Dinoflagellates & UV Sterilizer

[Black Mammoth]

I'm battling a dinoflagellate problem right now. I'm doing my best to get rid of it, but it has been pretty tough. I have an 18 watt UV Sterilizer running 24/7 on my 90g w/40g sump. I'm flowing just enough water through it so I can kill bacteria. That should be more than enough to kill algae. So here is my question. What am I still have a dinoflagellate problem with the UV Sterilizer running? I've cleaned the glass and everything I could to get this stuff out. Then I did a 30g water change. I'm going to make the light cycle shorter (4hours) and raise the Ph and this should help...but I'm still wondering why the UV Sterilizer isn't helping. Is it possible that this stuff just isn't getting sucked in to the water column?

[flowerseller]

How;

do you know it's a dinoflagellate problem

do you know it's not helping

much worse it could be without the UV

old is tank been since it cycled

old id the UV bulb

much flow thru UV

low is pH, why is it that low

deep is your sand bed and what media is it

many different chemicals are you adding and what are they

old is your water filtration pre filters

old is your RO membrane

[Black Mammoth]

How;

do you know it's a dinoflagellate problem

do you know it's not helping

much worse it could be without the UV

old is tank been since it cycled

old id the UV bulb

much flow thru UV

low is pH, why is it that low

deep is your sand bed and what media is it

many different chemicals are you adding and what are they

old is your water filtration pre filters

old is your RO membrane

 

I'm positive that it is dinoflagellates.

I don't know for sure that it isn't helping, but it just seems like it.

The tank has been cycled for at least 6 months

The UV bulb is maybe 2 months old. I just got the UV sterilizer

I have just under 100gph going through the UV sterilizer

PH is actually in the "normal range." Usually it sits around 8.3...sometimes...usually it is somewhere between 8.2 & 8.4. Actually, I would say it's a bit on the high side.

It's a new sand bed that is pretty shallow...maybe an 1 to 2 inches thick...just under the black bar on the tank. It is oolite sand...CaribSea.

I stopped adding chemicals and they were just Randy's 2 part solution. I'm going to dose again to get the Alk and Calc up. I think the low Alk is causing problems.

I just replaced all my filters, RO membrane, and DI resin.

 

The only thing I need to get going is new bulb and cheato for the sump. I also need to check for phosphates. I was going to check my freshly made saltwater for phosphates. Another WAMAS member in my town says that the phosphates are around 1.4 He doesn't know why his RO/DI system isn't pulling them out. So I need to check my water for phosphates to see if I'm having the same problem.

[flowerseller]

I'm positive that it is dinoflagellates.

I don't know for sure that it isn't helping, but it just seems like it.

The tank has been cycled for at least 6 months

The UV bulb is maybe 2 months old. I just got the UV sterilizer

I have just under 100gph going through the UV sterilizer

PH is actually in the "normal range." Usually it sits around 8.3...sometimes...usually it is somewhere between 8.2 & 8.4. Actually, I would say it's a bit on the high side.

It's a new sand bed that is pretty shallow...maybe an 1 to 2 inches thick...just under the black bar on the tank. It is oolite sand...CaribSea.

I stopped adding chemicals and they were just Randy's 2 part solution. I'm going to dose again to get the Alk and Calc up. I think the low Alk is causing problems.

I just replaced all my filters, RO membrane, and DI resin.

 

The only thing I need to get going is new bulb and cheato for the sump. I also need to check for phosphates. I was going to check my freshly made saltwater for phosphates. Another WAMAS member in my town says that the phosphates are around 1.4 He doesn't know why his RO/DI system isn't pulling them out. So I need to check my water for phosphates to see if I'm having the same problem.

 

So it's a used UV? replace the bulb unless you are positive of the sellers 2months

 

oolite sand - I rate this stuff high, personally, but it's likely your temporary problem that will take care of itself as it "cycles" with your tank.

[Black Mammoth]

So it's a used UV? replace the bulb unless you are positive of the sellers 2months

 

oolite sand - I rate this stuff high, personally, but it's likely your temporary problem that will take care of itself as it "cycles" with your tank.

 

Sorry...couldn't remember when I bought the UV. I bought it brand new. Hopefully it will go away soon I want a normal tank...dag gone it!

[Gatortailale]

what is max flow rate you can push water through UV unit? 100 seems slow. My current usa 40w is rated up to like 2800gph (maybe more can't remember) I push 1200 or so on my return pump.

 

Slowly bring alk and ph up, and you could if you want try warner WMR PHOSaR 500gm http://www.championlighting.com/product.ph...at=0&page=2

I have used it in past when I had cyano or dyno (something on sand going on at 6 month mark last fall and it seemed to help. Just start using is slowly - I did 1/4 recommended amount first week, then added more 2nd week and so on till reached full amount recommeded.

[Black Mammoth]

what is max flow rate you can push water through UV unit? 100 seems slow. My current usa 40w is rated up to like 2800gph (maybe more can't remember) I push 1200 or so on my return pump.

 

Slowly bring alk and ph up, and you could if you want try warner WMR PHOSaR 500gm http://www.championlighting.com/product.ph...at=0&page=2

I have used it in past when I had cyano or dyno (something on sand going on at 6 month mark last fall and it seemed to help. Just start using is slowly - I did 1/4 recommended amount first week, then added more 2nd week and so on till reached full amount recommeded.

 

I'm not sure how much I can push through the UV, but it is quite a bit. I have to look at the manual. I think it says that it kills bacteria around 105 - 115gph. Then it's like 250gph for algae...and it continues on. So I made sure that I did low flow so I could kill down to the bacteria level. I had a bunch of crap in my tank...ich, velvet, and more crap awhile ago. So I wanted to make sure I got it all. I went fish free for like a 8 weeks. Then I ran the UV for another 6 to 8 weeks. So far all the fish look healthy.

 

I will have to try the PHOSaR.

[Black Mammoth]

Alrighty, I just did another water test.

 

PH: ~8.3 maybe 8.4

Calc: 335

Alk: 8

 

I haven't tried the Nitrates, Nitrites, and Ammonia yet. I suspect I have phosphates :( I'll have to get that PHOSaR and I might run some carbon.

Edited May 28, 2007 by Black Mammoth