bioluminescent algae

[Monkeyfish]

Has anyone tried keeping these in a reef tank? Pyrocystis fusiformis Here's a link to the site that sells it - http://empco.org/edu/index.php/live-algae/bioluminescent-algae/pyrocystis-fusiformis.html Do you think it would cause problems with water quality?

 

[VacavilleFC3S]

scary it's a type of dinoflagellate

 

[billsreef]

Wouldn't expect it to do any better than any other phytoplankton in a reef tank, but would be cool to keep some in a separate culture

 

[GreshamH]

scary it's a type of dinoflagellate

So is zooxanthellae.... not all dinos are bad

 

[thebanker]

Has anyone ever seen this stuff in real life? It happens here in socal every once in a while, it's very cool.

I remember it came around a couple years ago, and I was playing in the tidepools at night. Every time I touched the water, circles of luminescent green would radiate from my finger, riding the waves of the water's ripples. It looked like something straight out of Avatar.

 

[GreshamH]

It's there nearly all the time thebanker. Every night dive I have ever been on it was present in the water, season didn't matter.

 

[Monkeyfish]

When I did a night dive in Bonaire I saw it. Pretty neat. Was hoping to put it into my reef, but it doesn't look like it would survive due to the protein skimmer and media reactor.

 

[GreshamH]

and lack of nutrients to really get it kicking you'd have to add enough f/2 and the would fuel all other algae, good and bad.

 

[thebanker]

It's there nearly all the time thebanker. Every night dive I have ever been on it was present in the water, season didn't matter.

Thats so cool. On land, it's not as noticable. When it blooms down here, the ocean looks tan from the dinos, but at night it's an amazing spectacle.

I'll never forget running my hand through the water, sending waves of rippling green glow everywhere.

 

[luconi]

On a trip to Puerto Rico I kayaked to a place called bioluminescent bay, and it was amazing! When you move your hand in the water it lights up a bright green color, and surrounds your hand. Very cool stuff. I think it would be cool to see in an aquarium, but it probably wouldn't turn out too well in captivity...

 

[billsreef]

On a trip to Puerto Rico I kayaked to a place called bioluminescent bay, and it was amazing! When you move your hand in the water it lights up a bright green color, and surrounds your hand. Very cool stuff. I think it would be cool to see in an aquarium, but it probably wouldn't turn out too well in captivity...

The one over by La Paguera? Snorkeled in that one back in the 80's

 

[khaosinc]

could be an amusing prank to pull on a fellow reefer though...

I can just hear the phone call now.. Dude.. my skimmate is glowing...

 

[ashtree68]

That'd be really cool, as a trick or just to keep in a smaller tank.

 

[thebanker]

I wonder if you could raise them in 2L bottles!? I would love to see my roommate freak out when there are glowing soda bottles in the garage.

 

[billsreef]

I wonder if you could raise them in 2L bottles!? I would love to see my roommate freak out when there are glowing soda bottles in the garage.

Sure can Just need a little a Guillards f/2, and it cultures like any other phyto.

 

[Toddrtrex]

On a trip to Puerto Rico I kayaked to a place called bioluminescent bay, and it was amazing! When you move your hand in the water it lights up a bright green color, and surrounds your hand. Very cool stuff. I think it would be cool to see in an aquarium, but it probably wouldn't turn out too well in captivity...

The one over by La Paguera? Snorkeled in that one back in the 80's

I was at the one near Fajardo (( East coast of PR )), in January and it was really cool. Even with a darn near full moon could see it great.

 

[thebanker]

Sure can Just need a little a Guillards f/2, and it cultures like any other phyto.

Not to hijack the thread, but is there any validity to phytoplankton (isochrysis or nanno) growing and maintaining a stable culture in a skimmerless tank?

You're pretty much the expert on this, from what I can tell.

 

[GreshamH]

While you may be able to semi grow a little nanno, iso would crash very quickly.

Not to mention the nutrients needed to keep it alive would directly effect your inverts. It would also cause a bloom of any/all nuisance algae known to man.

Google Guillards f/2 and look at what is in it. That alone will tell you volumes

 

[billsreef]

Not to hijack the thread, but is there any validity to phytoplankton (isochrysis or nanno) growing and maintaining a stable culture in a skimmerless tank?

You're pretty much the expert on this, from what I can tell.

Pretty much what Gresh said in regards to nutrient needs and their effect. Also, there will be too many hungry mouths to ever accomplish such a stable culture in our glass boxes.

 

[thebanker]

While you may be able to semi grow a little nanno, iso would crash very quickly.

Not to mention the nutrients needed to keep it alive would directly effect your inverts. It would also cause a bloom of any/all nuisance algae known to man.

Google Guillards f/2 and look at what is in it. That alone will tell you volumes

Sodium nitrate, silicate, phosphate. Okay... I see! And wow it's expensive...

How high of a nanno concentration could you grow? Enough to provide any nutritional value for coral?

Pretty much what Gresh said in regards to nutrient needs and their effect. Also, there will be too many hungry mouths to ever accomplish such a stable culture in our glass boxes.

Hungry mouths = inverts on the tank?