Red slime Vs. Dinoflaggelates (sp?)

Keri · #1 06-04-2008, 03:35 AM

It makes sense that the readings are 0 if they are all bound up....hmmm...well, I turned the light on *briefly* just to check out the situation and it looks like the stuff is dying, just bits of "dirty crud" floating around in the corners, kinda dead looking. My xenias were like 'LIGHT! Oh BLESSED LIGHT!" and started to unfurl right away so I shut the light off right away again, I'll give it another day, it's definately helping short term. As for the rowaphos.... I'm on the coast and won't get to Vancouver to purchase any for maybe a week

BUT.... I do have a sea-chem product called PhosGuard that i can put in the HOB filter i use to run carbon, is that better than nothing? (I had bought it last time I was in town to buy the phosphate test but didn't end up using it because of the 0 reading.

Anyhow, i had drew deliver me some "primo scum" from the tank, bits of the brown snot itself and I checked them out under the scope (40 - 1000 power) and the primary "creatures" seem to be these browninsh ovals that look suspiciously like dinoflagellates... *sad face* and long chains of...cyano? algae? Lots of other cool worms and swimmers too.
ANY AND ALL COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

I think these are bad...

fkshiu · #2 06-04-2008, 03:59 AM

Seachem phosguard is very effective at removing phosphate. The problem is that it is aluminium-based (as opposed to iron-based like GFO) and there are reports of corals reacting adversely to it. You can mail-order GFO in bulk from several sources including one of the site sponsors, bulkreefsupply.com.

Reefer Rob · #3 06-04-2008, 04:16 AM

I can't find any pictures on the web of the Dinoflagellates that plague aquariums, but I don't see anything that looks like flagella on those cells. Could it be an algae?

Cool pictures!

Keri · #4 06-04-2008, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkshiu

Seachem phosguard is very effective at removing phosphate. The problem is that it is aluminium-based (as opposed to iron-based like GFO) and there are reports of corals reacting adversely to it. You can mail-order GFO in bulk from several sources including one of the site sponsors, bulkreefsupply.com.

Hmmm... well, Poop!
Ok, maybe I'll order it, tho if I were to go in friday it would probably get here sooner... is it all corals? i have mostly SPS and softies, only one LPS (hammer) I'll look into it. I should have bought the rowaphos when i was in town last! I had it in my hand!! But i grabbed the phosGuard because it came in little convenient ready-to-go bags and I was in a rush.... lol oh well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

I can't find any pictures on the web of the Dinoflagellates that plague aquariums, but I don't see anything that looks like flagella on those cells. Could it be an algae?

Cool pictures!

I know that I didn't see any flagella either but due to the depth of field once i got it up to 10x100 it was very hard to make ANYthing out in detail. i should have stained a sample, when looking at other samples that's the only time I can photograph flagella. Maybe I'll try a stained slide tomorrow.

On a side note, I've gotten a tentative ID of Prorocentrum lima here is a picture from the web:

I'm not seeing such a clearly defined central organ in my pics ut it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say that they were at least in the same family.
I don't see any flagellum on these either. Perhaps they are very tiny? or the name is misleading?

reptile guy · #5 06-04-2008, 10:22 AM

I had it once and turned out the lights for a week plus stopped feeding and used phosphate drops to eliminate whatever phosphate was in the tanks and it disappeared and hasn't been back since. I initially tried water changes and that just seemed to fuel it more and from what I've read water changes are a bad idea cause the dinos will feed on the new trace elements in the salt. I basically starved it off from all the major areas it thrives light, phosphates and lack of trace elements and worked quite well for me.

reptile guy · #6 06-04-2008, 10:25 AM

I've also heard it can be seasonal similar to a red tide kind of thing and usually comes about in the spring but not sure how true that is. Mines started in spring and would be curious to know when everyone elses started

whosinpower · #7 06-04-2008, 01:17 PM

Hey - tagging along because I seem to have the very same problem!

Just to get the treatment correct.......
1. syphon as much out as possible with a water change.
2.lights out for 3-4 days?
3. slowly reaquaint tank with lighting
4. does a person do another big water change after lights out?????
5. GFO of some sort - assuming using a phosban reactor is much better than a bag - how often would you change out the media?????
6. run carbon - dino's release toxins?????? makes snails unhappy - I know mine are not in good shape - how often would you change out the media?????

I am asking if these steps are correct - so I can do this. Tried 3 days without lights, but did not wrap the tank - so there was ambient light - did not help much - maybe a little. - going to try it again with more aggressive use of phosban and carbon.