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Dinoflagellates
Symbiodinium spp.
Also known as Dinos, Zooxanthellae
Chromista›Myzozoa›Dinophyceae›Dinoflagellata
📍 Worldwide in marine and brackish water
Brown, stringy, bubble-filled slime that often appears in new reef tanks — frequently mistaken for cyanobacteria. Dinoflagellates ('dinos') form slimy mats that can smother corals and sandbed. Treatment is complex: raise nitrates (>2 ppm), raise phosphates (>0.05 ppm), run extended dark periods, and increase UV sterilisation. One of the most frustrating reef nuisances.
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Quick Facts
- role
- nuisance — complex to treat
- cause
- ultra-low nutrients (zero-edge system), new tank syndrome, UV overuse
- control
- raise nitrates and phosphates, 3-day blackout, UV steriliser, add copepods
- warning
- some species produce toxins — ventilate during blackout treatment
Water it likes
- ph
- 8.1–8.4
- hardness
- 8–12 dGH
- temperature
- 75–81°F (24–27°C)
Legality
No state or federal restrictions on record for this species.
Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and locality and change over time — always confirm the current regulations with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping, or shipping this species.