Ostreopsis and light spectrum

[undbulsu]

I have battled Ostreopsis off an on for what seems like forever. I have used EVERY remedy from DinoX to UV. What I haven't tried in the past was adjusting my light spectrum. So I decided to do some research online about the photosynthetic process in dinoflagellates. ( I do have a B.S. in Microbiology but Micro isn't my career) . Anyway, dinoflagellates utilize primarily a Peridinin Chloroplast and Peridinin absorbs light in the 470 to 550 nm wavelengths. Basically the blue/green wavelength that is so visually appealing to my eye and also most moon lighting in LED lights.

I recently did a blackout, followed Dr. Tim's protocol for Dinoflagellates, and restarted my lighting schedule with only UV-A and Violet wavelengths for the past week. So far, no return of the dinos, where in the past I would already have a light dusting on my sand. I plan to begin introducing more blue lights slowly over the next couple of weeks. I don't claim this to be the answer, but any way to weaken the dinos seems like a good idea.

If you want to read more about it, just google "Peridinin Chloroplast"

Hope this helps.

 

[taricha]

This is true, but also a little limited - because the symbiont zooxanthellae in our corals are photosynthetic dinoflagellates as well, with the same sweet spot light absorbance spectrum as the nuisance dinos. They also use the peridinin-chlorophyll A complex, so yes - limiting light and moving it away from the peridinin sweet spot in the royal blue-teal range can limit their light, but it also limits the coral light input. Corals can handle it for a while (3 day blackouts are common) so there's a little wiggle room, but don't go crazy with it.