I am all for removing the sand bed, but you would have to find a new home for the wrass if you want him to keep sleeping in sand.

Bob,

What are dinoflagellates?

Dinoflagellates are microscopic, (usually) unicellular, flagellated, often photosynthetic protists, commonly regarded as "algae" (Division Dinoflagellata). They are characterized by a transverse flagellum that encircles the body (often in a groove known as the cingulum) and a longitudinal flagellum oriented perpendicular to the transverse flagellum. This imparts a distinctive spiral to their swimming motion. Both flagella are inserted at the same point in the cell wall, by convention defining the ventral surface. This point is usually slightly depressed, and is termed the sulcus. In heterotrophic dinoflagellates (ones that eat other organisms), this is the point where a conical feeding structure, the peduncle, is projected in order to consume food.

Dinoflagellates possess a unique nuclear structure at some stage of their life cycle - a dinokaryotic nucleus (as opposed to eukaryotic or prokaryotic), in which the chromosomes are perminently condensed. The cell wall of many dinoflagellates is divided into plates of cellulose ("armor") within amphiesmal vesicles, known as a theca. These plates form a distinctive geometry/topology known as tabulation, which is the main means for classification.

Both heterotrophic (eat other organisms) and autotrophic (photosynthetic) dinoflagellates are known. Some are both. They form a significant part of primary planktonic production in both oceans and lakes. Most dinoflagellates go through moderately complex life cycles involving several steps, both sexual and asexual, motile and non-motile. Some species form cysts composed of sporopollenin (an organic polymer), and preserve as fossils. Often the tabulation of the cell wall is somehow expressed in the shape and/or ornamentation of the cyst.


Besides being important primary producers, and therefore an important part of the food chain, dinoflagellates are also known for producing nasty toxins, particularly when they occur in large numbers, called "red tides" because the cells are so abundant they make the water change colour. Besides being bad for a large range of marine life, red tides can also introduce non-fatal or fatal amounts of toxins into animals (particularly shellfish) that may be eaten by humans, who are also affected by the toxins. Many of these toxins are quite potent, and if not fatal, can still cause neurological and all sorts of other nasty effects. Add this to the rather ominous suspicion that red tides may be more common thanks to human inputs of phosphates and warmer global temperatures, and you can probably see why we have a vested interest in finding out more about them - both medical and economic.

Steve

Steve,

What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is using others' ideas and words without clearly acknowledging the source of that information. :razz:

Steve meant to include that the info came from here...

http://www.geo.ucalgary.ca/~macrae/p...agellates.html

..right, Steve? :biggrin:

if you want to try some Algone in your aquarium I could send you some for free, just pay the courier or mail fee and its yours... it should clear up your problem in about 5 days easily.....
I have come across the exact same problem you describe many times and the algone has always cleaned it up quickly.....
it could save you alot of trouble

It looks to me like the solution has already been stated...it's time to move. :lol: .

Hi Christy sorry to hear that you are having problems, but thats no reason to give up. Listen, it's time to fight back even harder. Base on what you mention, it seems like your 3-4 inch sandbed may be a factor here. I suggest either reducing the sandbed, I don't have deep sandbed in all my systems, take the sand out and bleach them, yes bleach them, don't worry about the bacteria, you got rocks. Switch over to not so fine sand but the carbisea seaflor super reef, if you don't want to spend a nickle at all, keep what you have but reduce it. Dinoflagellate are toxic to most invertes, snails, and fish possibly. If you have a few death lately of snails, you can be sure. But sounds like your system has quite alot of nutrient base on what your skimmer is pulling out. Keep your skimmer clean and functional 120% at all time. Disturbing the dsb probably provoke nasties to the surfaces. I have confident that you will win but don't give up. Plus don't add anymore additives at this time. Regards Ken

We have had great definitions, but what do they look like in a tank :question: How do you know you have them. :question:

um not sure if that was the address.. but if you check it I never claimed it as my own work so not plagiarism at all, but ya to clear it it was a definition I cut and pasted from some site.

Steve

If you have to ask if you have a dino bloom, odds are you don't. :razz: Your tank will look like it's boiling over as everything will be covered in bubbles, and there will be a stringy/snotty like goo covering everything (including fish in some cases!) It is a little like cyano, only, cyano has more tenacity in substance (if that makes any sense). Basically this stuff disintegrates at a touch, but reproduces so amazingly fast you can almost literally see it grow in front of you. You can siphon it out 100%, and it will regrow 100% within hours (or less).

Beyond a visual nuisance, it may be harmful or toxic if ingested (I'm not certain, but I had a lot of snails die off when I had it).

Funny,
My frag tank has Dino's as well as my fuge but the main tank doesn't have any. It's not so funny but it is all at the same time.

Tony has it correct though. I can syphon the crap out of the frag tank and 8 hours later it looks like I did nothing.

:rolleyes: