Do our tanks glow in the dark?

[taricha]

On vacation a few weeks ago my wife and I were on the beach at night with sea turtle patrol. We saw a Loggerhead come ashore and after it was determined that the momma turtle didn't like that spot and was turning around and heading back out to sea ("false crawl"), the ladies of the turtle patrol let us come close enough to watch them work: measuring, photographing, tagging etc.

Then one of the patrol explained that the shell has organisms that glow in response to touch, and as she rubbed the shell, it clearly glowed blue/green for a moment everywhere she touched the shell. She wasn't specific about whether it was algae, phytoplankton, copepods or what organism on the shell was glowing to the touch.

But I wonder - could any surfaces in our tanks grow some of these organisms?

Anybody ever rubbed your sand, live rock, algae scrubbers etc in total darkness and seen a glow?

 

[ChiCity]

so, it’s unknown why bioluminescent phytoplankton collect on the shells of our turtle friends…
one of the mysteries of mother nature.

but i do not believe this type of phytoplankton congregates in our closed systems,
or can be populated within…

 

[AydenLincoln]

so, it’s unknown why bioluminescent phytoplankton collect on the shells of our turtle friends…
one of the mysteries of mother nature.

but i do not believe this type of phytoplankton congregates in our closed systems,
or can be populated within…

Yes this is true and only at certain times/a specific type of plankton become bioluminescent.

 

[ScubaFish802]

You could dump this in and see what happens “bioluminescent 'PyroDinos' dinoflagellates” https://pyrofarms.com/products/the-bio-orb-limited-sale

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Generally speaking, most marine bioluminescent organisms (like the kinds of algae that respond to touch by lighting up) are cold-water specimens. Pyrocystis fusiformis (a non-toxic, photosynthetic dinoflagellate - a species of phytoplankton; the “PyroDinos” listed above) is probably the best known and most readily available one of these. They actually can be added to our tanks, but generally - between predation, skimmers, filters, less than ideal conditions (such as higher than preferred temperatures), etc., they usually only last a couple of weeks or so before they are cleared out of the system.

Sea pansies (Renilla spp.) demonstrate this type of bioluminescence too, and I believe one of the two species I know of on the market can handle our tank temps, but I’d need to double check that to be sure. Regardless, lighting up like that actually takes a fair amount of energy from the organism, so they can only do it so many times before becoming distressed or needing to “recharge,” so to speak. So, causing them to do it too frequently can actually be detrimental to the creature’s health (the lighting up is generally used as a defensive mechanism - typically thought to be like a burglar alarm; i.e. the light flashing is thought to attract predators that might prey on whatever is harassing the bioluminescent creature).

Anyway, bioluminescence is absolutely amazing, and I hope to do a coldwater bioluminescence tank someday myself, but - until then - this is best article I know of regarding bioluminescence that may be commonly found in our aquariums:

Reefing After Dark – Bioluminescence in the Reef Aquarium

Reefing After Dark – Bioluminescence in the Reef Aquarium By Alex Gawura Introduction In all the years that I have been an aquarium hobbyist, there have been a few moments that have put me in awe of nature and the wonders contained within our...

www.reef2reef.com

Reefing After Dark Part 2: Bioluminescence Observations & Research

Reefing After Dark Part 2: Bioluminescence Observations & Research By Alex Gawura The sight of bioluminescent light in an aquarium can be compared to an evening of watching lightning from a passing thunderstorm. There is so much mystery and...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[taricha]

@ISpeakForTheSeas Thanks for excellent info. I forgot about that article and it's got some really relevant parts.

I think it's pretty cool that as soon as he created conditions where he could see bioluminescence, it was observed.

