Dinos or cyano - pics included!!!

[dianezoo]

I'm still wondering about the top off water, I have to add it..so I guess tht moot, just no new salt water change -rIght?
Well some are still showing up on the glass, and today they look whitebefore the lights go on so I wiped them off. Today I got in there with a tooth brush and brushed all the rocks and made a mess. I am going to to do the lights off and black it out again for two days. I NEED this to work! If i add Brightwells MicroBacter will that help the dyeing stuff (since water changes are a no no) or will it make it worse?

[b0bab0ey]

I don't see how you have any choice about the top-off water, you gotta add it. But if you're using RO/DI freshwater with a TDS of 0, there shouldn't be any trace elements in it to fuel the dinos. I've heard about not doing water changes to combat dinos, seems it's still a matter of some debate. I'm guessing I had cyano because doing w/cs is what ultimately knocked it out.

Also, do you run carbon? And do you have a protein skimmer? I noticed when I had to turn off my skimmer for two weeks (vacation) and stopped using carbon is when all the problems started.

[dianezoo]

Originally Posted by b0bab0ey

I don't see how you have any choice about the top-off water, you gotta add it. But if you're using RO/DI freshwater with a TDS of 0, there shouldn't be any trace elements in it to fuel the dinos. I've heard about not doing water changes to combat dinos, seems it's still a matter of some debate. I'm guessing I had cyano because doing w/cs is what ultimately knocked it out.

Also, do you run carbon? And do you have a protein skimmer? I noticed when I had to turn off my skimmer for two weeks (vacation) and stopped using carbon is when all t problems started.

yes, that was a lame question from me regarding the top off water. See this is making me crazy, and illogical.
I do run carbon, and GFO, I have two protein skimmers. They have been working like crazy. Tonight I just lifted off the black plastic (this is the second attempt that the black out method) This should do the trick. I just turkey basted off all the rocks of dead gray dirty stuff. My three fish were real hungry (I fed them lightly). I noticed that some alage was comming back on my zoo rock however this two days of covering the tank looks like it killed it. So it works on the algae. I am getting the water tested tomorrow again and I'll post the results. By morning I should see if my tank is goingto become clear and the water good and Hopfully the dinos have finally been beaten. My tank is so baren looking now it;s starting over.

[b0bab0ey]

You ever try the elevated pH thing? Supposedly it works on some species of dinos but with others, it actually makes them worse. Here's the article:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php

[dianezoo]

Originally Posted by b0bab0ey

You ever try the elevated pH thing? Supposedly it works on some species of dinos but with others, it actually makes them worse. Here's the article:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php

Ok here we go, the water still looks like particals floating in it not clear. After taking off the blackout plastic off from the tank and turning the lights back on I also noticed the pistol shrimp and his goby have excavatied under all rocks which contributes a little to the cloudyness from stirring up sand. But it usually settles out fast. My skimmer is also sending out lots of mico bubbles. but that being said the water should be clearer. and it settles down too. Im thinking of adding water clarifier from Kent to deal with the gray dirt stuff I blow off everything now. (better han the orange/brown.

Here my parameters: Calcium 430, Magnesium 930 (I have no idea what made it go down nothing in the tank to take it up only have two colts and two xenias).?? next ammonia and nitrite are 0, pH 7.8. Salinity is up 1.028 (nor is 1.024). so higher pH might help hope this is getting kicked. Now Im trying to get it looking "clear" . (and pray the dinos are done for).

[b0bab0ey]

I wouldn't worry too much about the mag for now. But I would get that salinity down to 1.026 (slowly) and maybe get your pH above 8.0 (again slowly). You might also wanna check your alk. If it's low too (say, 7-8 dKH), then you can use "baked" (see link below) baking soda to raise both your pH and alk.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ed+baking+soda

[dianezoo]

The values I posted were tested by my LFS yesterday.
I just tested my pH and it is 8. I tested KH and it was 5 thats pretty low isnt it? and my salinity currently was at l.024 (swing arm hydrometer but it has us been accurate when compared to the LFS in past).
Thanks for that link (the thread got very confussing so I should just stop at the calulator). Temps got pretty warm today and I handnt had our AC on yet the tank is at 80.
What are you doing with your algae? I only have one spot of short carpet like algea on my zoo rocks, and I noticed I have a nija star astra snail enjoying it so I hope he eats it all. other than that no other algea. I still have those four long vertical growing plants (in that one photo) that I have no idea what they are. they are round and very solid. looks like what calcium is around their base. and they survived both times I went with no lights for two days and blacked out the tank. I have not seen brown crud on glass today. yey.

[b0bab0ey]

Originally Posted by dianezoo

I tested KH and it was 5 thats pretty low isnt it?

Yes, 5 is very low. It really shouldn't drop below 7. I like to keep mine between 8-9. This link gives you all your water parameters:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

Originally Posted by dianezoo

What are you doing with your algae?

I've still got spots of gha here and there. I'm battling it with my wife's toothbrush (kidding). I haven't seen any dinos/cyano in over a month now, so fingers crossed. The thing that's driving me crazy now is the detritus all over the sand. I'm constantly sucking it up with a turkey baster! My snails, hermits won't touch it. What will eat detritus off the sand?!

[dianezoo]

Originally Posted by b0bab0ey

Yes, 5 is very low. It really shouldn't drop below 7. I like to keep mine between 8-9. This link gives you all your water parameters:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php



I've still got spots of gha here and there. I'm battling it with my wife's toothbrush (kidding). I haven't seen any dinos/cyano in over a month now, so fingers crossed. The thing that's driving me crazy now is the detritus all over the sand. I'm constantly sucking it up with a turkey baster! My snails, hermits won't touch it. What will eat detritus off the sand?!

