Tissue necrosis and dinoflagellates.

[DNA]

I would like to get the reefkeeping community aware of that there is a link between dinoflagellates and tissue necrosis.
I'm no newbie and have numerous instances of both STN and RTN, partial, from base or tips occurring that I can say this with certainty.
I have over 10 years of experience with reefs, 3+ with dinos and dozens of dead SPS corals.

A slight but noticeable increase in dinos and a response from SPS corals the following day is very convincing.
There can can also be a swift change in the other direction with color, growth and healthier looks returning in days.
End end result is often not what reefers dream of.

Dinos are stealthy, hard to identify or often mistaken for something else and many reefers prefer denial over facing the problem.
If it's SPS tissue necrosis bothering you or no SPS growth and the cause is not obvious, take another look at your tank and see if there are dinos at work.

My dinos are Ostreopsis sp. Hopefully this does not apply to all the other types.

 

[DNA]

There is a Blue whale in the lagoon.

 

[Zukari]

I have been fighting Dinos that came out of no where for about a month. They have been hell on earth. On one hand most of the SPS are not showing signs of stress, however others I am blowing off daily.

Finally I think I have beaten it. I only see it now once or twice a week. That said, my SPS colonies are showing some new signs of stress and I can't yet figure that out. Driving me nuts.

 

[Zukari]

And to add to this some more: I have had A LOT of STN issues where the algae causes skin to ... well rot I think. However I have not "yet" had a case of RTN from these Dinos. Even the corals that look dead are still hanging in there.

One thing I have noticed. Acros and Milis can seem to handle the dinos as long as you are blowing them off and keeping an eye on all other parameters, albeit they don't grow much. Montipora Digitata gets murdered by dinos almost over night.

 

[DNA]

Even the corals that look dead are still hanging in there.

That's often what happens.

 

[Chaucer]

My birdsnest was growing like a weed, I'd fragged it twice. Then I lost a powerhead that I didn't catch for 2 days. About half my old 90 had dino and the birdsnest was slammed the worst. Luckily it is bouncing back. But as I fought the dino I had STN right in the core of the coral. I'm getting my tips back , and hoping the center makes a recovery.

 

[Avenger]

had one of my tanks with this same problems. corals started doing better with manual export of the dino.

This was my natural tank with only a skimmer and filter sock.

 

[mcfa2403]

Are the dinos the cause or simply a symptom of the same problem?

 

[DNA]

It has not been proven that I know of, but I find it more likely that the dinos are the cause since they are very toxic.

 

[pakirri]

I have been battling Dyno's for a few months and have lost some SPS colonies and frags including softball sized birdsnests. I also lost some favia's & zoanthids. I have ostreopsis (confirmed with a microscope by Pants) and have tried peroxide, drip kalk, no lights 5 days, Ultra Algae X and now Kordon ick with no results.

This tank has been running perfectly for more than 5 years and it even won TOTM on my local forum.

I am taking the tank down soon.

 

[pakirri]

this is what I am dealing with:

This is the tank back in 2013
http://wamas.org/totm_previous.php?prev=totm-2013-08

 

[DNA]

this is what I am dealing with:

This is the tank back in 2013
http://wamas.org/totm_previous.php?prev=totm-2013-08

Death takes over as tank health deteriorates.
At least in your case the cause is obvious.

 

[Spslvr]

Whats fuelling the dino? Usually silicates.

 

[EvMiBo]

My dinos are Ostreopsis sp.

Any tips and/or a guide to identify what species of dinoflagellates I have?

Whats fuelling the dino? Usually silicates.

Do you have a source of some kind? I don't think it's that easy with dino's unfortunately.

edit: just found the massive reef chem thread.