What are Dinos?

GhostRider58 · 01/31/2012, 07:02 PM

I'm sure this is just another dumb noobie question...but what are "dinos"? I see many postings about them. Sounds bad, but what are they?

michaelr · 01/31/2012, 07:12 PM

dinoflagellates. they are a phytoplankton that are found everywhere.(just like diatoms) Dinoflagellates are perfectly fine in small numbers. If my memory serves me they are actually important for the food chain. The only problem is that they quickly take over in high nutrients. Ever seen red tide? that is a dino outbreak. they quickly multiply take up all the dissolved oxygen which kills sensitive things, which builds up ammonia which kills more and raises it again ect. That for the most part is it.

http://www.whoi.edu/cms/images/5_47876.jpg

tebstan · 01/31/2012, 07:15 PM

dinoflagellates

bad stuff, like an algae or bacteria slime. It can look like snot growing out of the sandbed. If you get it, you might not know what it is, but you'll know it's bad.

New tanks tend to get it suddenly, and it can go away just as quickly. When it sticks around a while, or pops up in an established tank, is when it's a real concern.

GhostRider58 · 01/31/2012, 07:27 PM

OK, More bad stuff to watch out for. Thank you.

Bluemon · 01/31/2012, 07:38 PM

I never got why dinoflagelletes would lower the dissolved oxygen level.

arent they PLANTS (well, not technically) and photosynthesize, therefore increasing oxygen lvels,

xian · 01/31/2012, 07:59 PM

The "plants" don't actually lower 02 levels. Harmful algal blooms (HAB's) like red tides actually poison the water. Gymodinium (The dino that causes red tide) actually produces a toxin. It can kill fish or even people if they eat it in those concentrations.

Algal blooms lower 02 when the algae starts to die, after exhausting its resources, in a closed or nearly closed system. It is the bacterial bloom that results from the decay that consumes the 02.

michaelr · 01/31/2012, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluemon

I never got why dinoflagelletes would lower the dissolved oxygen level.

arent they PLANTS (well, not technically) and photosynthesize, therefore increasing oxygen lvels,

i learned it...but i forget why. im pretty sure it has to do with the other photo-synthesizers in the water.(it is dark ((plants actually take in O2 at night slightly)) so they deplete the O2 in the water)

007Bond · 01/31/2012, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostRider58

I'm sure this is just another dumb noobie question...but what are "dinos"? I see many postings about them. Sounds bad, but what are they?

Also one half of the team of Martin and Lewis.

michaelr · 01/31/2012, 08:15 PM

Xian is all right im terribly sorry. i was thinking of runoff causing algal blooms 8/. long day. dinos do release a toxin diatoms do not.

TimeConsumer · 02/01/2012, 12:38 AM

I had dino's, horrid experience. I had undetectable nitrate and phosphate during the initial outbreak.

I don't think it affected my o2 levels, my protein skimmer keeps my tank fully aerated.

What it did do is attach itself to every living coral I had and suck the life out of it. It loooooves acros and gorgonians. And it is definitely toxic, I lost a lot of snails. Thankfully my tangs didn't like the taste of it.

Getting rid of it is an all out war. Most early hobbyists quit before they win.

Jeremy Blaze · 02/01/2012, 07:34 AM

Dino's were animals that lived here millions of years ago, or hundreds, depending on which museum you go to. Some were replites, some were birds. They are very popular with kids.

Sorry, I had too!

do_0b · 02/01/2012, 08:59 AM

im battling dinos currently.
Im hoping a new bulb and 3 days lights out will help with the reduction of dinos.
At night once the lights are out the dinos disappear completely. During the day i can see it everywhere...sigh

TimeConsumer · 02/02/2012, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by do_0b

im battling dinos currently.
Im hoping a new bulb and 3 days lights out will help with the reduction of dinos.
At night once the lights are out the dinos disappear completely. During the day i can see it everywhere...sigh

Mine outlasted 7 day blackouts. The best way to combat it is high pH (use a co2 scrubber for best results), low nutrients, and FM Ultra Algae X. If you hit it with all 3 at once, it won't stand a chance.

It took me months to figure that out.

Jeremy Blaze · 02/02/2012, 07:22 AM

When it comes to dinos, remeber, "this to shall pass"

Prefectly natural to bloom in a new tank. Give it time, keep using good RO water, and it should go away.