After lights out in my basement I sat down in my fish room and started to stare into my refugium tank, but it quickly became apparent that it was not dark enough in that room. I wanted total or near total darkness, so I grabbed the electrical tape to block out the light emissions from the equipment in my fish room. It was not perfect, but I achieved near total darkness and began watching the refugium tank. After 5-10 minutes, my eyes began to adjust, and I saw what I thought was a reflection of light on the glass. The light was dim, but I decided to try and locate its source in the fish room. I quickly realized that light was not coming from any equipment in the fish room but had to be from another source. Bioluminescence was staring me in the face as an organism was glowing and presenting me with my first experience of bioluminescence in a home aquarium.

The part 2 of the article describes what sounds just like the sea turtle shell observation...

One of the most incredible sights in the 150-gallon refugium took place when I decided to disturb the masses of algae growing on the rocks at night with a feeding stick. Hundreds of bioluminescent flashes were set off by this action. These dim flashes of light were coming from small unidentified organisms. At the time of this observation, I did not have the tools needed to make an identification. I also did not have the proper camera equipment needed to try and capture this beautiful bioluminescent display. In September 2018 I attempted to try this same experiment of disturbing the algae with a feeding stick with some unexpected results. I managed to get a reaction out of the algae however the bioluminescent display was very dim but similar to my first experience. I attempted to capture this display on camera the next night, but I did not see any activity when I disturbed the algae with a feeding stick. I did make a discovery though when I bumped into the in-tank algae scrubber PVC cage. When I disturbed the algae scrubber PVC cage, I set off a brilliant display that I could see from above the tank. I also decided to try and pick up and move around part of the floating algae mat and discovered that in most cases when I picked up the algae and moved it around between my fingers, it would trigger a bioluminescent display. [...]

150-Gallon Refugium: in-tank algae scrubber and algae mat that has a large concentration of bioluminescent activity when disturbed.

Elsewhere in the articles he IDs isopods as being one confirmed sources of bioluminescence in his system and the algae may have hundreds of those.

 

[bruno3047]

On the back of my tank I have a rock wall. There are various strains of algae that grow on the wall and I have a certain type of algae that lights up under my blue moon lights. Especially a few days after I clean it when the new growth is emerging. One of my favorite characteristics of my tank.

 

[Chrisv.]

I saw bioluminescent critters in my tank a long while back. Not sure exactly what it was. They didn't last long.

 

[Rmckoy]

There was a post not too long ago .
the company is selling this dino algae that apparently glows with movement .

 

[Chrisv.]

There was a post not too long ago .
the company is selling this dino algae that apparently glows with movement .

There used to be a cute novelty that was a dinosaur filled with bioluminescent dinoflagellates. A glow in the dark dino dino. Haha have to love it.

 

[Rmckoy]

There used to be a cute novelty that was a dinosaur filled with bioluminescent dinoflagellates. A glow in the dark dino dino. Haha have to love it.

I think I might still have the link provided in a thread here .
I’ll have to look

 

[Rmckoy]

Mushlume UFO

The Mushlume UFO is a solar-powered showpiece for one of the world’s most extraordinary phenomena: bioluminescence. This aquarium is a living, interactive galaxy that glows brilliantly blue when swirled at night. The Mushlume brings bioluminescent plankton into your home to enjoy night after night.

urbz.io

 

[Chrisv.]

I saw some beautiful bioluminescent who knows what flashing off of the end of a pier in new england late Friday night. Not quite paddling around in the mosquito bay in vieqies, but still pretty.

 

[bruno3047]

I read once, I forgot where, where a Navy pilot had lost his aircraft carrier, which was operating in darkness to avoid detection. The pilot found the trail of bioluminescent algae churned up by the carrier’s propellers and followed it home. Funny how you remember some things.

 

[Alexraptor]

Pyrocystis fusiformis does seem to be classified as phytoplankton. Makes me wonder about their nutritional value, as it could be kind of fun to maybe culture them in a phyto reactor and dose them into the tanks at night for funsies!

 

[bruno3047]

Yep. Here it is.

