Anyone conquer dinoflagellates?

bklynmet · 01-14-2008, 09:26 PM

Anyone have success in getting rid of dinoflagellates from their systems? If so, what have you done to get rid of it?

I know about RHF's article in Reefkeeping Magazine found here: Problem Dinoflagellates and pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com that discusses the issues and recommends raising pH to aid in eliminating it.

The problem is I have a difficult time getting pH above 8.15 consistently - even with controlled dripping of kalkwasser - due to excess CO2 in the home.

My tank:
75g w/ 20g sump and 10g refugium
Use RO/DI
6x54W T5s (12 hour total photo period w/ 10 hours all 6, 2 hours just 2)
LifeReef VS2-4 skimmer skimming a little on the wet side
Carbon in reactor

Tank has been up since October 2003.
Mixed reef - mostly 'LPS', zoas, a monti, clam, anemone, etc.
Fish:
Clown (Oscellaris)
Foxface
6 Chromis
2 serpent stars
2 emerald crabs
variety of snails
I'm generally light with the feedings

Tested params are in acceptable ranges with:
SG = 1.025
Nitrate = 5ppm
Ca = 410ppm
Alk = 10dkH
Temp = 78-80

I've heard doing a lights out regiment and covering the tank for 72hours is recommended but am unsure. I hear that method is good and effective for cyano. Any thoughts?

**Seahorsedreams** · 01-14-2008, 10:30 PM

Drop a couple (few... plethera...) of airlines to blow off the excess CO2 to it will stop supressing your pH?

**CarmieJo** · 01-15-2008, 01:01 AM

How close is your tank to a door or window? Any chance you could attach an airline tube to the venturi on your skimmer and route it through a crack to the outside air? I know that you are in IN and understand the weather (I lived in NE OH for 26 years) but I have found that if I just loosen the top pane of the window from the seal in the room where my aquariums are that prevents the CO2 buildup and my pH stays at 8.3.

bklynmet · 01-15-2008, 01:56 PM

Thanks. Is the consensus then to work on raising the pH? I may be able to run an airline from the attic to the basement - where the tanks are. Opening a window is not an option becuase they do not open in the basement.

**Seahorsedreams** · 01-15-2008, 02:52 PM

It may not do anything actually. I have dinos in two of my tanks. Never had to deal with them before. No matter what I do to the pH it seems to stay. I have the lights turned off in one but I can tell ya as soon as I turn them back on it's going to be back with a vengence. Actually, the tank doesn't have it in one, only a single coral because I had to remove it from the original tank. The light has been off for a week or so and I've been hand feeding the coral frozen food.... but I can see it's still there.

I remove it constantly but that doesn't see to stop it from coming back.

Very frustrating stuff.

bklynmet · 01-15-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahorsedreams

I remove it constantly but that doesn't see to stop it from coming back.

Very frustrating stuff.

That's the point where I am at.. very frustrating! and ugly!! it makes cyano look good.. but I will try to get the pH to 8.3 by getting an airline from the attic to the skimmer's air intake and see how it goes...

I think there was a section in Julian Sprung's Problem Algae book that discussed dinos and he indicated that it'll run's its coarse and that you should frequently change carbon while not doing water changes for a month... I wonder what that accomplishes? I am hesitant on not doing water changes for a month becuase I don't follow the logic behind it...