape em off. If they aren't spreading like wildfire, I wouldn't worry about it. Pics always help, too.

Yeah they seemed to have popped up in the higher flow areas. It was algae for sure though, I cleaned it off and covered the tank so I'll check when I'm home to see what it looks like. Yeah I uploaded the best picture I could get of it, not the best I know ha

 

The most for sure way was to get a microscope. They aren't that expensive on Amazon. That said I do not own one either.

 

Another way to tell is to scrap off some, put iron a vial and shake vigorously until it disintegrated, pass through a coffee filter or something similar, and let the filtered water sit. If the "stuff" forms back into shape shortly after it's most likely Dino. It was someone's old post on another forum I can't remember where. Just not trying to take credit for myself.

 

Hmm I actually may already have a microscope so I'll give it a look if I can find it. If not I will try the second method. Thanks!

[Kayman]

Well Friday night I turned the lights back on to a low setting, after 72 hours of darkness. During the lights out I added some carbon and replaced my phosgaurd. I also added some copepods and added a little bit of stability to bump up my bacteria. On Saturday I did a 30% water change with water out of some fresh DI resin and then went to a short 6 hour light schedule through today and probably a few more days.

 

So far the tank has been looking great. Have yet to see any slimy algae on the glass or any bubbles. I have a feeling it may have been diatoms and I just freaked out a bit but looks like all is well currently. Corals have never looked happier either.

 

I also tried the algae in a glass trick and nothing happened but I had already scrapped it off my glass so I'm not sure if it was going to work with just water from the tank.