Houston we have a Problem: How Jim Lovell used Bioluminescent Algae to Land his Broken Aircraft | The Vintage News

The year was 1953. The sun was setting over the expanses of the Pacific. A silvery crescent moon wouldn’t rise for another four hours. Jim Lovell, of

www.thevintagenews.com

 

[Chrisv.]

Pyrocystis fusiformis does seem to be classified as phytoplankton. Makes me wonder about their nutritional value, as it could be kind of fun to maybe culture them in a phyto reactor and dose them into the tanks at night for funsies!

We have some dinoflagellate experts on the forum...but here is a pyrocystis culture page. https://latzlab.ucsd.edu/bioluminescence/dinoflagellates/dinoflagellate-culturing/

 

[taricha]

Wanted to add this as well. In part 2 of the article...

Reefing After Dark Part 2: Bioluminescence Observations & Research

Reefing After Dark Part 2: Bioluminescence Observations & Research By Alex Gawura The sight of bioluminescent light in an aquarium can be compared to an evening of watching lightning from a passing thunderstorm. There is so much mystery and...

www.reef2reef.com

the author suggests 9 organisms that are likely bioluminescent. Of these, I have 6 of the 9 living in my system.
I've seen this spaghetti worm..

Unidentified species of spaghetti worm or medusa worm that is bioluminescent. This worm was found living in the sand of the 480-gallon reef tank.

I have not seen this medusa worm in my system...

Unidentified species of spaghetti worm or medusa worm that is bioluminescent. This worm was found living in the algae mat of the 150-gallon refugium.

I don't have the brittle star he described, but I (and many others) have these isopods....

Bioluminescent Isopods that that would sometimes glow at night.

I also have the small unknown crustacean (it's a tanaid)....

Figure 2. Unknown species living in my sand that might be bioluminescent.

I've also seen many ostracods in my system too...

Figure 3. Different Ostracods species I have found living in my aquarium system. Many species of Ostracods are bioluminescent so it’s possible

Of the next 3 groups, I have two: copepods and amphipods

Other potential organisms that I regularly observe in my aquarium system that have the potential to be bioluminescent are copepods - Figure 4, mysid shrimp - Figure 5, and amphipods - Figure 6.

It seems likely that almost any mature tank would also have at least a couple of these organisms too. Most of them are generally quite common.

 

[AlexG]

Wanted to add this as well. In part 2 of the article...

Reefing After Dark Part 2: Bioluminescence Observations & Research

Reefing After Dark Part 2: Bioluminescence Observations & Research By Alex Gawura The sight of bioluminescent light in an aquarium can be compared to an evening of watching lightning from a passing thunderstorm. There is so much mystery and...

www.reef2reef.com

the author suggests 9 organisms that are likely bioluminescent. Of these, I have 6 of the 9 living in my system.
I've seen this spaghetti worm..



I have not seen this medusa worm in my system...



I don't have the brittle star he described, but I (and many others) have these isopods....


I also have the small unknown crustacean (it's a tanaid)....


I've also seen many ostracods in my system too...


Of the next 3 groups, I have two: copepods and amphipods



It seems likely that almost any mature tank would also have at least a couple of these organisms too. Most of them are generally quite common.

Thanks for the Tanaid identification. I would agree that a large majority of our reef aquariums likely contain these organisms. I am sure the majority of reef aquariums likely have bioluminescent activity its just not something that reef keepers always look for. Even today in my new system I can see bioluminescent activity and a separate tank with a small batch of Australian live rock I picked up also has bioluminescent organisms present. The hard part is always trying to isolate organisms and then get them to put on a light show under the microscope.

 

[taricha]

@AlexG thanks for chiming in.
Absolutely fantastic 2-part article. Just fantastic.

What started this for me was seeing how bright the bioluminescent response was when the turtle patrol workers rubbed the mother sea turtle shell.
The touch-response you found in your floating algae mat - do you think it was likely the simultaneous response of many isopods/copepods/amphipods/tanaids living in the algae, or do you have any reason to suspect it was something else?