Dinoflagellates (dino)
Dinoflagellates are single-celled organisms that can infest a marine aquarium with a mucilaginous brown coating. They often appear in aquariums with ultralow nutrients.
Detailed explanation
Dinoflagellates are the terror of marine aquarists. They appear as a brown or golden patina with mucilaginous filaments, often with trapped air bubbles. They expand during the day. At night they retreat. This cyclic behaviour distinguishes them from cyanos and diatoms.
There are several species of dinoflagellates. The most common in the aquarium are Ostreopsis and Amphidinium. Ostreopsis produces toxins that are also dangerous for invertebrates.
The most frequent trigger is a system with too few nutrients. When nitrates and phosphates are both close to zero, beneficial algae starve. Dinoflagellates, on the other hand, are mixotrophs (they can feed on both light and prey) and dominate the impoverished environment.
The paradox: many aquarists who pursue the ULNS (Ultra Low Nutrient System) end up with dinos precisely because they have lowered the nutrients too much.
Treatment depends on the species. For Ostreopsis total darkness works for 72 hours combined with UV sterilizer at maximum. For Amphidinium different approaches are needed. In all cases, raising the nutrients (dosing nitrates and phosphates) helps to recreate the biological competition that keeps the dinos under control.
Coralia Lab analyzes the nutrient trend and warns you when you enter the dinoflagellate risk zone with the ACD-Engine.
Coralia Lab monitors this parameter with AI diagnostics. Tank Score alerts you when a value moves outside the recommended range for your aquarium.
Try ACD-Engine (algae prediction) for free