01/31/2012, 07:02 PM	#1
GhostRider58 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Central New York State Posts: 105	What are Dinos? I'm sure this is just another dumb noobie question...but what are "dinos"? I see many postings about them. Sounds bad, but what are they? __________________ :) Current Tank Info: 40B glass tank. RO/DI water only. 50lbs Carib Sea sand. 45lbs Fiji live rock. Reefbreeders Photon 32; 29g sump with 9g refugium with 4"DSB, SRO-1000INT skimmer. Carbon dosing.

01/31/2012, 07:12 PM	#2
michaelr Young Reefer Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Missouri Posts: 507	dinoflagellates. they are a phytoplankton that are found everywhere.(just like diatoms) Dinoflagellates are perfectly fine in small numbers. If my memory serves me they are actually important for the food chain. The only problem is that they quickly take over in high nutrients. Ever seen red tide? that is a dino outbreak. they quickly multiply take up all the dissolved oxygen which kills sensitive things, which builds up ammonia which kills more and raises it again ect. That for the most part is it. http://www.whoi.edu/cms/images/5_47876.jpg __________________ I wish there was an undo button on reef keeping Current Tank Info: 55 long and 28 gallon biocube

01/31/2012, 07:15 PM	#3
tebstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 961	dinoflagellates bad stuff, like an algae or bacteria slime. It can look like snot growing out of the sandbed. If you get it, you might not know what it is, but you'll know it's bad. New tanks tend to get it suddenly, and it can go away just as quickly. When it sticks around a while, or pops up in an established tank, is when it's a real concern. __________________ Washington's Rule #110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

01/31/2012, 07:27 PM	#4
GhostRider58 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Central New York State Posts: 105	OK, More bad stuff to watch out for. Thank you. __________________ :) Current Tank Info: 40B glass tank. RO/DI water only. 50lbs Carib Sea sand. 45lbs Fiji live rock. Reefbreeders Photon 32; 29g sump with 9g refugium with 4"DSB, SRO-1000INT skimmer. Carbon dosing.

01/31/2012, 07:59 PM	#6
xian Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Troy, NY Posts: 2,180	The "plants" don't actually lower 02 levels. Harmful algal blooms (HAB's) like red tides actually poison the water. Gymodinium (The dino that causes red tide) actually produces a toxin. It can kill fish or even people if they eat it in those concentrations. Algal blooms lower 02 when the algae starts to die, after exhausting its resources, in a closed or nearly closed system. It is the bacterial bloom that results from the decay that consumes the 02. __________________ -Matt Christian Define Irony: Algae growing on a snail. Current Tank Info: 125 gal planted lagoon

01/31/2012, 07:38 PM	#5
Bluemon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 902	I never got why dinoflagelletes would lower the dissolved oxygen level. arent they PLANTS (well, not technically) and photosynthesize, therefore increasing oxygen lvels,

01/31/2012, 08:15 PM	#9
michaelr Young Reefer Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Missouri Posts: 507	Xian is all right im terribly sorry. i was thinking of runoff causing algal blooms 8/. long day. dinos do release a toxin diatoms do not. __________________ I wish there was an undo button on reef keeping Current Tank Info: 55 long and 28 gallon biocube

02/01/2012, 12:38 AM	#10
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	I had dino's, horrid experience. I had undetectable nitrate and phosphate during the initial outbreak. I don't think it affected my o2 levels, my protein skimmer keeps my tank fully aerated. What it did do is attach itself to every living coral I had and suck the life out of it. It loooooves acros and gorgonians. And it is definitely toxic, I lost a lot of snails. Thankfully my tangs didn't like the taste of it. Getting rid of it is an all out war. Most early hobbyists quit before they win. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

02/01/2012, 07:34 AM	#11
Jeremy Blaze Former Reef Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Washington, IN Posts: 5,864	Dino's were animals that lived here millions of years ago, or hundreds, depending on which museum you go to. Some were replites, some were birds. They are very popular with kids. Sorry, I had too! __________________ Trust me my friend, the names are not important at all. I've own hundreds of different zoas and palys and don't know the name of a single one. In my opinion, they are a waste of valuable time. Mucho Reef

02/01/2012, 08:59 AM	#12
do_0b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: T.O / Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 47	im battling dinos currently. Im hoping a new bulb and 3 days lights out will help with the reduction of dinos. At night once the lights are out the dinos disappear completely. During the day i can see it everywhere...sigh

02/02/2012, 07:22 AM	#14
Jeremy Blaze Former Reef Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Washington, IN Posts: 5,864	When it comes to dinos, remeber, "this to shall pass" Prefectly natural to bloom in a new tank. Give it time, keep using good RO water, and it should go away. __________________ Trust me my friend, the names are not important at all. I've own hundreds of different zoas and palys and don't know the name of a single one. In my opinion, they are a waste of valuable time. Mucho Reef