Essential items to get rid of dinoflagellates in a saltwater tank
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This page is to used in combination with How To Get Rid Of Dinoflagellates In a Saltwater Tank. Please read through the article and find your requirements below. I personally have had great success in ridding my system of Dinoflagellates using information on Mack’s Reef…Dinoflagellates support group, on Facebook. For more information, I have provided the downloadable pdf available from that page. Please use the button below to access.
Dinoflagellates identification
In order to accurately identify dinoflagellates, you will need a telescope with at least a x400 magnification. Don’t buy electronic microscopes as they do not tend to give you the magnification required. The two microscopes below tend to be the better models to use.
AmScope M150 Series Portable LED Monocular - 40X-1000X Magnification
AmScope M102C-PB10 - 40X-1000X Biological Compound
Adding Copepods and Phytoplankton to help get rid of dinoflagellates
By adding phytoplankton and copepods you are encouraging more diversity, and ultimately competition in your aquarium.
AlgaeBarn Live Copecods & Phytoplankton
OceanMagik Live Phytoplankton Blend
Raising Nutrient levels to ensure they do not bottom out
Dinoflagellates emerge most commonly when nitrate and phosphate levels hit zero. If this happens, you will need to raise them by dosing.
Brightwell Aquatics - NeoPhos - Balanced Phosphorus
Brightwell Aquatics Balanced Nitrogen Supplement
Dose sodium silicate (water glass) to outcompete and get rid of dinoflagellates
By dosing water glass, you are introducing measured amounts of silicate to your system on a daily basis. Silicate will encourage an increase in diatoms, which in turn will outcompete and get rid of dinoflagellates.
High Temperature Adhesive, 2000F Rate, Sodium Silicate
Testing phosphate when you are dosing Sodium silicate
A known result of adding sodium silicate to your aquarium, is that it can throw your phosphate readings out when using a Hanna Checker. To get an accurate reading use the test kits below.
Salifert Phosphate Test Kit
RedSea Phosphate Pro (PO4) test kit
Accurate ICP-OES analysis of your water
To gain invaluable insight into your system, and ensure you are not lacking, or indeed have too much of something untoward, sending your water off for analysis is a good idea.
ATI ICP-OES Complete Saltwater Water Test Kit
Triton Labs ICP-OES Water Test
Adding a UV Sterilizer to get rid of dinoflagellates
The final piece of the puzzle to get rid of dinoflagellates is the addition of a UV Sterilizer that is suitable for your system volume. Ensure that you purchase a sterilizer that can equates to 1W per 3 gallons of aquarium water. For example, if you have a 100g aquarium, make sure that the sterilizer is at least 36W. Please do not buy the Green Killing machine.