Tonga Nassarius Snail will scavange for detritus, Iurchin, cuc, but my guess is its the same "dirt" I have and I think its from the dions dieoff and some deterus. in my tank it just cant all be from fish poop. and I siphon and it always there.

[b0bab0ey]

Everything was going fine and then, boom, stringy looking crap w/bubbles attached to it. I immediately went lights out for another 3 days. Should have taken pics first though...

[dianezoo]

Originally Posted by b0bab0ey

Everything was going fine and then, boom, stringy looking crap w/bubbles attached to it. I immediately went lights out for another 3 days. Should have taken pics first though...

Oh no!! we should know tomorrow how your tank is right? Did anyting else change to make it spike like that? Man I was gonna try a water change but I think Im going to hold off. I still have them but they are white looking probably just exhausted but waiting for whatever to feed them on. I'm not getting the growth on glass and rocks like I did but Im keeping the glass wiped off when just a slight amount starts to show up. Im no fanning the crud that settles in the rocks and creating dust looking water. but It just will not get bright clear, Im changing out a floss pad daily that traps the brownish crud. So far my CUC is doing fine, there is no alage at all in the tank but just the floating dusty dirt-look. Hopfully blacking out your tank again will work. I cany say the peroxide treatment worked or just blacking out the tank becuase I did both. This is getting old huh.

[b0bab0ey]

Originally Posted by dianezoo

Oh no!! we should know tomorrow how your tank is right? Did anyting else change to make it spike like that? Man I was gonna try a water change but I think Im going to hold off. I still have them but they are white looking probably just exhausted but waiting for whatever to feed them on. I'm not getting the growth on glass and rocks like I did but Im keeping the glass wiped off when just a slight amount starts to show up. Im no fanning the crud that settles in the rocks and creating dust looking water. but It just will not get bright clear, Im changing out a floss pad daily that traps the brownish crud. So far my CUC is doing fine, there is no alage at all in the tank but just the floating dusty dirt-look. Hopfully blacking out your tank again will work. I cany say the peroxide treatment worked or just blacking out the tank becuase I did both. This is getting old huh.

Yes, this does suck! I looked in my tank this morning (from above w/a flashlight) and my leathers do not look happy! Oh well, what can I do, right? The lights come back on tomorrow. The way I see it, if I don't do anything about the dinos they will eventually kill all of the corals in the tank anyway.

Your tank sounds like it's getting better. Slowly but surely. Yeah, I think my next tank is just going to be a friggin old-school S/W fish tank with an U/G filter or something. I didn't have all these problems when I just did that and I like the fish better than the corals anyway...

[dianezoo]

bObaboey, Checkin to see how your tank is doing. Im stirring up the dirt off my rock daily and changing out the floss pad every other day now. I ws changing the floss pad daily also but it's seems to be getting better. The skimmers collecttion looks like dark pastey mud sticking to the collection cup. I'm not seeing active dinos, just what I believe is their dieoff particulate matter in the tank. It's no longer settling all over sand like it was. I think I'm back to a tank ready to add coral and possibly a couple of fish again. I added a metalic green, fuzzy mushroom yesterday and it's looking well. I have no algae and Im hoping my CUC especially the large mexican snail dosent starve (I even gave it nori on a clip. I'm going to move my organ pipe back into this tank this weekend,
It's one of the few I saved into a QT tank during the diano disaster. I hope your tank is comming back. I had to black out my tank twice. I'm keeping the mag and cal levels up too. regards
D

[b0bab0ey]

Hi Diane,

My tank is good, not great. The dinos/cyano/whatever was gone after the lights out period. Now it's coming back a little, but only near the top. I need to change out my GFO and Carbon in the next day or two.

Wish we lived closer. I have a big frogspawn that I'm ready to frag off the lower section. I'd give it to ya to help you get re-started. It's doing great in my tank. Sounds like yours is making good progress. Post some pics when you get a chance!

Bobby

[berniegermie]

I've currently battling dinos also. Feel your pain. It was really bad at one point but after a month of battling it it has gotten under control. I still see some of it around the tank so not completely gone yet. I have a mixed reef, SPS, LPS, 5 fish. What has helped me so far was not doing any water changes and reducing the light period to only 5-6 hours a day. I also have Rowaphos in my phosban reactor and been skimming wet. I have cheato in my refugium and if there's any build up of the dinos on my powerheads, I take them out and wash them in RO water. Also got 2 conches and they eat the Dinos without any ill effect. I have also been dosing Kalk in my top off and dosing via the Kalk slurry method to bring my PH up higher but not too high, just around 8.3. I simply focused on keeping my Alk, Ca, and Mag levels at where they should be, (9 dkh, 400, 1350) I also bought a RODI unit.

I tried lights out for 1 day and some of my SPS started to lose saturation in color so I stopped. Not worth losing my corals.

Tomorrow I'm going to buy new MH bulbs and try some Microbacter 7 to see if it will help eliminate the dinos for good. I'm trying to cover all bases. =)

[b0bab0ey]

Originally Posted by berniegermie

I tried lights out for 1 day and some of my SPS started to lose saturation in color so I stopped. Not worth losing my corals.

I keep softies, LPS and SPS, and have noticed no ill effects. I go lights-out for 3 consecutive days once a month, every month. I even cover all my glass w/black garbage bags so no ambient light can get in. Now, I admit, the first time I did it my corals looked kinda bad when I first turned the lights back on. Took them almost a week to bounce back. But now they bounce back in a day or two. I dunno... I guess they adapted to it.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do! But doing the lights-out thing once a month has just about solved my dinos problem. See pic below of my tank.

[MUCHO REEF]

A good Dino read from the past.


Mucho Reef

[dianezoo]

Yes, one to remind us why we continue to test the water and dose calk and mag.
and nip it early!.
D